Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-05

JdIu III TIE morning., L VIII caII anu get IL,
and tomorrow morning you will, of course,
call around and reap the benefits of your betP
With this understanding, Edwin arose to
go on his sacrilegious errand, remarking as
ne advanced towards the door, you will see
me back In ten minutes
During the foregoing conversation, | sat
listening, in a half dreamy, half thoughtful
mood. | could scarce realize the import of
the act my late comrade had gone to execute.
Fifteen minutes had passed away at last
some one remarked, 1t is time for Edwin
to be back and report himselfp
Don't fear about his coming back tonight
said another, L wouldn't be afraid to bet a
small amount that he hasn't been in sight of
the grave patch tonight. He's too much of
a coward to even pass it, to say nothing of
entering through the gateway
| sat and thought a moment, and but a
moment longer, for something whispered to
me that all was not right. | arose, proceed
ed towards the door, stepped into the street,
saying not a word to anybody, and started
off In the direction of the burial ground,
which was but a few rods off. The moon
was shining clearly and lustrously bright
it was but a few moments walk to Edwards
grave, for he had been buried close under
the shadow of the street fence. Soon / turn
ed a corner, from which the place of Edwards
grave was visible. Instinctively the glance
of my eye was directed to it, and as sud-
!; emily, did l perceive, what / plainly reali-
zed as a human form bending DER the grave.
and with the face turned towards the street.
Horror stricken, my feet refused Is per-
form their duty, and | stood transfxed to
e the spot. Blu soon summoning courage, /
I advanced, and was soon beside the fence
The Bonded form was almost within the reach
:, of my arm. Conscience whispered Edpin
r IS dead called his name, but no reply
: greeted my ear.
With feelings better imagined than des-
cribed, retraced my steps to Bs hotel.
e As l entered the apartment from whence l
h had but a few moments before emerged, my
e face was as pale as that of the dead.
n l advanced to the middle of the circle that
were gathered about the door, and all was
as still and quiet as tho ali in the room had
been with the dead every eye was turned
towards me, and from my face each seemed
to read the fearful news. l spoke but three
word { Edaoin IS deadP
70 Instantly all were upon their feet. Such
, a scene of dismay !. never before, and hope
never again to witness. It was several min
utes before a word was spoken-each and
every one seemed spell-bound. But, after
the lapse of several minutes, when the shock
: had in a measure died away, I was question
ed as to my knowledge Of the occurrence
y | related all that | had seen. In that as
=, sembly there was not one that could sum-
mons courage sufficient to attend me to the
% grave, to watch over his body till morning
, and was obliged to give information to the
r. coroner, who found q person to attend me tt
in0 the city of the dead
Early the next morning, a jury of inques
=. was empanneled. l related my knowledge
=" of the occurrence of the evening previous
=, The jury, headed by the foreman, proceeds
to take the body from the grave. Two able
~ bodied men took hold of his head, and tw
ny more of his feet, but still he could not b
ny moved! Somewhat astonished at this result
- the foreman of the jury proceeded to divin
the cause of the body remaining fastened.
Turning over the lapel of his long dress
coat, a dagger NGS found 10 hare pinned 1t !
81 the slab oUer the 9raue!
des Now the mystery was solved-the caus
= of the %untimely death seemed evident to e,
Tvs cry eye, and the jury brought in their verde
in accordance with the general supposition
en- That the deceased, having bent over ii
ade grave, and asked the agreed.upon questio
for had stuck the dagger into the slab, and d
ng, not perceiUe that he had pinned himself to t
spot; and, upon attempting to leave t
in grave, finding himself transfxed, was SIN
he'd ten by his conscience, and naturally bell
he superstitious as we'll as possessed of a timi
fearful nature, had undoubtedly suppos
to there Uas some superhuman agency connect
to with the doings-that his fright had clos
Dor. his pulse-that the blood had frozen in |
the veins !"
oc- The next day the body of Edwin W
Ifter buried. The circumstance of his dea
tone wrought a wonderful impress upon t
minds Of his late associates, and from thent
forth, scarce any of them are to be found
ring the usual place of congregation. The eff
was almost miraculous. Fifteen out
twenty of the club, a short time afterwa
$ re- embraced the religion of our Savior, and
in of that number are among the most wort
und, members Of the Church of whose sacram
pro- | partake.
Bridgeport, Conn, 1855.
ond