New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-08-07
THE DEAD ALIVE.

horrible deeds OF the DOQy -SnatCner, Out
among them all none is more remarkable
and soul-harrowing than the one just to
be narrated. The facts were given to the
writer recently, and it 8 believed that
they are now published for the first time.
In the town of Kilmare, ia the north of
Ireland, resides many families Of distinc-
ton. The head Of one Of these was Mr..
Bell, young gentleman of TWENTY-FIVE.
He inherited large estate from his un-
Gle, and soon after removed from his for
mansion in Kilmare. He married the on
ly child of a wealthy East Indian mer-
chant residing in Liverpool, 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 q peculiar nature,
and the limbs so increased in size i'm
mediately, 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
we'll known to the inhabitants of Kilmare,
as Mrs. Bell was the wife of the most con-
siderable man thereabouts, and naturally,
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 in the 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 in
creased at about midnight to smart
shower. Mr.. Bell, who was about retir-
ing 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 un-
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 few
seconds the sound again reverberated
through the house, and Mr.. Bell 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 dreadful and prolonged shrek
followed, and at the same moment Mr..
Bells butler ran along the hall to the front
door. Mr.. Bell had reached the head of
the stairs and was in the act Of descend
ing 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. @s saszs+-..'--ss |'4,
Utterly bewildered and COMPOUNDED,
Mr.. Bell fastened down stairs. 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 moment Mr.. Bell was
overcome. Then he remembered the
white figure which he saw crossing the
lawn a few seconds before the bell rang,
and another glance showed him that the
garments Of the figure before HIM were
dripping with rain.
Julia, my darling, my wife!" Mr..
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure. .-.
1t made a movment toward him and
the next instant it was EMBODIED in his
arms. The scene that eusued battles ali
description. 1t was indeed the wife but
that day buried, who was restored to the
arms of the bsreaved husband and child
ren. 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 before she was placed in the
coffin she lost all consciousness. She
said that the first sensation of conscious
ness she had was one Of pain. Then she
saw an indistinct glimmer, and finally
a severe pang shot through her frame.
With powerful effort she rose and saw
woman standing by Der side. The wo-
man shrieked and fed, and then Mrs.
Bell discovered that she was lying in a
coffin in the family vault. Fresh strength
came to her every moment and releasing
herself from the shroud, she stepped to
ground and passed out OF the vault, the
door of which was wide open. Down
the charchyard path she passed to the
main street, along which she walked for
half mile until she reached her late
home. Fortunately the large gate to the
park was unfastened, and she fastened
up the roadway to the dwelling. The
rest the reader knows She ranidlv re.