The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-02-18

Be sure to fail altogether. No, we will go with
you some three or four Of US, and help you to dig
up the corpse; but then you must take it on your
your back, bring it up to your room here, and
spend the night alone with it." = r.. ..
1t was some reliefto me to find was to have
company during the first part of my awful un-
dertaking; but still / felt,tar from agreeable 1
assure YOU and CHANGING to look, into mirror,
as the time drew near for setting out, fairly
started at beholding the ghastly object reflected
therein. 1 fr. .g- u--.. He... pa
"Come boys,' said Benson, who was always
by general consent, the leader of whatever frol-
ic, expedition or undertaking he was to have a
hand in" "Come, boys it is time to be on the
move. A glorious night forus," he added, throw
ing up the window, and letting in gust ofwind
and rain; f'the d--l himself would hardly vent
ure out in such Storm" y p. if ,r.ii,
He lit dark lantern, then threw on his long,
heavy cloak, took up spade, and led the way
down; and the rest Of US, three besides my timid
self, threw on our cloaks also, took each spade
and followed him. e. T6as-g.
We took a roundabout course, to avoid being
seen by any citizen that might chance to be stir
ring, and in something less than half an hour we
reached the Cemetery, scaled the, wall without
difficulty and stealthily searched for the grave,
till we found it in the pitchy darkness-the wind
and rain sweeping past us with dismal howls
and means, that to me, trembling with terror,
seemed to be the unearthly walings of the spir-
| its Of the damned. :. ...., sa,..,...- .-.
"Here we are3' whispered Benso1 to me, as
we at length stopped at a mound of fresh earth,
over which one of the party stunt mbled. "Come,
feel round, Norris. and strike iu your spade,
and let US see if you will make a good hand at
exhuning dead body as you will some day at
killing living one with physic."
l did as directed, trembling in every limb, but
the fist spadeful l threw up, started back with
yell of horror, that, on any other but howl
ing stormy night would have betrayed us. 1t
appeared to me as if / had thrust my spade into
buried lake of fire--for the first dirt was all
glow with living Goals; and as had fanced the
moaning of the storm, the wailings of tormented
spirits, now fancied that had uncovered a
small portion Of the Rottomless Pit itself.
''Fool!' Kissed Benson, grasping my arm with
the grip of vice, as lstood leaning on my spade
for support, my very teeth chattering with ter
ror; another yell like that and I'll make a sub
ject you! Are you not ashamed Of yourself
to be scared out of your wits, if you ever had
any, by little phosphoroscent earth? DOM
you know that it is often found in graveyards? 7?
/ His explanation reassured me, though wasS
too weak, from my late fright to be of any assis-
tance to the party, who all fell to with will
secretly laughing at me, and soon reached the
coffin, Splitting the lid with hatchet, which
had been brought for the purpose, they quickly
lifted out the corpse and then Benson and anoth
er of the party taking hold ofit one at the heat
and the other at the feet, they hurried away, bi
ding me follow, and leaving the others to fill u
the grave, that it might not be suspected tina
the, body had been exhumed.
Having got the corpse safely over the walls o
the cemetery, Benson now called upon me t.
perform my part of the horrible business.
"Hcre you quaking simpleton," he said, g
want you to take this on your back and MAKE
the best Of yonr was to your room, and remain
alone with it all night If you do this bravely
we will claim you as one Of us tomorrow, ant
the first man that dares to say word agains
your courage, after that shall make foe in me
But bark you! you make any blunder on the
way, and lose our prize it will be better for yo1
to quit this place before set my eyes on yo
again. Do you understand me?'.
"Ye-ye-yc-yes," Istammered with chatterini
teeth.
"'Are you readyT'
/ "Ye-ye-ye-yes," gasped.
"Well, come here, where are you?"
AT this time it was so dark that could no
see anything but faint line of white, which
knew to be the shroud the corpse, but l fel
carefully around till got hold Of fBeeson, whit
told me to take off my cloak; and then rearin
the cold dead body up against my back, he be
gan fixing its cold arms about my neck --biddin
me to take hold Of them, and draw them wei
over, and keep them concealed, and be sure no
to let 60 of them, on any consideration whatev
er, as | valued my life.
All! the torturing horror | experienced, as
mechanically followed his directions! tongu
could not describe it!
t,sotl, bo,,;,r od;,,ofaJ tba nor,t.o CO Aha
I might bear it off with comparative ease, h
threw my long cloak over it, and over my arms
and fastened it with cord about my neck, ant
then inquired:
'Now Morris, do you think that you can fin
your way to your room?"
'T-I-do-do- don't know" gasped, feeling a
LIZ should sink to the earth at the first step.
"Well, you cannot lose your way ifyou 6
straight ahead, he replied. keep in the mddl
Eof the road and it will take you to College Greer
and then you are all right. Come, push on be
iore your burdens grows too heavy, the distanc
Is only Z good half mile"
set forward, with trembling nerves, expect
ing TO sink to the ground at every step; but grs
dually my terror, instead of weakening gave II
+ strength, and was soon on the run--splashin
through mud and water--with the storm how
ing about me in fury, and the cold corpse, as
fanciod, elinging to me like hdeOus vampire.
How reached my room, do not know --br
probably by sert Of instinct; for only remen
j ber Of my brain being in wild feyerish whir
3 with ghostly phantoms all about me, as one SEE