Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-04-24
WOODSTOCK, VT,, WEDNESDAY, APRIL "a, 1878

had done several small jobs In Belfast
for the doctors, aud on the night @
July goth, IN the year named, q We
known physician Of Belfast sent 70
him aud told him that he had q YER
delicate piece Of work for hun to pei
form, A Mrs, BELL, a lady Of grea
beauty, aud the wife Of a rich proprie
tor had just died Of n very peculla
disease, aud the doctor aud his asaocl
ates desired the body, to investigate
the cause Of death. The doctor lai(
some money down, and dispatched
him TO KIlmare with such instructions
rs were necessary, lie was TO secure
the corpse, aud 4 coach would be
ready at the churchyard gate, In which
there would ho two assistants, who
would be ready TO aid him at n given
signal,
Ito went 10 Kilnlarc on tho day OF
the funeral, NJ which hc was present.
He examined the lock OH the door Of
the vault, and was satisfied that he
could easily remove It, AT midnight
he went TO the churchyord armed with
n wrench, q pair OF shears and n pad.
lock, First satisfying himself that
the coach was waiting, lac entered the
graveyard and proceeded to the vault,
The night was dark and the rain
falling. Creeping up at the side Of
the church, he approached the tomb
Of the Bell family, 10 his surprise
he found the door was open, and a
faint light burning inside -Stcalthily
drawing uear he glanced in.-He saw
the coffin lying along the marble slab,
and in front OF il n woman was stand.
Ing, A second glance showed him
that the woman was at worb trying to
remove ring from the finger of the
dead. A sudden thought struck him,
and crouching down he reached in at
the door, and with the shears which |
he had brought to rid the corpse Of It's
shroud, he cut piece
rom the skirt of the woman's dress
and retired unobscrved. AS he re.
NAMED for an instant peerng in at
the strange scene, to bis horror and
lstonishment he saw the corpse arise
md iaise the hand which the woman
was apparently IN the act of putting
% her mouth. The woman gave
shrek, rushed through the door and
led, leaving the lamp burning on the
loor.
The body snatcher guessed at once
he woman's design, and, impressed
With the conviction that she was
person above the ordinary rank, he
esolved to follow and see where she
vent to- He had no difficulty in track
ne the rapidly retreating figure. 1t
passed ont of the churchy ard at
mall wicket on the north side of the
hurch and entered the parsonage.
Satisfied that he possessed an i'm
'orlant secret out of which he could
make money, he returned to the vault.
The light was still burning, and he
ignaled the man in waiting. They
'ere soon on the spot, but entering |
he vault they discovered to their ut
er amazement that the coffin was
mpty. The body-snatcher kept his q
ecret, and ,he mysterious disappear ,
nee of the body was a matter of un- t
liked surprise. Extnguishiug the q
imp, the men quit the churchyard,
lie body snatcher returning to his
uarters at a small inn, and the assist +,
nts going back to Belfast IN the car i
age. g
The next morning tie news of s
[rs. Bells restoration to life was n
broad in the town. The body-snatch-
fingered in the neighborhood until !,
. ascerlained that the clergyman had
lifted home for friends house.
hen he called at the parsonage and n
ked for the lady of the house. 1t 81
as with some difficulty that he OBJ t'
ined an interview, as the domestics u
formed him that the lady was indis. al
,sed and confined to her room. III
"My business" he said is of very re
eat importance, and it is absolutely III
ccessary that should see her. y
After the lapse Of half an hour a p'
ddle,aged, handsome, stately lady Gu
tered the parlor, and gazing with 10
usiderable dignity at her visitor, ye
id: III
"What is your business with me, w
"Let me shut the door, ma'am," he pu
d, and quietly stepping behind the re
", he CLOSED the door,
81 think we have met before,