The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-08-26

head admonishei me to sit down asair
But the movement had somehow set afoa
dust of choking, bitter mould, and it wa
torture torestrain coughing fit.
Then followed solemn speculations con
corning the people here congregated in th
, bed chamber of death. Was there env
ard malice among them? No leer of th
eye, no scornfq toss of the head, no scath
ing irony could make uncomfortable anoth
er's pillow nor his dreams. Every fac
with its fixed expression was laid down be
low lis neighbor's scanning or criticism.
Was there sacrih3ing affection? va
there undyins love felt for another? Non
could stretch out the confronting hand an
kindly ask, Are you cold, or weary2
SO intensely was my mind occupied Will
this solemn imaginary, that faint, steady
distinct movemen. somewhere in the tomt
failed to arouse me to the alarming eircum
stances, until the stiff, slow, dragging nois,
had been repeated.
But 1t was so incomprehensible that
could get bat one idea--that it was copst
turning in ts.cofin. Again l leaped up
again. on the same side Of my head as be.
fore, was sharply admonished by the cot
tiu to remain seated.
Had L been near the recently entombed
banker, | should have seized the idea that
he was alive and struggling within his
ahroud; but moments reasoning conyino-
ed me to the contrary. The sound was toe
guarded: too distinct, to be made by per-
son screwed within a coffin.
/ listened breathlessly for repetition of
the noise, but it came not. Then 7 tried
to anilyze it. How could rat have pro
duced the sound? What conld he be drag
ging about? 1t was like the hauling up Of q
woman's dress, or robe. If it would come
again, | thought that / could make it out.
1t did come fainter, but could take my
oath that it was among the coffns above
roy head. Bah. rats banqueting--hist! |
had nearly spoken it aloud. There was q
sound outside, faint, b.t distingrishable to
me, as when one is in cellar and there is
! tramping overhead. Some one is coming.
1t was uuspeakable relief 20 hear the KEY
CRATE in tie lock, and to know that living
mortal-although midnight thief and as
sassin, perhaps-was about to enter the
tomb.
Cautiously, with the movements of a
panther, he entered--a man with heavy
beard and moqstaehe e sr lie 9 eaFfifPal fPalU1
near the new coffin, and fumbling meath his
cloak, In moment produced a serewlriver
and began operations on the fastenings.
having frs softly closed the door. watch
ed every movement; saw him raise the lid
and glance within; saw him give a nervous
start and reach out fer the lantern to turn
its light more fully upon the ccpso. He
then recoiled with such quick and unezpec.-
horror that be knocked the light from his
hand, eZtingrishing it, and stumbling on
souie slight unevenness Of the floor he fel,
against the closed door, aud the sharp click
struck like a knife into my heart. The
spring lock had fastened the dead and the
living together.
/ | heard mufied thud upon tie earth, a
howl of horror, and then, God Of the uni
verse! down came coffin from over my
| head with dab, and with clammy sweat
ouzing at every pore, under the shelf of
rock, l listened to the diabOlcal hrbbub IN
| that charnel house. Knowing that wae
not in an incubus state, believed that |
had gone mad. Utter darkness enveloped
the unearthly combatants, but | could
imagine the whole scene. The racket, tie
hub5ub, and choking, bitter dust around
me, convinced me that not only had tie
coffin above me leaped from its perch, but
others also were joined in the fray, waltz
ing on the feet end, wringing their lids a
each other, and butting their heads /
was toe much for mortal mind to endure
| should have shouted, but what good woult
my voice have done amid the dull thump
ing and sepulchral, hingless coughs.
Seized With a mad impulse to know tn
worst, came out from my covert and crop
ed and grappled for something in the cper
space; but my feet tangled in shroud be
meath them, and plunging and stumblin
/ fell clear along the whole distance of th
, tomb, striking the wall just as another,
, child's casket, rushed into the fight.
Then ensued frightful silence-a silenc
so awful aad complete, that l should nav
/ deemed all that had taken place before, ii
, horrors of dream, had it not been for th
: sufocating dust that rendered breathin
D convulsive and painful
: For long time this silence lasted
e seemed an age. Perhaps it was an hou
e when that stealthy, crawling Increment be
o. gan.--The rebber. doubtless, ignorant
e the fact OF the spring-lock, was seekir
@ egress at the door.
Slammed as l bad been By my fall, cou
T only lie still, as the terrible warfare aga
: began with fercer fury than before. Ii;
t known which way to move, or what
e take hold Of, should have once more a
IS tempted to mingle in the tamult.
i This tussle seemed only faint spasm
= the other, for it soon died down again, ar
e the early dawn of the summer day, must
| at hand, but invisible, if the clouds we
4 piled upon each other as thiokly as in {
it evening.
lp Halt suffocated, feeling that was il
bibing in pinehes of snuff the whole Dona
rs pedigree, I iu,patiently, savagsly await
IN Harney's return.
ct What if business should keep him, or
to should quite forget my case !? / was oblig
to Danish the idea, the while that expe
en- ed mo9entry an attack the key grated