Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20
THE KISS OF DEATH.
Strange Superstition OF Monterey ALsEi-
eans-Ths Speotsr OF the Grave.
usan Francisco Chrouicle.l

Strange Superstition OF Monterey AIeEi-
eans-Ths sPeotsr OF the Grave.
1san Francisco ChronicIe.l
One morning after breakfast the
writer expressed a wish to stroll into
the ancient graveyard attached to the
old adobe church Of the quaint little
Mexican town of San Juan. The old
padre, with the kindness and courtesy
characteristic of the simple missionary
fathers, at once acceded and accom-
panied the writer, relating as we walked
among the graves the brief history of
some who lay quietly beneath. @HeTe,
he observed with a quiet smile, as he
pointed to a grave IN the middle Of the
cemetery, "here is a grave which the
simple old Mexican families around
here look upon with unusual interest, If
not with actual awe.
a murder?"
@No, mol Something much stranger
have tried to combat the idea, and
while would be addressing the peO-
pie they would say Isl, 81. padre.
They would assent to all said, but the
belief remained, and does remain indel-
ible.
"A spirit. he began, ''is said to have
appeared to every one buried in that
grave, and to warn the family when
q
Its app carance, which Is generally
made in the following manner, is be-
ieYed to be uniformly fatal, being an
omen Of death to those who are so
unhappy as to meet with it.
When a funeral takes place the
spirit is said to watch the person who
remains last in the graveyard, over
whom it possesses a fascinating influ-
ence.
az the person be a young man the
spirit takes the shape of q fascinating
female, inspires him with a charmed
passion, Gnd exacts a promise that he
viii meet her at the graveyard month
from that day. This promise is sealed
with kiss, that Communicates deadly
faint to him who complies.
"The spirit then disappears. No
sooner does the person from whom it
received the promise and the kiss pass
the boundary OF the churchyard than
he remembers the history of the spec
ter. He sinks into despair and insan-
ity aud dies. If, on the contrary, the
specter appears to a female, it assumes
the form Of young man Of exceeding
elegance and beauty"
The padre showed me the grave of
young person about Is years of age,
have fallen a victim to it. "Ien months
ago. the father said, "a man gave the
promise and took the fatal kiss, and
consequently looked upon himself as
lost. He took a fever and died, and
was buried on the day appointed for
the meeting, which was exactly q
month after the fatal interview.
Incredible as it may appear, the
friends Of these two persons solemnly
declared to me that the particulars of
the interview were repeatedly detailed
by the two persJns without the slight
est variation.
There are several cases Of the same
kind mentioned, but the two cases al
luded to are the only ones that came
within my personal knowledge.
at appears, however, that the spec
tor does not confiRe its operations to the
graveyard only. There have been in
stances mentioned of its appearance at
weddings and social parties, where it
never fails to secure its victims by
dancing them into pleuritic fevers."
On being questioned as to what he
might think of such possible occur
reuces, the good father simply smiled
and shook his head