Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-06-04

was my tlmid inquiry; and the very
thought Of such an adventure made nv
blood run cold.
"To the Eastern Cemetery, at twelve
o'clock tonight" replied my tormentor,
fixing his keen black eyes upon me, and
allowing his thin lips to curl with q
smile Of contempt. But what is the
use of asking such coward as you, to
perform such manly feat ?" he added
deridingly.
His words stung me to tho quick;
and without further reflection, and scarce
" aware Of what was saying, | rejoined
boldly. ~ !
81 am no coward, sir, as l will provo
to you by performing what yor call a
manly feat"
you will go?' he asked quickly.
81 will"
Bravely said, my ladl" he rejoined
in tone of approval, and exchanging
his expression of contempt for one of
surprise and admiration. "Do this
Morris, and the first man that insults
you, afterward makes an enemy of mo- I"
Again / felt cold shudder pass
through my frame, at the thought of
what was before me; but had accepted
his challenge in the presence of many
witnesses-for this conversation occurred
as we were leaving the hall, after listsn-
ing to an evening lccturc--and I was
resolved to make my word good, should
it even cost my life; in fact, l knew l
could not do otherwise now, without be-
ing driven in disgrace from the college,
should have observed hero, that in
those days there were few professional
resurrectionists and as il was absolute
ly necessary to have subjects for dissec-
ton, the unpleasant duty Of procuring
them devolved upon the students, who,
in consequence, watched every funeral
eagerly, and calculated the chances of
cheating the sexton Of his charge and
the grave of its victim.
There had been funeral, that day, Of
poor orphan girl, who had been followed
to tho grave by very few friends; and
this was considered favorable opportu-
nifty for the party whose turn il was to
procure the next subject, as the graves
Of tho poor and friendloss were never
| watched with the same keon vigilance
as those Of the rich and influential. -
| Still it was no triaing risk to attempt tc
exhume the bodies of the poorest and
| humblest-for not unfrequently persons
/, were found on the watch even over these
and only the year before, one student
whilo at his midnight work, had beer
mortally wounded by q rifle ball; and
another a month or two subsequently,
had been rendered cripple for life by
the same means.
| All this was explained to me by 8
party of six or eight, who accompanied
me to my rooms which was in building
belonging to the college; and rented by
apartments to such Of the students, as
preferred bachelors halls to regular
boarding, and they took occasion to add
several terrifying stories Of ghosts and
hobgoblins, by way Of calming my OK
cited nerves; but as I have before OBJ
served old women stand around weak,
foverish patient, and croak out their ex-
perience in seeing awful sufferings and
fatal examinations Of just such maladies
as the one with which their helpless
victim was then afflicted.
| ~ Is it expected that l should 90
alone 2" / inquired, in tone that trem-
| blcd in spite Of me, while my knees al
most knocked together, and felt as il
my very lips were white.
Well, no." replied Benson, my most
dreaded tormentor; 1T would be hard
| ly fair to send you alone, for one indi-
vidual could not succeed in getting the
body from the grave quick enough; and
you, mere youth, without experience,
would be sure to fail altogether No,
we will go with you, some three or four Of
US, and help you to dig up tho corpse
but then you must take it on your back
bring it up TO your room here, and
spend the night alone With it,"
| 1t was some relief TO me TO find that
was TO have company during the first
part of my awful undertaking; but still
| felt far from agreeable, assure you
and CHANGING TO look into mirror, az
the time drew near for setting out,
fairly started at beholding the ghastly
object I saw reflected therein.
"Como. boys" said Benson, who was
always by general consent, the leader Of
whatever frolic, expedition, or undcrta.
king he was TO have hand in" come,
boys, it is timo We were on the move. =
A glorious night for usp' he added,
throwing up the window and letting in
a fierce gust of wind and rain the devil
himself would hardly venture out in
such storm |"
| Ho lit O dark lantern, then threw on
his long, heavy cloak, took up spade,
and led the way down stairs and the
rest Of us, three besides my timid self,
threw on our cloaks, took each spade,
and followed him.
We took q round about course 10
avoid being seen by any citizen that
that might chance 10 be stirring, and in
something less than haitian hour we reach
cd the cemetery. scaled the wall with
out difficulty. and stealihily searched for
the grave, tilfw found it, in the pitchy
darkncss-the wind and rain sweeping
past US in dismal howls and means, that
to me, trembling with terror, seemed TO
be tho unearthly wailings of the spirits
Of the damned.
Hero we are" whispered Benson to
me, as VIC at length stopped at a mound
Of fresh earth, over which one Of the
party had stumbled Come, feel