Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-10-22

who were her oldest friends. When she
had returned and found the door fasten-
ed, which sometimes happened, she had
been used to let me know she was there
by peculiar tap, and l had always gone
to let her in. 1t was out of this door
which somehow seemed to belong to her, |
and out of which she had often tripped |
so gaily-that l followed her corpse; and
as it was closed gently behind me,
think fully realized for the first time
what n changed thing my life must
henceforth be.
The hours passed slowly, but / took no
note of them. did not even know that
it was dark until one of the maids came
and asked if she should light the lamp.
| let her do it ;and then mechanically took
a book down from the shelves and tried
to read. 1t was only mockery of read
ing; but it acted as sort of narcotic;
and I had dropped into doze, when l
was aroused by knocking at my door,
sharp and decisive, as if the person
knocking were not asking but demand
ing entrance. Just as the knock came
the clock struck twelve, and / knew that
/ must bave been sleeping for nearly
three hours. 1 got up from my chair,
opened the door, and inquired what was
wanted of me. Standing in the lighted
hall were the three indoor servants and
the old nurse; and the faces of all were
absolutely blanched with terror. One
of the girls, in an agony of fright,
caught hold of my sleeve and painted
out: 30 sir, do comem
81 shook her off somewhat roughly
and, addressing the nurse, said,
What's the meaning of thisP'
'She was clearly as frightened as the
others, but more self-possessed, and she
replied: IF you please, sir, Jane and
Margaret say that their mistress is stand
ing at the side-door, tapping on the
glass; and that they will leave the house
if you did not come and see.'
81 called them fools, and bade them
90 to bed; but they crowded behind mt
as l hastily crossed the hall, and strodt
down the short corridor to the side-door
I approached the door; and must con
fess that my blood ran cold as distinct
ly heard the well known tap, an;
thought l saw something white behint
the glass panels. I turned my eyes t.
the bolt, which threw back, and funI
the door wide open. If l were to liv
f for millennium, could never forge
| the sight saw then. There stood m
! wife, with bright open eyes, fushe
H.eo l;sLa~nllad hair and her niphi
t dress stained with large patches Q
i bloodm
j. James, she said; don't be frighter
e ed ; it ISL She may have said mor'
y but this was all l heard. They told n
It that l gasped, Kate, my Kate! al
| fell down senseless.
IS "When | recovered consciousness,
|, found myself in bed. My wife, dress
If as she was used to be dressed, was S
k ting by my side; and looked aroul
d and wondered whether had been ava
e, ened from some horrible nightmare.
last the reality of the events of the p;
st few days came back to me-my viii
en- illness, her death, her strange retu
it from the world of spirits. When su
l moned strength for the task, l ask
9; what il all meant; and though she col
lg tell but little, that little was enough
,e- solve the mystery. She said she b
,st felt as if she were being rather rougl
'er awakened from sleep; and that wi
he she became thoroughly aroused,
m. was sitting up in an open coffin at
ou bottom of grave, with the blood +
| a ming quickly from deep cut in her II
las finger. The grave was shallow, and
had managed to climb out, when
vas discovered that she was not TIVE
re- wards from the door by which she
ary accustomed to enter the house.
ade made her way to it; and we knew
vas rest.
On at had been a curious case OF tral
ard catalepsy, or whatever name mer
irs, science may give to these inexplic'
hey simulations of death in which all
had functions seem to be arrested while
the vital principle remains intact. She
lere been restored to conscious animation
her the cut given to her finger by the ru1
fol- whose cupidity had tempted him
l deed from which many hardy SCI
loor drel would have shrunk. The perp'
lrse tor was of course one of the under
her er's men, who had been struck by
you glitter of the gems in the diamond I
the and who, to obtain it, did not hesita
the violate the sanctity of the grave,
they even to nlutilate a corpse"
Good heavens!" exclaimed, -
mo- an oyerpowering story. Was the 7
cave ever caught"
poor mo; he disappeared, and nothin!
was heard of him."
ID an "And your wifeP What effect h
re so on herP"
not Cautiously enough, her general b
,test, became better from that dreadful
from but | think her mel vous system
night have received permanent strair
had she entirely lost the physical co
rose which she had possessed in an exit
noon, mary degree for woman ana aoou
time years afterward she became subj
hat [ attacks of asthma, which is, bell
me. complaint that often has its oril
well, some nervous shock. She lived,