Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-08-24
ssIn Mount Glaze Cemetery

| wv ell, Ola lcIloW, VIII bet you the
price of a champagne supper that You
dare not go at II O'Clock tonight, stick
pen knife in his grave and leave it
there"
Nonsense I replied, 'I should be
robbing you" .-.-.
"WiIl you take my bet ?"
1 was by this time in state of demi-
intoxication, and felt that l was equal to
anything therefore, without moments
hesitation, cried out s'Done.''
The moment the word had passed my
lips repented my foolish wager; but it
was too late to retract. Ny friend look
ed at his watch, it was then half past
eleven. 1t was therefore time | should
set out. 1t was agreed that l was to 90
to the grave and wait there till the GEM
etery clock struck II, with the last stroke
[ was to plunge my pen knife into the
grave and leave it there. = :r.t -... .-.
took another large tumbler of brandy
and water to keep up my courage, and
started off on my foolhardy excursion.
Until the last house of the town was
passed | got along very well, but when
| reached the dark road leading to the
cemetery my heart began to fail me. l
whistled to distract my attention, sang,
l called out. but the only answer | re-
ceived was dull echo 1t was no use.
felt my courage fast oozing away, but
shame made me proceed.
forgot to say that it was q windy,
clustering November night, and so dark
could scarcely see my hand before my
face ..-t
The moaning of the wind amongst the
huge trees lining the road, did not tend
to reanimate me. plodded on III a state
of miserable, abject fear.
AT length reached the cemetery gate
and with trembling hand swung open
the massive portal.
Jenkins grave was ut the farther end
of the cemetery, and had, as it were, to
walk through whole city of graves be-
fore reached it. How | got there l
know not, for by this time | was com
pletely unnamed, and my legs trembled
under me as if they were afflicted with
palsy. All the horrible incidents l had
ever read i'll romances came back to my
mind in the most vivid manner. could
! just trace the forms of the white tomb
stones which lay in my path. Twenty
times | transformed them into spectres,
and fancied they were advancing toward
me. More than once l turned my back
to fly from the accursed spot; but more
powerful feeling than fear prevented me
namely, the dread of derision.
AT last | reached the spot where the
drunkard was buried. could distinctly
detect the form of newly made grave.
pulled out my pen knife and held it in
my hand, ready to plunge it into the
grave when the clock should strike II.
| do not know how long | waited; it
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 a start, and then, even in
the midst Of my fears, smiled at my folly.
1t was only the cemetery clock striking
twelve. l waited until eleven strokes
had been sounded, and while the last
was still ringing l stopped down and
plunged the pen knife deeply in the brown
earth. L then attempted to rise, but
great heavens l was tixed-immovable.
A hoarse sound of mocking laughter
rang through the cemetery, as if it pro-
ceeded from some being deriding me-
Again | made the attempt-and again
something held me back. was dragged
downtown, until lay all my length
on the grave !; | felt the cold earth against
my face. The laughter was repeated; it
was now distinct and perceptible, and
grated on my ears. Pcrspiration pour
ed from my brow like water, my hands
trembled, and there was such an oppres-
sion about my heart that it appeared as
ifit must cease to beat. The last words
of the miserable wretch came forcibly in
to my mind-"Fool that you are, l will
haunt you after death !" 1t was true then
| was in his power, and spirits did revis-
it the eartlr. ..-
While I lay down I no longer felt the
invisible thing holding me. 1t must have
relaxed its grasp. 1 began to reason
with myself-could have been deceived
was it simply hallucination of my
senses /? As / asked myself these ques-
tions l began to gain little courage.
| cautiously got upon my knees and the
blood began to return to my check, for
no hand held me back now.
l remained in this position a minute to
collect my energies, and then made
movement to attain standing posture
but oh horror Of horrors the thing was
holding me again Yes-it was no dream
it was no hallucination-it was a pal
pable, stern reality. The drag was steady
ntinuous-down-d again on the
mound of earth which covered the body
of the wretched drunkard. AT this mo-
ment, too, the wind increased in violence;
again the horrid laughter greeted my ear
it was even intensified in harshness.-
l could hear no more / shr:eked aloud
in agony, and made desperate efforts to
get free; but it was all in vain. Exhaust
ed nature could hold out no longer-my
energies failed me, and | sank into state
of o+rnoonSo;oncnaec
How long lay there / know not; but
when 1 came to myself it was broad day
light. | made movement to get up,
but found was held fast as before. The
daylight, however, gave me courage, and
| began to look around me. A single
glance convinced me there was no visible
spirit at work. l began to examine the
ground, and the mystery was explained
to me in q moment. When had thrust
| L r. IL 7 Ill Il.