Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-01
THE DEAD ALIVE.

5HlODS tuem all nome is UlOTo ISLioAN"pA0
and soul narrowing than the one just to
be narrated. The facts were given to the
= writer recently, "andit is 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 a Mr..
Bell, young gentleman OF twenty-five
He inherited large estate from his I'M
Gle, and soon after removed from his for
mer abode to take possession OF the family
mansion in Kilmare. He married the on
lv child of 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 symtoms were of peculiar nature,
and the limbs so increased In size i'm
mediatelv after death that a 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 themost 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 dav 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 a white figure
crossing the lawn in front of the house.
The next moment it disappeared, and,
satisfying himself that he was the SUBJ
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 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
Ia mp 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 bu Ter 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 en- the floor
apparently in a swoon. What was Mr..
Bells surprise to see the Butler raise his
hands, Tx his gaze upon the door, and
then sink to the floor as though struck
dead.
Utterly bewildered and COMPOUNDED,
Sir. Bell fastened down stairs. The sight
that met his gaze when he reached the
center of the hail almost froZe his blood,
There STOOD the figure of his wife in her
grave clothes, leaning against the pillar
of the door, with one hend 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 wifew Mr..
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure.
1t made 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 bereaved husband and child
rem. The explanation which she offered
was very imperfect and unsatisfactory.
For a 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
severe pang shot through her frame
With powerful effort she rose and saw
awoman standing by Der side. The wo.
man shrieked and fed, and then Mrs
Bell discovered that she was living in q
coffin in the family vault. Fresh strength
came to her every moment and releasing
herself from the shroud, she stepped tc
ground and passed out of the vault, the
door of which was wide open. Down
the churchyard path she passed to the
main street, along which she walked fol
half, a mile until she reached her late
home. Fortunately the large gate to Tho
park was unfastened, and she FASTENED
up the roadway to the dwelling. The
rest the reader knows. She rapidly re-
gained her health, and lived to a gooi
old age.
But who was the woman who stood b,
the side of the coffin, when the corpse sud
denly arose and started her into sudden
flight2
tipguished on the floor of the vault L
was identified as one which unusually
stood in the vestry, and was used by thu
sext' n. 1t had doubtless been removed
at the same time when the kew of tn,
vault was taken. Beyond that all wa
mys.cry. ~
The object Of the woman, however. wa
easily discovered. As already stated
Mrs. Bell was buried with valuabl
diamond ring on her finger. The de
sign OF the woman was to steal thi
from the supposed corpse. Finding i
impossible t. remove it, the daring THE
had raised the hand of the lead woman
up to her mouth, and. in her attempt Il
withdraw the-ring with her;teeth, caused
the pang which went through the franz
OF the evident victim of a trance, AM
aroused her to consciousness -0n TIL
finger, just below the ring, the marks q
teeth were distinctly visible for severa
DAYS after Mrs. Bells resuscitation
Every effort was made TO keen this re