Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-03-04

/ Goor.
A form tnttered INTO the room. in the
presence of which both of the cousins
retreated TO the farthest corner Of the
room, while their lips were livid and
their cheeks Chastly pale with terror
This is the wa, YOU treat the dead.
said the form, which the terror-stricken
nephews had no difficulty in recogniz
ing as that of Gen. Sidney.
| It was either he or his shade. and hs
certainly looked more like ghost than
a living man. Boyless was paralyzed
with fright. rs one with stronger nerves
might have been in the presence Of sucl
Il sight: John Sidney. perhaps because
be had more 10 hope for in the reappear
ance oil his uncle. had the courage t.
advance few Faces toward the appar'
ition.
"Begone both of YOU said Gen. Sid
ney. as he staggered to "a chair. and sank
heavily upon it.
had witnessed the scene from the
entry. and now hastened to his assist.
ance.
For Gods sake. Mr.. Mortal, what
does this mean. exclaimed John Sid
ney. his teeth chattering i'll the extreai-
itv Of mis- fear.
Drive them out of the house, gasp
ed the general.
| | told them they had better go. in
forming them at the same time that
their uncle was not. and had not been
dead. After they had in some measure
I ,.ann,ay,,l r,,.,,- tta1- Loft
the houSe. the one with his cup. brim-
ming fell of bright anticipations. dash
ed down. and the other satisfied at least
with the confusion Of his rival.
called the housekeeper and the SER
wants to render assistance in getting
the restored general to his chamber:
but it was some time before could con-
vince them that it was not ghost
which had come to the house. We got
him into bed again, and the Doctor soon
after joined Us.
Now curious reader. must go back
and relate what had taken place.
When the corpse of Gen. Sidney was
put in the coffin, discovered it was
not entirely cold. privately called in
the physician to examine it: but as
there was neither breath, pulsation nor
feeling. he pronounced HIM dead. He
observed, at the same time. that it was
possible it was case of asphyNia or
trance. The heat on the other hand,
might be artificial, or produced by the
incipient stage of decomposition.
But, Mr.. Mortal" he continued,
you must keep watch of the corpse.
Do not close the tomb door. Visit it
every hour until decomposition has act
ualiv begun
We onght not to bury this body" l
remarked placing my hand under the
arm pits. where the heat could be very
distinctly felt.
Better not say anything: it would
create an excitement
And 50 the consultation ended. The
funeral took place. and the corpse was
placed III the tomb. That night Spade
and | watched it. The lid of the cof
fin had been removed and had provid-
ed myself with articles necessary in
slse there should be any further signs
Of life. cannot tell how it was. bu
somehow it was impressed upon me
that Gen. Sidney was not dead. Per-
haps it was because | had recently been
reading of a similar case in England,
where suspended animation had hcen
estored after the lapse of a week.
There was nothing TO indicate re-
,useitation during the night. and in the |
morning | went home to breakfast,
eaving Spade in charge of the tomb, ! |
lad scarcely tasted my first cup of |
;oiiee, when spade rushed breathless in
% the house, assuring me that 1.-The gen.
,ra!, as he expressed it, was opening
me Of his eyes. | did not stop to ask
lin why he did not open the other,
,ut seizing some clothing, bad Spade
70 for the doctor, and ran with all my
night for the tomb.
Both eyes were open. | poured some
vine into his mouth. and began rub
,ing him with energy. When the doc
or and Spade came he had moved his
lands and begun to breathe with diff
:ulty. By the doctors advice, he was
,orne, coffin and all, to my house, and
II the course of the forenoon he was
ble to sit up. We worked with him
ncessantly till noon, when he insisted
ipon being conveyed to his own house,
which we reached just as the will par
v left; held the general up while he
istened to the conversation of his am
able nephews.
Gen. Sidney lived only fortnight
fter his wonderful resuscitation. but
ong enough TO make a new will. in
which both OF his nephews were disin-
leirited. and his fortune given to vari-
,us benevolent associations.