The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-10
The Dead Alive.

Mr.. Bell, a 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 ill and expired the next
day.
The old churchyard 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 immemorial
usage, the body of the deceased lady was
to repose, and there 1t was deposited the
third day after her demise. Alter the
ceremony the key Ct tue vault was put in
the usual place by the sexton, in the YES
Try of the church.
The day had been gloomy and as night
came on the thin ram fell, which in
creased at about midnight to smart
shower Mr. Bell was about retiring
when the clear tones Of the door bell
rang through the building Mr.. Bell
opened the door and stepped out into The
corridor. At that moment, as he glanced
down the hall, he saw the housekeeper
moving toward the doo-. Then he heard
her set the small lamp she carried on the
table end open the bolts of the door.
Their dreadful and prolonged shrek
follon ed, and at the same moment the
butler ran along the hall toward the front
door. Mr.. Bell reached the head Of the
stairs and was in the act OF descending
when the butler then reached the spot
where the housekeepcr lay apparently in
swoon. What was Mr.. Bells surprise
10 see the butler raise his hands, fix his
gaze upon the door, and then sink TO the
floor as if struck dead.
Utterly bewildercd and confoundcd
Mr.. Bell fastened down s'airS. The sight
tina. met his gaze when he reached 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.
lula, my darling WIFE Mr.. Bell ex-
claimed, and stepped forward toward the
squire.
1t made a movement toward him, and
the next instant it was EMBODIED in his
arms. 1t was indeed the wife, but that
dav buried, who was restored to the
arms Of the bereaved 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 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
$40 sne had was one OF pain. Then she
Ew an indistinet glimmer. With a
powerful effort she arose and saw
woman standing BY her side. The
woman shrieked and fed, and then Mrs.
Bell discovered that she was lying in a
EnfRn in the family vault. Fresh strength
cane to her every moment, and releasing
herseM from her shroud she stepped to
the ground and passed out Of tine vault,
the door of which was wide open.
Down tn. church; ard path she passed to
tns main street. along which she walked
for half a mile. until she reached her late
home Fortunately the large gate to the
park was unfastened, and she fastened up
The road way to the dwelling.
The rest has been told. She rapidly
Jeeained her health and lived TO a good
old aye.
Next day the lamp was found extln-
guished on the floor OF the vault. ltwas
identified as one which usually stood in
the ves.ry, and was used by the sexton.
1t had doubtless been removed at 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
it,'the daring thief had raised the hand of
the dead woman to Ter 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 aroused her consciousness
On tie finger, just below the ring.
marks OF teeth were distinctly visible for
several days after Mrs. Bells resuscita-
ton.
Soon after this extraordinary occur
renee the vicar Of the church resigned
his living and removed his family to Eng
land Several vearx Dassed awav and the