Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-12-19

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Are you not ashamed of yourself, to be
scared out of your wits, if you ever had
any, by a little phosphorescent earth
Don't you know it is often found in grave
yards ?
His explanation treasured me, though
1 was now too weak, from my late fright,
to be of any assistance to the party; who
all fell to with viii, secretly laughing at
me, and soon reached the coffin. Split
ting the lid with hatchet, which had
been brought for the purpose, they quick
ly lifted out the corpse and then Benson
and another Of the party taking hold Of
it, one at the head and the other at the
feet, they hurried it away, bidding me
follow, and leaving the others to fill up
the grave, that it might not be suspected
the body had been exhumed.
Having got the corpse safely over
the wall of the cemetery, Benson now
called upon me to perform my part of
the horrible business.
Here, you quaiking simpleton,' he
said, l want you to take this on your
back, and make the best of your way to
your room, and remain alone with it all
night. If you do this bravely, we will
claim you as one of US tomorrow, and the
first man that dares to say word against
your courage after that, shall find foe
in me. But bark you if you make any
blunder on the way, and loose our prize,
it will be better for you to quit this town
before set eyes on you again! Do you
understand me?'
'Y-ye-ye-yes! I stammered, with
chattering teeth.
Are you ready?'
'Y-ye-yes,' 1 gasped.
Well, come here, where are you?
All this time it was so dark that
could see nothing but faint line of
white, which knew to be the shrouded
corpse but l felt carefully round till
got hold Of Benson, who told me to take
off my cloak and then rearing the cold
dead body up against my back, he began
fixing its cold arms about my neck bid
ding me take hold of them, and draw
them well over and keep concealed and
be sure and not let go of them on any
consideration whatever, as I valued my
life.
Oh! the torturing horror experien-
ced as l mechanically followed his direc-
tions Tongue could not describe it i!
At length having adjusted this corpse
so that | might bear it off with compar-
alive ease, he threw my long black cloak
over it and over my arms, and fastened
it with a cord about my neck, and then
inquired:
Now Morris do you think you can
find the way to your room ]?
Il L do-do-don't know I gasped, feel
ing if / should sink to the earth at the
first step.
Well, you cannot lose your way il
you 60 straight ahead he replied, Keep
in the middle of this street or road, and
it will take you to College Green and
then you are all right. Come push on
before your burden grows too heavy
the distance is only a good half mile ?
/ set forward, with trembling nerves
j, expecting to sink to the ground at every
step but gradually my terror, instead
of weakening, gave me strength; and
was soon on the run-splashing through
mud and water with the storm bowling
about me in fury, and the cold corpse, al
fancied, clinging to me like hideoui
vampire.
How l reached my room | do no
know-but probably by sort of instinct
for only remember of my brain bein;
in wild feverish whirl with ghosu,
phantoms all about me, as one some
times sees them in a dyspectic dream.
But reach my room l did with m,
dead burden on my back and l was af
forwards told that / made wonderful
time for Benson and bis fellow studen
fearing the loss of their subject-whicl
on account of the difficulty of gettini
subjects was very valuable-followe,
! close behind me and were obliged to ruI
! at the top of their speed to keep m
, within hailing distance.
The first remember after getting t
= my room, was the finding myself awak
| in bed with dim consciousness of some
!, thing horrible having happened-thoug
!. what, for some minutes, could not fo
/ the life Of me reeollect. Gradually
o however, the truth dawned upon me
t and then felt cold perspiration stan
from every pore, at the thought ths
e perhaps l was occupying a room alon
: with a corpse, The room was dark