, 1862-06-05

Accompanied Dy Two Hlends VINO were ledgueu
with him in the vile scheme, Dickson set out with
the corpse, and, arriving at the appointed place
about nine o'clock awaited the coming Of the physi-
clans. The room they occupied was on the ground
floor, the raf.ers were black with age and smoke,
several gloOmy-looking pictures hung around the
gloomy walls, and the sorry tallow candle shed
over all Pickering, unsteady light.
Dickson and his companions were seated at the
table, eDdeavoring to keep up their tagging spirits
by frequent potatiODs Of ale the coffin containing
the corpse was placed near them, the lid unecrewed
everything was IN readiness 10 consumtnate their
unhOly traffic except the presence Of the physicians
Just as the clock midnight, they arrived, two un-
prepOssessing- looking men, and with them they
brought everything that was necessary to convey
their burden secretly back to the city.
Dickson greeted them with undisguised delight,
for he was anxious to bring the tragedy to Close
and once more they all seated thetiselfes around
the table to make the final arrangements A
storm had sprung up during the evening, and, as
they sat delibeFating, the bright lightning cleaned
in through the narrow easement, and the wind and
thunder made the old house tremble.
Listen" said Dickson, in d low frightened tone,
suddenly pausing and dropping from his greedy
fingers the gold pieces he was counting for the third
time, in order to assure himself that the physicians
had given the correct amount" listenl did you
hear anything stranger ...
"No, nothing but the wind and rain" answered
the elder Of the two doctors, petulantly. "There
count your money, and don't make fool Of your
self" .a'r l...
Thus roughly reassured, Dickson once more ap-
piled himself to his task, but again paused, and
this time with increased trepidation.
IL am certain heard q sound, and i was nei-
ther wind nor rain" he muttered. Listen, all Of
you." .....-.. ..-..,.-.
Every lin was hushed this time even the tenn
pest seemed to have mOmentarily lnlled It's fury I;
silence like death pervaded the gloomy room,
only broken by the mysterious sound that had at
tracted the attention Of the guilty Dickson, and
that SO md came from the coffin standing hard by
All eyes were bent in the direction indicated, and
a cold perspiration oozed from every brow, for to
their horror the lid commenced 10 move, and be
fore they had time to exchange glances or draw
breath, the corpse was sitting bolt upright before
them, clad In the habiliments Of the grave, but
with eyes wide open and glaring.
Then Dickson, in an agony Of terror, iell down
on his knees, crying aloud: ts.7..
"Spare mel spare mel Iconfess all, only spare
mel 1t was that did It, all alone, guilty wretch
that am am double mnrdereFF
By this tine the physicians At least had Feeov-
cred from their CONSERVATION, and one Of them,
instantly producing llnceti appllcl ~ " the arm
Of the supposed corpse. In les than an hour
thereafter she was sufficiently recovered to be put
into bed, and such restOratives were used Is the
case required.
All this time the wretched Dickson, fully con-
vinced that the dead had arisen to condemn him,
never stopped uttering his confession that he i was
who had committed the murder. purposely to bring
his wife to public shame and death, and thereby
satate the reYengeful feelings that be cherished on
account of her love for another. -...
have only to add to this strange recital Of 10
suscitation, after lie was supposed to be utterly
extinct, that Dickson was secured and carried back
to Edinburgh, where be paid the penalty Of his
crimes on the very scafOld to which he had once
brought his innocent and beautiful vile, and then
his own body went to the dissecting-room Of the
very physicians to whom he had sold Margaret, 50
that after all they were not disappointed Of sub
ject. II they found any life in him when they
took possession, it = very certain that none was
left when they got through with him.
As for Margaret, for many years she remained
in quiet and secusion; but al length she yielded
to the earnest entreates Of her first lover and lived
happily with him for nearly thirty years after she
was hanged. Other children, too, gathered around
her board, and made her freside happyi but she
never forgot the dear one that first sank to rest,
and for whose murder she bad been condemned
and executed. ,l...