, 1875-03-06
THE GHOST AT MORLEY.

counties on tne northern DOruer OF
England, is the pleasant old town
of Morley. l once spent SIX
months there on a visit, and re-
member it for the curious old leg
ends of which l pictured it the
scene. Among these tales was
one about a church crypt, which
made a deep impression on my
mind at the time. Opening out
of the crypt into an underground
passage, was a massive oaken
door studded with iron bolts.
Whittier the passage led, no one
knew; but the story ran that it
connected Morley with the town
of Carlisle, sixty miles distant.
But at the time Of my visit au-
thentic stories were in circulation
at Morley calculated to excite
terror. There was not the least
doubt of the fact that within two
or three years the graveyard had
repeatedly been robbed of bodies
by medical students, or by other
persons at their instance. The in
dignation excited in the town by
such outrages was most intense;
and for many months the inhabi-
tants maintained an armed guard
over their church-yard, to pre-
serve it from desecration. The
man employed for this purpose
had been discharged from the fur
ther performance of this duty
about two months previous. Ire
member the church and church
yard well. The inclosure was
quite large, with the church on
one side; near the middle was a
clump of large trees, and among
these was the first grave that had
been robbed; and during my stay
in the town it became the scene Of
another occurrence which attracted
quite as much attention as that
which first gave it notoriety. 1t
was in the spring. A large, costly
entertainment had been given by
one Of the most influential resi-
dents of the town, and it was Of
course attended by all the young
gentlemen best known in society
there. Prominent among these
was William Shelley, the younger
son of a baronet who was an ex-
tensive landowner in the neigh
borhood. He was one OF those
dashing young fellows, popular
with his associates and friendly
with all men, though inclined to be
q little conceited. 1t was while
at supper with some six or eight
friends, late in the evening, after
their return from the festival, that
the plan was proposed which led
to the singular event l am about
to relate.
In some way, conversation was
directed toward the subject of the
sacrilegious robberies Of the burial
ground and the recent removal of
the guard. From that it passed
on to ghosts and spectres, and to
the respective beliefs of the speak
ers in regard to their existence.
Among those who most vehement
ly protested his unLelief was young
Shelley. The discussion grew
more and more anima; -: Shelley
indulged in denunciations Of the
pretended reality of ghosts with
more and more severity, until, in
the midst of the controversy, one
of the young men seized huge
earving-knife, sprang to his feet
and cried, Now, Shelley you
may say what you please about
not being afraid, but I'll wager
you that you dare not go tonight
alone into the graveyard and stick
this knife into the empty grave in
the copse. You are afraid to do
it!' "Ha! ba! You are mistak-
en-" answered the young man. |
will do it this very night. No one
shall say that William Shelley ever
trembled at a ghost"
All were in high spirits for the
adventure, and they Immediately
set out for the church. 1t was
nearly midnight. The moon rose
late. and was inst nsering throngh