The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-21

me two hours to perform it, as must take
| the opportunity when the watch is off his
beat"
These terms were agreed to, the required
assurances given, and Thornton started of
to his house to prepare himself for the IN
dertaking, leaving the jewellers to enjoy
themselves till his return.
| Once more at home, Thornton sent out
scout to see that the coast was clear then
changing his dress, and donning a large
military cloak, he armed himself with a
hammer and nail, and started off for ST.
Johns churchyard. The night was one of
those beautiful specimens of oriental eli
mates, which in some degree compensate
for the-vioIent heat of the day. The heav-
ems presented a sheet of the very darkest
blue, thickly studded with stars. No moon
was visible, but the lesser luminaries gave
sufficient light to distinguish imperfectly
objects in the immediate neighborhood. A
gentle breeze famed the earth, slightly sigh
ing as it passed through the ornamental
buildings of the city.
Arrived at his destination, without mee>
ting with single living being, Thornton
boldly entered the churchyard, steadily re-
solved to accomplish the feat that had been
proposed to him. 1t is true he felt slight
fiuttering around the region of the heart, for
which he could not account; a continual
desire to swallow his slava, which, though
generally admitted TO be an indication of
fear or strong emotion, could scarcely be so
IN the present instance; for the youth new.
er slept more firmly than when he entered
the place of Christian sepulture.
Without much difficulty he found the
skull but as he picked it up, he could not
help thinking he heard some one pronoun-
cling his name. As he raised himself,
shadow appeared to fit by bin. Could he
be deceived by his senses Could the dead
thus rise to reproach him? Well he knew,
after the pledge that he had received, that
none Of his companions could have follow
ed him. The man he had sent out as scout
had too well examined the place to believe
that any one could Turk there Whence,
then the sound which he had heard, as it
were close to his ear! Already he began
to feel that he was wrong in thus desecra-
ting by his presence the place of tombs.-
For moment he hesitated whether he
should not return and give up the bet. The
money was no object; but the tauntings
which would attend such result he could
not bear; so in spite of everything, he de-
termed to complete his task.
He now strobe across the battle-ground.
He suddenly felt jerk. He started and
uttered low ejaculation. He looked round
it was merely his cloak that had caught the
corner of tombstone. He hastily snatch.
ed it away, and proceeded. Presently he
felt blow on his leg, For moment he
was startled. In the next he smiled as he
perceived it was only against PROSTATE
iron rail that he had hit it. On coming
close to Martins place of rest he slept on
some new earth, and sank ankle-deep into
it. 1t was the new grave of a friend, a fel-
low passenger, who had been inferred that
morning. He felt shocked vet determined
on accomplishing his enterprise.he at length
laid his hand on the wooden table. which till
the marble one should be completed, cover
ed the remains of poor Martin, his brother
writer. his late chum.
As he knelt down beside the monument,
which consisted of a fiat piece of board, res
ting on the four brick walls, about eighteen
inches from the ground, he felt more incli-
ned to pray for the repose of his friends
soul, than pollute The covering TO his ashes
by an unholy act. Again. however, the
idea OF the ridicule to which he would be
exposed, shot across his mind, and he set
about his task, being determined to do it as
quietly as possible.
Having placed the skull upon the tablet
he was pulling out his hammer from his
pocket, when. in turning, his hat was sud-
denly knocked off. He rose, and with the
boldness often inspired by fear, looked a.
round him. No one was near. He had,
most likely, struck it against something. and
so caused it to fall of. In grouping around
he grasped human bone which he threw
away with a shudder. Again he felt about,
and his hand touched cold Shiny frog. Its
icy, clammy chill reminded him of death,
he determined to finish his labor before he
again sought his hat; so down he knelt,
and earnestly commenced his task. With
extreme agitation he begun to fasten the
skull to the tomb. As the nail ground thro'
the bone, be fancied some one or other
twitching him from behind but determined
that nothing should now deter him, he gave
one more stroke. and the dead mans head
was firmly affixed to the monument of his |
friend.
He was about to rise, when he felt him.
self held down by the back of his neck
Here there could be no mistake. "Who is
there? 2" loudly demanded Thornton. by
heaven if you don't let me 60, III strike
you dead with this hammer !" No an
swer was given and Thornton began to
feel extremely agItated. "Who's there,
| say I'll not consider this joke. Scoun.
drel, let me upl" And he strove to rise, but
in vain the same firm grasp held him by
the nape of his neck. His horror now al
most amounted to madness; for, by stretch.
ing out his leg, he had clearly ascertained
that no one was behind him. "Living or
dead you shall not conquer me J" added he.
in a paroxism of fear and desperation "you
shall not hold me l"- and he attempted