Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-04-20

One Of my friends looked curlously at
me, replied
wv hereabouts is that Jenkins bur-
led"
"In Mount Glare Cemetery"
Glow far is that from the city,"
/ "About mile.
'.Well, old fellow, I will bet you the
price of a champagne supper that you
dare not 90 at II O'Clock tonight, stick
penknife in his grave and leave it
| there.
Nonsense, I replied, Il should be
! robbing you =
"1Vill you take sp my bet p
I was by this time in a state of deml-
intoxication, and felt that [ was equal
to anything; therefore without mo-
ments hesitation, [ cried out, "Done y
The moment the word had passed my
lips rcpented my foolish wager but 1t
was too late to retract Ny friend look
ed at his watch, it was then 'haff-past
eleven. It was therefore time should
set out It was agreed that [ was to go
to the grave and wait there till the GEM
etery clock struck twelve, with the fast
stroke [ was to plunge my penknife into
the grave and leave it there.
I took another large tumbler of brandy
and water to keep up my courage, and
started off on my fool-hardy excursion.
Until the last house Of the town was
passed I got along very well, but when
| reached the dark road leading to the
cemetery my heart began to fail me. |
whistled to distract my attention; sang
] called out, but the only answer re-
ceived was a dull echo. It was no use.
| felt my courage fast oozing away, but
shame made me proceed.
I forgot to say it was a windy, blust-
ering November night, and SO dark |
could scarcely see my hand before my
face
The moaning of the wind amongst the
huge trees lining the road did not tend
to reanimate me. I plodded on in a
state Of miserable, abject fear.
At length I reacbed the cemetery gate
ard with trem bling hand swung open
the massive portal
Jenkins grave was at the further end
If the cemetery, and had, as it were
to walk through whole city Of graves
before reached it. How got there |
know not, for by this time was com
Iletcly unnamed, and my legs trem-
bicd under me as if they were afflicted
with palsy Al the horrible incidents
/ had ever read in remances came back
to my mind in tie most vivid manner.
I could Just trace the forms Of the white
tombstones which lay in my path
Twenty times | transformed them into
spcctrcs, and fancied they were advance
ing toward me. More than once | turn
ed my back to fly fron the accursed
spot but more powerful feeling than
fear prevented mc-namely, the dread of
derision.
At last I reached the spot where the
drunkard was buried. [ could distinct
" detect the form Of the newly made
grave. [ pulled out my penknife and
held it in ny hand, ready to plunge i
into tt grave when the clock should
strike twelve.
I do not know how long [ waited it
appeared an age to me. All the time l
was there the wind moaned and whistled
round the old tombstones, as if interro-
eating me as to my business there.
Suddenly sound vibrated through
! the air. [ gave start, and then, even
in the midst of my fears, smiled at my
folly. It was only the cemetery clock
striking twelve [ waited until eleven
strokes had been sounded, and while
the last was still ringing stopped down
and plunged the penknife deeply in the
brown earth / then attempted to rise,
bat great heavens. I was fxed-im-
movable. A hoarse sound of tpocking
laughter rang through the cemetery, as
, if it proceeded from some being derid-
ing me. Again I made the attempt
and again something held me back. |
was dragged down-down; until [ lay all
, my length on the grave; felt the cold
J earth against my face. The laughter
was repeated it was now dictinet and
pereeptible, and grated on my ears
VI : pm dtiou poGicu ii ioiIi III ulo" inv
water my hands trembled, and there
, was such an oppression about my heart
| that it appeared as if it must cease to
beat The last words of the miserable
wretch came forcibly into my mind
) .'Fool that you are, [ viii haunt you
} after death !" L was true then, I was
| in his power, and spirits did revisit the
, earth.
While [ lay down no longer felt the
invisible thing holding me. 1t must
have relaxed lis grasp. began to rec
, son with myself could I have been de-
ceived-was it simply a hallucination OF
my senses? As [ asked myself these
questions | began to gain little cour-
age. | cautiously got upon my knees
aud the blood began to return to my
cheek, for no hand held me back now.
, Irenained in this position for min
ute to collect ny energies, and then made