The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-03-06
The Dead Alive.

OF Ireland, resided many IamlileS OF QlS-
tinction. The head Of one of these vas
Mr.. Bell, young gentleman Of IS. He
married the only child of a wealthy East
India merchant residing in Liverpool. by
whom he had two children. In the fourth
wear of their welded life Mrs. Bell was
taken suddenly iii and expired the next
day.
The old churchvard of Nilmarc, stood
on the side Of hill, AMI Immediately III
the rear of the church and adjoining the
chaucel was the tomb OF the Bell family
Here, in accordance with immemorial
usage, the body of the deceaScI lady was
10 repose. aad there It was deposited the
third day after her denise. Alter Inc
ceremony the key Of the vault was pul in
the usual place by he sexton, II the YES
try 0. the church.
The day had been gloomy and as night
came on the thin rain fell, which in
creased at about midnight to a smart
shower. NJ. Bell was ahou. retiring
when the clear ZONES OF the door bell
rang through the building. Mr.. Bell
opened The door and stepped out into the
Corr.jer At int moment, as ne glanced
down the hall, he saw the housekeeper
moving toward the doo-. Then he heard
her Sc, the small lamp she carried on the
table and o zen the bolts of the door.
Then q .adtul and prolonged shrek
followed. and at the same nome the
butler ran ong the hall toward the front
doo.. Mr. Bel! reached the head OF the
stairs and was in the act OF descending
when the butler then reached the SPOT.
where the housskeepcr lay apparently in
swoon. VIVA, was Nj Bells surprise
to see the butler raise his hands. fix his
gaze upon the door, and then sink 10 the
floor as il struck dead.
Utterly bewilderei and COMPOUNDED
Mr.. Bel fastened down sairs. The sight.
that me, his gaze when he reached the
center Of the hall almos, fTozc 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.
lula my darling wife" Mr.. Bell ex-
claimed and stepped forward toward the
figure.
Il made movement toward him, and
the mex. instant i, was embodied in his
arms. 1t was indeed the wife, but that
dav buried, who was restored to the
arms OF the be-eaved husband and to
her children. The explanation which
she offered was very imperfect. For a
short time after her supposed death she
was aware OF all tina, wen, on around
her. but before she was placed in the
coffin she lost all consciousness. She
said that the fret sensation OF conscious
sAA sne had was one OF pain. Then she
saw an indis,inet glimmer. With a
powerful effort she arose and saw a
woman standing BIZ her side. The
woman shrieked and fed, and then Mrs.
Bell discovered that she was lying in a
vofEn in the fam y vault. Fresh strength
cADe 10 her every moment, and releasing
heryeh from her shroud she stepped TO
the ground and passed out OF the vault,
the door of which was wide open.
Down the church; ard path she passed to
tas IN am street, along which she walked
for half mile. until she reached her late
home. Fortunately the large gate to the
park was unfastened, and she fastened up
the roadway to the dwelling
The rest has been told. She rapidly
regsined her health and lived 10 a good
old age
Mex, day the lamp was found ex.in-
guished on the flo,r OF the vault. 1t was
identified as one which usually stood in
the ves.ry, and was used by the sexton.
1t had doubtless been removed a. the
same time when the key Of the vault was
taken. Beyond that all was mystery.
Mrs. Bell was buried with her valuable
diamond ring on her finger. The design
had been to steal this from the supposed
corpse. Finding it impossible to remove
;t,'the daring thief had raised the hand of
the dead woman to her mouth and in
her attempt TO withdraw the ring with
her teeth caused the pang which went
through the frame OF the victim of
trance, and ar oused her consciousness.
On the finger. Just below the ring.
marks OF teeth were distinctly visible for
several days after Mrs. Bells resusci;a-
ton
Soon after this extraordinary occur
renee the vicar Of the church resigned
his living and removed hi, family to Eng
land. Several years passed away and the
incidents herein recorded were almost tor