The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-23

very stormy night took II into my
head, at rather late hour, that I
would visit the dlssecting rooms and
pursue my studies quietly there by my
self, as / knew no one would be about.
except the old janitor, who was we'll
disposed toward me, and would easily
give me admittance at hours when it
was not customary for students to dis
turb him. SO pulled on my overcoat
and, taking an umbrella under my arm,
started out. A few steps brought me
! to my destination. and knock at his
door summoned the janitor TO admit
me.
Monsieur comes late tonight
"'Yes, Adolphe. must trouble you to
let me in. / have some very important
work to do in the college,.
Certainly, Monsieur. Only too hap
py to do you q favor, answered
Adolphe, with the usual politeness of a
Frenchman. But he continued,
Monsieur will wait moment until 1
get light
with this he hustled away, and soon
reappeared, carrying a lantern.
els there any one else up stairs in the
| dissecting rooms?' / asked.
"'No, Monsieur; you will be entirely
alone, and wish you JOY with all my
heart, for q more disagreeable place /
| do not know of. Ugh! 1t makes me
shudder to think of it.
Having uttered these words, Adolphe
ushered me into small apartment
directly underneath the principal dis
secting room, where he lit the lamp
and then left me. AS the sound of the
retreating footsteps of the janitor died
away in the distance / settled myself
in an easy chair by the table on which
the lamp stood, and, opening a large
volume that / desired to look over be-
fore commencing my work, was soon
lost to everything but the subject to
which my attention was devoted. About
half an hour passed in this way, naught
interrupting my studies save the wind
whistling outside and the rain-drops
pattering on the window panes.
Suddenly, and from no cause that /
could imagine, an ine3pressible sense
of fear came over me. / was unable to
fix my attention upon the book, al
though tried my best to do so. My
thoughts would wander, and NY mag
nation caused hideous spectral objects
to fit through my mind. could
not divine what this sudden dread
meant. / was never superstitious
never had allowed my better
reason to be overcome by any marvel
Gus tales that had heard in the course
of my life. Still, try to throw it off as
/ would, ut this moment was in the
| Of 10
terror. Thus l sat benumbed, feeling
at short intervals chill run through
my frame, when / distinctly heard a
moan in the room above. AS you may
suppose, this startled me, for l re-
membered well that old Adolphe
had said there was no living being
there nothing but the mortal shapes
of those whose souls had passed away
from this earth. Again L heard the
moan, then a rustling noise, then a
step. Adolphe must have been mis-
taken. Some fellow-student had pre-.
ceded me and gained entrance into the
building without the janitor's help.
But how could this be? Adolphe kept
the keys. That step again My thoughts
were interrupted by the mysterious
|
took up the lamp, intending to search
out the meaning of this perplexing in
cident, when the steps were repeated
at first slowly, like one feeling his way,
and then rapidly, as they descended the
stairs and approached the room in
which l was. Ny blood curdled as /
saw, with horror, the door swing
on its hinges and an unearthly
object, clothed in the cerements of
the grave, appear on the threshold.
Upon discovering me the figure uttered
a sharp cry, and, advancing few
steps, threw itself before me on the
floor, shrieking, Save me! Save mel
"The tones of the human voice which
thus struck on my ear treasured me,
and gave me the welcome conviction
that it was living being who had thus
unexpectedly disturbed my studies.
Still, the emaciated form, clothed in its
winding-sheet, the pallid face, and
blood-shot eyes gazing upon me caused
me yet to feel a great dread of my
visitor. AT length 1 mustered up
courage sufficient to ask. Who are
your
"As / spoke, the man lifted himself
from the floor and answered in a
whisper, DO you not know me? / am
one whose crimes have astounded all
Paris. You now see the murderer,
D.
WHAT D, who was hung this
afternoon
1.-The same. But you seem to doubt
me- continued the man, as he per-
ceived an incredulous smile pass over
my face. Perhaps this will satisfy
you'll With these words he unwrapped
part of the shroud which covered his
neck and disclosed fearful cash.
II started in amazement. Gracious
heaven j exclaimed, how has this
happened? The hangman has failed
to perform his task
"'Do not ask Inc how 1t occurred,
said D. Il had. made up my
mind to die, but 1 awake from
my fearful dream to find my
self IN a charnel house. /, living,
breathing man, the companion OF
corpses: but we must not waste further
time. Save me, for Gods sake, inn
plore you Give me clothes, and show
me the way out of this place, and,