The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-26
From the Atlantic for March.
A GhostlY Feud.
The Dead Fighting in Their Graves

If IL appears strange to us mortals, and even
awful. that the disemb bodied spirit can, under
certain conditions unknown to us, revisit the
scenes of its previous existence, how much
more awful and difficult of belief is it that
spirits which have quilted their earthly life in
the unrestrained indulgence of angry and
malevolent passions can yet exercise such an
influence over the corruptiDg clay. which they
apparently left behind them, as to violate the
sacred repose of the tomb and terrify and ap-
pal the living! Such circumstance certainly
occurred at n * Hall, in Lincolnshire and
was long tile theme of conversation in that
county. Tx Hall had bsen ia possess
sion of the Tx family for hundreds OF
years at the time of which l am writing the
ancient line had dwiudled down to two indi-
viduals-the old Squire, in present possession,
and his only brother and destined successor,
who was unmarried, and very little younger
than himself. The hall, which had once been
30 full of life and gsyety, had become the abode
of sorrow and gloom, 10 consequence OF the
early death of the 'Squire's young daughter,
his only child, and the heiress of all his pos
sessions. This death followed in less than
year by that of his wife, to whom he was
deeply attached, had quite broken down the
old 'Squire's health and happiness. The lady
and her daughter were deposited in the family
vault amid the tears and regrets of the villag
ers, by whom they were much aud deservedly be-
loved. For years the Squire had had no inter-
course whatever with his brother, between
whom and the lady of the hall there had been
o lifelong feud; the hatred on her part being
quite of passive nature, as she was never
heard to mention his name; but on his, of the
most abusive and virulent kind, which made
his exclusion from the hall an absolute ne ces-
sity. The cause of this hatred could only be
guessed at, even by the most curious, as none
was ever assigned by either party. When the
old Squire, after his double bereave ment, be-
came almost heart broken, the good pastor OF
the village, whose friendship with the family
had existed for fifty years. erected meeting
and thorough reconciliation between the long
estrauped brothers. and the younger one took
up bis abode once more 10 the house OF bis an
cestors. One only condition was made-tbe
name of his deceased sister-in-law should never
pass his lips. A year passed away. The old
Squire soothed and comforted by the compan-
ionship of his early play fellow, began to re-
cover both his health and spirits; but at this
time q malignant fever broke out in the viii
lage, Among it's victims was the 'Squire's
brother, who during his whole life had known
neither sickness nor disease. He was pros
trated at once and never rallied. The good
minister before mentioned, who we'll knew the
family history, unmoved by that fear of in
lection which made him solitary watcher
took his stand by the bed of the dying man and
vainly endeavored to draw his thoughts to the
eternity which was fast opening before him
His pious words fell upon dull, christening
ears, but, as he touched upon the duty OF for
giveness aud cautiously sllured to his we'll
hot ~ dapQQsad Mrs H
the effect was appalling; all apathy vanished
and though few minutes before apparently
past the power of speech, yet now the SICK mar
broke out into fierce imprecations, and by
last supreme effort raising himself upright IL
the bed, exclaimed; Il know that am dying
but mark my last words, if, when am dead
you dare bury me in the same vault with tina
accursed womeI, the living as w6ll as the deat
ss shall hear from me?' He fell bSck with |
frigbtful oath on his lips and expired. Th
horror-struck minister kent close in his Owl
breast this dreadful death of one be had EnowI
10 long, and thought it more kind, as we'll a
more prudent, to keep the poor Squire in is
nOrance of his brothers last hours. As was thu
invarisble custom in the h family, thu
body, after lying in state for a time, was con
signed with much pomp and ceremony to thu
family vault, and was placed next to the cot.
fins Of the 'Squire's wife and daughter. Tba
very plight the villagers living near the church
yard were disturbed by doleful shreks ant
cries proceeding from the vault-a noise o.
strife and struggling and blows, as if of enc
niles engaged in close fight. The next morn
ing at daylight the strange tale was carried tt
the rectory, and the good clergyman thought il
best under the circumstances, to disclose tt
the Squire his brothers last fearful threats
and to suggest the opening of thu vault. TIC
this the Squire. greatly shocked, consented
and the vault was unlocked and entered by q
party set to examine into the GAUGE of the
strange noises heard the night before. A
scene perfectly inexplicable met their eyes
The collins of the 'Squire's lady and daughte
were lying in q far corner of the vault, tn
yong girls coffin across her mothers as IL Il
protect it. Close to them, standing erect an
menacing, was the coffin Of the 'Squire's broth
or, so recently and decor0usly placed upon tn
black trestles. Amusement seized the bystand
ers, but under the superintendence OF prope
people the collins were restored to their .origi
nal places, and the vault was again closed. A
night the noises began again; the sound o
- blows, shrieks TO pain, and frjghtful contep
tention of struggling enemies appalled, the par
ty of villagers set to watch the place in orde
to prevent the possibility of deception. Th
tale was whispered far beyond the precincts Q
the village, and Swans from the neighborini
city, who laughed at the idea of anything gu
pernatural, suggested that an explosion Of ga
from the foul air of the vault might have 0coa
stoned the displacement of the collins. Tn
Squire was induced to have large ventilator
placed in the vault; but this did no in the
least abate the nuisance, which to tn, terror o
the village rather increased than diminished
AtleDgth the Squire himself resolved that
strong brick wall should be built up in tn
vault, so as to separate effectually the coffin
q of those who even in the solitude of the tom
seemed to keep up their antagonsm. Thi
had the desired effect; from that moment al
was quiet in the vault and the noise was neve
heard again; but for a long time afterward tn
In