The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-11

Placing the dagger into his bosom, he gaily
turned to his friend, and said with smile,
g Now / am ready--be sure you have the
Burgundy uncorked on my return |"
He left the inn, and as he wendell his way
through the village, now buried in repose, the
solemn silence which reigned around dissi-
pated his gaieiy, and bis thoughts took more
serious turn. He felt as If he had acted
wrong in having INDUCED in unseemly levity
on so serious a subject and then the many
terror.inspiring tales respecting the old miser,
to whose tomb he was now joumeying, came
rushing upon his Misunderstanding him almost
to repent his foolish hardihood: but to return
without attaining his object, would occasion
the ridicule Of his friends, and he dreaded
being stgmatized as vain boaster and cow
ard. He therefore pushed quickly on, and in a
short time reached the old church, which stood
at the extremity Of the village. He Chamber
ed over the low paling which surrounded the
venerable building, and stood in the back
ground Of life,' as Richter denominates the
graveyard All was silent save the wind,
which soughed mournfulIy through the linden
trees, scattering the sered leaves far and
wide. The night was dark, the sky over
spread with murky clouds, which sped rapidly
along like giant-spirits Of the air, revealing
here and there twinkling star. A feeling Of
awe came over him as he stealthily glided
along the tomb-stones and as he neared the
miser's burial-place, the hour Of midnight
tolled loudly from the turret clock, breaking
through the solemn stiffness like the knell of
death. He started at the sound, and almost
quaked with fear. But as the last stroke died
away, he summoned his faltering resolution,
and drawing forth the dagger, rushed down the
steps of the vault, and with convulsive
shudder, struck it into damp and mouldy
coffin, which returned sound as If the skele-
ton within it had fallen asunder, and the Zones
ratified against the coffin sides. Terrified and
agitated, Herman attempted to rush from the
vault. but he was held fast by some invisible
agency, and uttering faint cry, fell senseless
to the ground.
"What can possibly detain Herman :" said
Rosambert to his fellow students. 81 1t Is now
an hour since he departed. and he should have
returned ere this. hope no evil has beiallen
him."
Another hour elapsed-still he came not
AT last it was proposed they should seek him.
A lanter was procured, and after proceeding
at rapid race, they arrived at the church.
yard, and descending the gloomy vault, they
discovered the body Of the Inflated Herman
lying upon his face across the threshold, The
extremity Of his go,un fastened to the coffin by
The poniard.
II would seem that in his fear and agitation,
his hand became entangled in the folds Of his
gown, and the dagger pinned it to the coffin,
and imagining he had fallen into the power Of
demons or spirits, he sank lifeless to the
ground. He was raised, and the expression
Of terror upon his countenance was truly hor-
rible. His eyes seemed starting from their
sockets--his lips were firmly compressed
and his hair stood bristling upon his head. He
was conveyed to the inn with all possible de-
spatch, where efforts were made to resuscitate
him, but in vain. The fright had been too
much for him--he was dead