The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-06-18

spirits of the damned.
Here we are" whispered Benson to me,
as we at length stopped at mound Of fresh
earth, over which one of the party had
stumbled. "Comc, feel round, Morris, and
st'ke in your spade, and let us see if YOU
will make a good hand at cxhuming dead
body, rs you will some day at Killing liv-
ing one with physic."
did us directed, trembling in every
limb; but the first spadefu threw up
started back with u yell Of horror, that, on
any other but a bowling, stormy night,
would have betrayed US. 1t appeared to
me as if I bad thrust my spade into buried
lake Of (irc-ior the fist dirt WAS all aglow,
like living Goals; and us | had iancicd the
moaning Of the storm the vikings of tormen.
, ted spirit ] now fanccd had uncovered
4 small portion Of the BottomIcss Fit it.
self
''Fool.' Kissed Benson, grasping my arm
with the gripe Of Il vice, as stood leaning
on my spade for support, my very teeth
chattcrIng with terror; "anothcr yell like
that, and I'll make 4 subject Of YOU Are
you not ashamed of yourself, TO be scared
out Of your wits, if YOU ever had any, by Il
little hosphoresccnt earth? Don't you
know that it is often found in grave
wards -
His explanation rc-assurcl me-, thongh
WAS too weak, from my late fright, to be Of
any assistance to the party, who all fell to
with will, secretly lauyhing at me, and
soon Reached the coffin. Splitting the lid
with a ha,chct, which had been brought
for the purpose, they quickly lifted ont the
corpse; and then Benson and another of
the party taking hold Of it, one at the head
and another at the feet, they hurried it away,
bidding me fellow, auI leaving the others
to fill up the grave, that it might not be
suspected that the body had be exhumcd
Having got the corpse safely over the
walls Of the cemetery, Benson now called
on me to perform my part Of the horrible
business.
"llere, you quak;ng sinplcton,' he said,
Il want you to take this on your back, anl
make the best of your way to your room,
and remain alone with it all night. If you
do this bravcly, we will claim you rs one Of
lis 10 omorrow and the first one that ,lares
10 say word against your courage after
that, shall find Il foe in me. But hark you
tyou make any blundcr on the way, and
lose our prize, it will be better for YOU to
quit this place before set eyes on you
again DO you understand me 2"
"Y-yc.ye-yes."' ~ stammered with chat
tcring teeth.
care you ready?"
Y-yeye-yes," gasped.
"Wcll, come here, where arc you3"
All this time it was SO dark that 1 could
not see anything but a faint line of white,
which knew to be the sllrouI of the corpse
hut 1 felt carefully round till I got hold Of
Benson, who told me to take off my cloak
and then rearing the cold body up against
my back, lie began fixing its cold arms
about my neck-bidding me take hold of
them, and draw them well over, and keep
them concealed, and be sure and not let 90
of them, on any consideration whatever, as I
valued my life.
All, the torturing horror experienced,
as mechanically followed his directions
Tongue could not describe it!
At length, having adjusted the corpse so
that I might bear it off with comparative
ease, he threw my long, black cloak over it
and over my arms, and fastened it with
cord about my neck, and then inquired:
"Now, Morris, do you think you can find
the way to your room?''
al do.do.don't know" gaspcd, feeling
as if would sink to the earth at the first
step.
swell, you cannot lose your way if you
90 straight ahead" he replied. 'keep in
the middle Of the 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 good half
u.ile!"
set forward with trembling nerves, ex-
pcctiug to sink to the ground at every step !;
but gradually my terror, instead of weaken
ing, gave me strength; and was soon on
the run-splasbing through mud and water
with the storm bowling about me to fury,
and the cold corpse, as I fancied, cling to
me like hideous vampire.
How Ircached my room. 1 do not know
but probably by sort Of instinct, for I
only remember ofmy brain being in wild
fsverish whirl, with ghostly phantoms all
about me, as one sometimes sees them in a