Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-12
THE DEAD ALIVE.

THE DEAD ALIVE.
In the town of kllmare, IN the north
of ireland, reside many families Of dis
tinction. The head Of one of these was
Mr.. Bell, a young gentleman of twenty
Ave He inherited a large estate from
his uncle, and soon after removed from
his former abode to take possession Of
the family mansion in Kilmare. 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
peculiar nature, and the limbs so in
creased in size Immediately 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 the most
considerable man thereabout, and nat
urally, therefore, all concerning her was
matter Of conversation and rumor.
The old churchyard of Kilmare stood
on the side Of a hill, and Immediately
in the rear of the church, and adjoining
the chancel was the tomb Of the Bell
family. Here, in accordance with i'm
memorial usage, the body of the de-
ceased lady was to repose, and there it
was deposited. After the ceremony the
key of the vault was put in its 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 re-
firing, went to an open window, and as
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 comm enced to
undress. Suddenly the clear tones of
the door-bell rang through the building.
Mr.. Bell paused and moved toward the
door Of the department to listen. In
few seconds the sound again reverbera-
ted through the house, and Mr.. Bell
opened the door and 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 lock and bolts of the massive door.
Then q 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 housekeep-
er lay Oh 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 bewildered and confounded,
Mr.. Bell fastened down stairs. The
sight that met his gaze when hereached
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 mo-
snent Mr.. Bell was almost overcome.
Then he remembered the white figure
which be saw crossing the lawn few
seconds before the bell rang, and anoth-
er glance showed him that the garments
Of the figure before him were dripping
with rain -a7f
Julia, my darling, my Wifep Mr..
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure. e
1t made movement toward him land
the next instant. it was folded in his
arms. The scene that ensued battles
all description. 1t was indeed the wife
but that day buried, who was restored
TO the arms of the bereaved husband
and children. The explanation which
she offered was very imperfect and UNI
satisfactory. For short time after her
supposed death she was aware of all
SHAT went on around her, but before she
was placed in the coffin she lost ali con-
sciousneas. She said the first sensation
of consciousness she had was of pain.
Then she saw an indlstinct 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 a coffin in the family vault.
Fresh strength came to her every mo-
'7nent, and releasing herself from the
,shroud she. stepped to the 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 for half
mile, until she reached her late hcme.
ortunately the large gate of the park
was unfastened, and she fastened up
the roadway to the dwelling. She rap