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

o'clock tonight replied my tormen. or, fix
ing his keen black eyes upon me, aud allow
ing his thin lips to curl with IA smile Of con
tempt. "But what is the use of asking such
a coward as you to perform such manly
feat ?" lie added deridiugly.
His words stung Inc to the quick; and
without further REELECTION, and scarcely
aware OF what was saying, rcjoincd bold
ly:
81 am no coward, sir, rs will prove to
you by performing what you call a manly
feat"
"iou will go?" he asked quickly.
81 will"
"Bravely said, my ladm he rcioincd, in IL
tone OF approval, and exchanging his ex-
preston OF contempt for one Of surprise and
admiration. "Do this Morris, aud the irst
man that insults you aiterwarl makes all
enemy Of me."
Again felt a cold shullcr pass through
my frame, at the thought Of what was be-
fore inc; but had accepted his challenge
III the presence Of many wtuesscs--for this
conversation occurred as we were leaving
! the hall, after listening to an evening lecture
and / was resolved TO make my word
! good, should it even cost my life; in fact, I
, knew | could not do otherwise now, without
the risk Of being driven in disgrace from
the college.
should here observe, that, in those days
there were few professional rcsurrcc,ionis!S
and as it was absolutely necessary to have
! subjects for dissection, the unpleasant bust
ness Of procuring them devolvcI 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 a funeral, that day, of a
poor orphan girl, who had been followed to
the grave by very few friends; and this was
considered Il favorable chance for the party
whose turn it was to procure the next sub
ject, as the graves Of the poor and friendless
were never watched with the same keen
vigilance as those of the rich and influential.
Still, it was no trifling risk to attempt to cx-
hume the bodies Of the poorest aud humblcst
for not unfrcqucntly persons were found
on the watcl even, over these, and only the
year before, one student, while at his midi
night work, had been mortaIly woun,lcd by
rifle ball another, month or two subse-
quently, had been rendered cripple for life
by the same means.
All this was explained 10 me ty party
of six or eight, who accompanied me to nv
rooms which was in building belonging
to the college; and rented by apartments
to such Of the students, as preferred bachelors
hall to regular boarding, and they took care
to add several terrifying stories of ghosts
and hobgoblins, by way Of calming my en-
cited nerves; but as have before observed
old women stand around weak, feverisl
patsent, and croak out their experience in
seeing awful suiferings and fatal termina-
tions Of just such maladies as the one with
which their helpless victim was then afflic-
ted.
rs it expected that Ishould 60 alone Z"
inquired, in tone that tremLled in spite
OF ne, whsle lay knees almost knocked to.
gether, and felt as if my very lips were
white.
"Well, no." replied Benson, my most
dreaded tormentor; "it would be hardly
fair to send you alone, for ono individual
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 60 with you,
some three or four Of US, and help you to
dig up the corpse; but then you must take
it on your back, bring it up to your room
here, and spend the night alone with tn
1t was some relief to me to find was to
have company during the first part of my
awful undertaking; but still felt far from
agreeable I assure you; and CHANGING to
look into mirror, as the time drew near
for setting out, fairly started at behold
ing the ghastIy object I saw reflected there
in"
"Come, boys" said Benson, who was al
ways, by general consent, the leader Of
whatever froIc, expedition, or undertaking
he was to have hand in-"Come boys, it
is time to be on the move. A glorious
night for us p he added, throwing up the
window and letting in fierce gust of wind
and rain; "the devil himself would hardly
venture out in such a stormr'
lie lit 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 tin,id self, threw on our