Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-06-09

hOlIoW SfOaC, which proceeded directly
from tie basket, and while we were gaz
ing in terror at it, the cover was slowly
and softly raised in the centre, from with
in, until presently it raised so high, and
was drawn SO tight, that strong as it was,
it twisted in the shape Of a cross, and up
came the head, and the shoulders-with-
out any arms-and the body to the waist.
of a beautiful young woman, all cut and
blood-stained. 1t didn't raise any higher
than the waist, and there sat and gazed
at lis, with wild and fearful looking eyes,
which made ne feel like fainting, while
you fell alarmed on your knees, and hid
your face. All il was horrible to look
att makes me shudder, ever now to
think of it,"
And shudder he did, as he paused for
a moment and pulled away at his pipe, in
deep and thoughtful silence.
Well. was that all ?" enquired Cath
arine, at length becoming impatient.
THAT all ? wish it was r and he laid
his pipe on the table, and continued
No, for after gazing at me for a moment,
She said-yes, she actually spoke" You
want to know what's in the basket, do you?
Yes, know you do so | will tell you.
| was murdered night before last, by the
young man who brought me herea And
you would like me to tell you why he
murdered me? and l will too. He muir
dered me because | loved him too well,
fell beneath his accursed powers Of fas-
cination, and was deserted by him, for
the love Of another, whom he could not
! r,arpV- hnfnraZ hd baA orNt rid Cf pSo. ha
cause | had sworn that he should never
wed any other being on EARTH while |
lived So he came and killed me in my
/ slcep-oven while he was rep0sing on my
b@oso1r, nc plunged the digger INTO my
heart, and then dividing my body in
parts, placed them in two baskets one of
which is now before you" saying which,
she sighed deep and loudly.
In the meantime, | thought you had
cr&wled around unobseryed to the bed,
and then Jumping in, covered your head
close and right up in the quilts, and |
stiff, motionless, and dumb with fright,
remained in my chair, while she contin-
ued
Now l can never know peace in the
other world until l am revenged, and
this murderer brought to justice and
you are the man appointed by heaven to
to it +
"'Me?' stammered l."
Yes, you, and I'll tell you how to do
it. FIRST, then, you pust not open the
basket until he is caught. This you must
swaar. Speak do you swear 2"
IL swear was my trembling eiacu
@lation, for her eyes rooled like the globes
Of fire as she gazed upon me.
Ills well. And now | will tell you
how you can catch him. Are you listen
ing p
"Yes-yes 7 responded /.
We'll, he will be here, sooner or la
teri don't know exactly when-to get
this basket, which he intends to carry
oyer into Hoboken so when he comes
you must have an NJ. P.-one of the de
~tective force would be best-stationec
near by, SO that you car hand him over
to justice without trouble. Do you hear ?
~ do
"'Do you swear to do as I have
directed 2
Ono, [ don'tF
50 What do you dare?'
" don't know what gave me so much
courage, but somehow or other ] man
aged to tell her, right straight up and
down, that / would not do anything Of
the kind for, to tell the. truth, [ though
| might make something out of the young
man if [ should promise to keep the
secret. But oh, dear | had scarcely told
her that | wouldn't when she sprang
out Of the basket-thatsis, the half Of her
J body that was there-right upon my lap,
J and in ~springing back to get rid Of her my
Chair tipped, and | fell over on my back.
| Then, with another jump, she lightly
; FIRMLY on my breast, and there declared,
7 with a fearful look on her face, that if
did not she would press the life out Of
my body and as she spoke | felt her
weight getting heavier and heavier, until
at last | began to cell out for help, as
you heard me do, and then-Well
then | woke up. But oh it was a fear
ful, sickening, terrifying dream OH, it
was horrible y
Yes, 1T must have been. But didn't
you promise Didn't you swear 2"
No, didn't, not |, dear Catherine
for | shall make sorne money out Of il
Clear
All, that's right! But ali, Abraham
feel very much frightened !"
4 Ia frightened? What for ?"
"Why, the basket-the basket? Yot
3 know it's in the closet there? 2"
|, oh, bonner, yes! forgot all abou.
that. Is there any key to that closet 2
G Yes, and the door is locked"
5 All, well, that's all right theR-thatl
} all rightF'
Then you are not afraid? n
/" Afraid No and | don't care if
am, SO long as Pm going to be paid for it,
d |How.are you going to be paid for it,
This way. iii go down to the Polio
Court tomorrow morning, and tell th
Q Judge that I expect somebody at N