The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-04
THE DEAD ALIVE,

Hundreds of stories are related of the
horrible deeds of the body-snatcher. but
among them all none is more remarka-
BILE and soul-harrowing than the one
Just about to be narrated The facts
were given to the writer recently, and
it is believed that they are now pub
lished for the first time.
In the town of Kilmare, in the north
of Ireland, reside many families of dis
tinction. The head of one of these was
MIR. Bell, a young gentleman of twen-
ty-1ve. He inherited large estate
from his uncle, and soon after removed
from his former abode to take possess
sion of the family mansion in Kilmare.
He married the only child of wealthy
East India merchant residing in Liver
pool, by whom he had two children.
In the fourth year of their welded life
Mrs. Bell was taken suddenly i'll, and
expired the next day. The symptoms
were of peculiar nature, and the limbs
so increased in size Immediately after
death that magnificent diamond ring
of great value could not be removed
from the lady's finger, and was buried
with her OF course, this fact was well
known to the inhabitants of Kilmare,
as Mrs. Bell was the wife of the most
considerable man thereabout, and nat
urally, therefore, all concerning her
was matter of conversation and rumor
The old churchyard of Kilmare stood
on the side of the hill, and immediately
in the rear and adjoining the chancel
was the tomb of the Bell family. Here,
in accordance with immemorial usage,
the body of the deceased lady was to
repose, and there it was deposited on
the third day after her demise. After
the ceremony the key of the vault was
put into its usual place by the sexton
in the vestry of the church.
The day had been gloomy and as
night drew on thin rain fell, which
increased at about midnight to a smart
shower. Mr.. Bell, who was about re-
firing, went to an open window, and as
he did so fancied he saw white figure
crossing the lawn in front of the house.
The next moment it disappeared, and,
satisfying himself that he was the sub
ject OF delusion, he commenced to I'M
dress. Suddenly the clear tones of the
door-bell rang through the building.
Mr.. Bell paused and moved toward the
door of the apartment to listen. In a
few seconds the sound again reverberat-
ed through the house and Mr.. Bell
opened the door and stepped out into
the corridor. At that moment, as he
glanced down the stairway, he saw the
housekeeper moving toward the front
door. Then he heard her set the small
lamp she carried on the table and open
the locks and bolts of the massive door.
Then a dreadful and prolonged shrek
followed, and at the same moment Mr..
Bells butler ran along the hall toward
the front door. Mr.. Bell had reached
the head of the stairs and was in the
act of descending when the butler
reached the spot where the housekeeper
lay on the floor apparently in swoon.
What was Mr.. Bells surprise to see the
butler raise his hands, fix his gaze upon
the door and then sink to the floor as
though struck dead.
Utterly bewildered and COMPOUNDED
Mr. Bell fastened downstairs. The
sight that met his gaze when he reached
the center of the hall almost froze his
blood. There stood the figure of his
wife in her grave clothes, leaning
against the pillar of the door, with one
hand thrown across her breast. For q
moment Mr.. Bell was almost overcome.
Then he remembered the white figure
which he saw crossing the lawn few
seconds before the bell rang, and an
other glance showed him that the gar
ments of the figure before him were
dripping with rain.
Julia, my darling, my wifer' Mr..
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure.
1t made a movement toward him,
and the next instant it was EMBODIED in
his arms. The scene that ensued baf-
files all description. 1t was indeed the
wife but that day buried, who was re-
stored to the arms of the bereaved hus-
band and children. The explanation
which she offered was very imperfect
and unsatisfactory. For short time
after her supposed death she was aware
of all that went on around her, but be-
fore she was placed in the coffin she
lost all. consciousness. She said that
the first sensation of consciousness she
had was one of pain. Then she saw an
indistinct glimmer, and finally severe
pang shot through her frame. With a
powerful effort she rose and saw a