West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-03-01

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me little, and partly from spirit of
pride l kept aloof from every one rs
much as possible. leaving things 10
work themselves out as they might
IL was not until the day of the we'd
ding arrived that seemed to awake
from this cOmatose condition; then |
grew suddenly desperate and seemed TO
realize that a brutal sacrifice was going
TO be enacted before my very eyes, for,
despite her acquieScence in her fathers
wishes. / knew that Edith Norris loved
me as she could love no other.
To drown these feelings ! turned TO
that most common antidotc. drink.
But instead of calming or benumbing
my feelings on this occasion the spirits
oniy seemed TO increase my frenzy. aud
when the bridal party started for the
little frame church / was piepared to
commit any outrageous act. Walking
directly into the place in the rear of
the bridal party l took my place un-
observed among the spectators. The
pastor had barely commenced the cere.
mony when l stepped boldly up to the
rail and made mild protest against the
proceedings.
Edith, trembling with fright, seized
the arm OF her intended husband, who,
with a supercilious smile on his face,
seemed 10 view my interference with the
utmost indifference. This ironiCal treat
ment infuriated me. Already several Of
the men pre- sent were preparing TO forci-
bly, eject me from the place ut the insti-
cation OF Norris.
In an instant my two hands held two
reyolvers and had ordered all hands
down.
At this instant Edith fell fainting in
one OF the bystanders' arms and / re-
placed my pistols and walked out of the
place.
An hour afterwhrd | learned that
had murdered the woman loved What
had been mistaken for a mere fainting
tit proved to have been paralysis OF the
heart
Sundry threats of vengeance reached
my ears, but as | was callOus TO them, !
suppose, nothing happened
Three days afterwards, Edith was laid
away in the quiet burying ground of
Ladwe Is Landing
The night following that day / did
what for the last few days | had not
done, owing TO nervous excitement;
slept.
Perhaps an hour had el ,psed when
commenced to dream. My sensations
were such as TO defy description. | was
IL some ch hirncl house OF the dead. Cof
fins were ranged IN grim order all around
inc. Some strange instinct guided mc to
oae. knelt beside it, when suddenly
heard cry answering TO my own lament
at Oh. In an instant the thin deal shell
was severe by my ready knife and into
my arms, clad in the sad trappings OF the
grave, fell my lost love- Edith.
Awaking from this strange dream
looked around me. A feyerish perspira-
tiVD stood upon my forehead. A strange
fancy excited my brain. Looking at my
watch noticed that it was only eleven
o'clock. Dragging on my clothes me
chanically. ] went down stairs TO Lad
wells room. The doctor was in and
busy smoking aud reading the paper.
He looked at me as | entered the room,
and then continued reading his paper
''LadwelI," " said |, did you ever au-
thenticate case OF ante -mortem burial2r
II can't say that have personally
but there have been plenty OF instances
recorded. i remember reading OF one in
medical journal month or tEyo ago
The body of a young lady who had die
o.-I forget what now-was taken up for
the purpose OF rc.interment in another
place. For some reason or other the
colin was opened, and from abrasions on
the arms and the marks Of finger nails on
the I'D IL was assumed that the unfor-
tunate girl had been buried alive, an
swered Ladwell.
then related my dream to Iadwell, but
nc refused to bel e il TO be otherwise
than the result Of a disorganized physical
state, so reluctantly obeycd his injunc-
tion to get TO bed again as speedily as
possible.
Sleep had scarcely again sealed my eyes
before tho same strange phantom re-
turned, and l awoke more startled than
ever
There must have been a look OF intense
alarm on my face rs confronted Ladwell
the second time.
lie was still busy with the paper. but
he turned from it 70 listen % me with a
conspicuous ehgerness.
had only TO repeat the repetition Of
my dream.
81 have been thinking since you left
me that Edith was at one time given TO
faintiDg pells when she was younQer. "
said the doctor, thoughtfully.
II feel an irresistible impulse govern
ing me, and shall not rest until am
satisfied that Edith Norris is really
dead. I replied.
But what do you propose 10 dor
asked Ladwell
''l shall go direct 20 her grave, cxhume
he, and cndeayor 90 resto animation
unless there are unmstakablc proofs Of
her death, replied.
impossible, impossible. You would
be lyncht Il in an instant If discovered. and
probably should be implicated
''l adwell, for Gods sake think what
an awful fate it would be for that angel
II my dream were true. appeal to you
20 help me. III 90 through anything for
you IN you do, a" I said.
knew Ladwell was soft hearted aud
would yield 80 a few minutes later our
plans were laid
"Eemember, If we're caught our lives
aren't worth fig, for nobody will be
l.cve we are anything but pure and sim
pie body snatchers. said Iadwcll
on do as much for you II J survive it,
Ladwcll. / said
A few moments later iadwcll's So
ciablo went rattling mp the street rs II his
call were rather a serious one. and ! no
ticed that IL was just past midnight
few seconds later I emerged from
the Office door and followed III eto9lfhilv