Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-04-27
THE DEAD ALIVE.


THE DEAD ALIVE.
4 Midnight Visit to- ~ Family YauIt-The
BOdy -SnatcheT'H Secret.
Hundreds OF stories are related of the
horrible deeds of the body-snstcher, but
among them all none is more remarkable
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 published lor
the first time.
In the town of Kimae, in the north
Of Ireland, reside many families of dis.
tiuctiOn. The head of one of these was a
Mr.. Bell, young gentleman Of twenty.
five. He Inherited large estate from
his uncle, and soon aiterward removed
from his former abode to take possession
of the family mansion in Klmare. He
married the only. child of a 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 a
peculiar nature, and the limbs 50 in,
creased 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 naturally, therefore,
all concerning her was matter of CONVEX
sation and rumOr.
The old churcbyard Of Kilmare stood
on the side of hill, and Immediately in
the rear of the church and adjoining the
chancel was the tomb Of the Bell family
Here, in accordance with immemodal
usage, the body of the deceased lady was
70 repose, and there it was deposited on
the third day after her demise. After
the ceremony the key Of the vault was
put in its usual place by the sexton in
the yestry OF the church.
The day had been gloomy, and as
night drew on thin rain fell, which iu-
creased at about midnight to smart
shower Mr.. Bell, who was about re,
tiring, went 10 an open window, and as
he did 50, fancied he saw white figure
crossing the lawn in front of the Louse.
The next moment it disappeared, and,
satisfying himself that he was the sub>
ject Of a delusion, he commenced to
undrsss, 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 reverberated
through the house, and Mr.. Bell opened
the door and stepped out into the corri~
dor At that moment, as he glanced
down the stairway, he saw the houses
keeper moving toward the front door.
Then he heard her set the small lamp
she carried on the table, and open the
lock 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 en-
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 bewijdered and confounded |
Mr. Bell hastened down stairs. The
sight that met his gaze when he reached |
the centre 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, Fora 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 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 move toward him, and the
next instant it was embodied in his arms.
The scene that ensued battles all de .crip~
tion. 1t was indeed the wife but that
day buried, who was restored to the
arms OF the bereaved husband and chilA
dren. Theexplanation 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 con.
sciOusness she had was one of pain,
Then she saw an indistinct glimmer, and
finally severe pang shot through her
frame, With powerful effort she rose
and saw a woman standing by her side
The woman shrieked and fled, and then
Mrs. Bell discovered that she was lying
in coffin in the family vault, Fresh
strength came to her every moment, and
releasing herself from the shr0ud, she
stepped to the ground and passed out of
the vault, the door of which was wide
open, Down the churchyard 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 untastened, and she
fastened up the roadway to the dwell~
ing. The rest the reader knows. She
rapidly regained her health, and lived 10 {
4 good old age,
But who was the woman who stood
BY the side Of the coffin, when the corpse