Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-06-27

den thought struck him and, slouch
ing down, he reached in at the door
and with his shears which he had
brought t to rid the corpse of its cum
bersome shroud, he cut piece from
the skirt of the woman's dress amt
retired unobserved. AS he remain
ed for an instant peering into the
strang scene, to his horror and as
tonishment he saw the corpse arise
and raise the band which the
woman was apparently in the
act of putting to her mouth. The
woman gave shrek, rushed through
the door and lied, leaving the lamp
burning on the floor. The body
snatcher guessed at once the wo-
mans design. and, impressed with
the conviction that she was a person
of more than ordinary rank, he re-
solved to follow and see where
she went to. He had no difficulty
in tracking the rapidly retreating
6gure. 1t passed out of the church
yard, at a small wicket on the north
side of the church, and entered the
parsonage. Satisfied that he pos
seSsed an important secret, out of
which he could make money, he re-
taraed to the vault. The light was
still burning and he signalled the
men in waiting. They were soon
on the spot, but on entering the
vault they discovered, to their
amazement, that the coffin was
empty. The body-snatcher kept lis
secret and the mysterious disap-
pearance of the body was a matter
of unmiAed surprise. Extinguish-
Ing the lamp, the men quit the
churchyard, the bOly-slatcher re-
turned to his quarters a. a small
inn and the assistants going back to
Belfast in the carriage.
The next morning the news OF
Mrs. b Ills restoration to life WAS
abroad in the town. The body
snatcher fingered in the neighbor-
hood until he ascertained that cler-
gyman had quilted home for a
friends house. Then he called at
the parsonage and asked for the lady
of the house. 1t was with some diff
ficulty that he obtained an inter
view, as.the domestic informed him
that the lady was indisposed and
confined to her room. my busi-
ness" he said, 'is Of very great i'm
portance, and it is absolutely neces'
sary that / should see her."
After the laps of half an hour a
middle aged handsome, stately lady
entered the parlor, and gazing with
considerable dignity at her visitor,
said &:
"Wha; is your business with me,
sir p
"I.et me shut the door, ma'am,
he said, and quickly stepping be-
hind the lady, closed the door. 81
think we have met before, ma'am, "
he said in firm but respectful tone.
"Sir ?" the lady exclaimed in Of
Tended accents.
81 am sure we have met before,
ma'am, the man said.
"You are mistaken, sir" the Lady
replied, ''utterly mistaken ; you
will oblige me by quitting the house
Immediately.
You forgot last night, ma'am
in the vault" the man SAID in ioN
tone.
The cheek of the lady evidently
blanched, and she gave a gasp for
breath. Instantly recovering her
self she said
II don't understand you, sir.
You are laboring under a mistake" "
"Well, l may be-" the man re-
piled "that's fact but my i'm
preston was that l saw you last
night in the vault when you were
trying to remove the ring from the
finger of what you supposed to be
corpse.
The lady had sunk into a chair,
and was deadly pale. BY a power
full effort she overcame her moment
ary weak ness, and said in strong
tones 81 do not know, sir, what
you speak of. You are laboring
under a mistake or you are a lunatic.
"Do you happen to have a dress
like this, ma'am 7" the man asked
drawing from his pocket the piece
which he had cut from the dress of
the orcupant of the vault the night
before.
The ladY's lips grew white and
dry. She tried to speak, but her
tongue Glove to the roof of her
mouth, AMI utterance was impossi-
BILE.
81 am reasonable, madam" the
man said ; 81 know your secret, but
l will keep it if you make it worth
M Z, y,hiIo