The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-11
CHARMING THE CORPSE.
STxLxGE ACTION or <syAkE OYER
xDsAD ITALIAS.
A story That Comes Prom Louisa Comfy
and vouehed for by Witnssses-iress-
erss and an order From Mana.

things. and even uhndtuiA WIZ" N''
considered. is related upon the author-y
OF reliable witness who lives In LOUISA
county. Virginia. and was once we'll
known pubic official or mat county. he
maintains that the details are correct, ana
adds that he can furnish at least Two
Trustworthy witnesses who viii make am
davits 10 his statements.
Il was several years ago, according 10
ray informant, near the little rural settle
ment OF Boyds Tavern, in Aloemarie
county. a short distance from the fiu-
wanna line. For many years an old ltal-
ian named Faranchini had been famii-
lar figure In that section Nearly every
body for miles around knew him, for
there were few houses In the district
where the foreigner had not stopped on
peddling tours. People rather liked nm.
lie was the only Italian IN that section,
and he always had some interesting infor~
nation about his native country, when
be told IN broken English. and for when
he received a cold bit OF food. after sell
Ing a paper OF needles or some cheap
but lived a sort OF hermitage life IN
rude, dnapidated two-story house about
half mile from the tavern. Nearly
every night he could be seen playing the
nddIe at the tavern, and in times OF cleo
lions ne took in quite snug little sum
Tor his musical talent
There was something mysterious about
the old foreigner. lie was known 10 nave
earned considerable money, but rarely. X
ever. did any one see MIA make pur-
chase. lie was never known to take
drink. A light could be seen SHINING
fainuy from his window every night long
after other people had retired some sad
the old man had plenty OF money, ana
was burying it from time 10 time IN some
secret place. Al any rate, those VINO
knew him believed him TO be mser OF
the closest type, and people wondered
what ne did with his money.
One afternoon Ia December the old man
died suddenly. A rumor spread that ne
bad been poisoned for his treas Tres. |
Ihore was no one 10 look after the burial !
arrangements, ana 50 a pine box was
secured at the expense OF charity. Three |
young men who had often danced the Viz
ciria reel TO his music agreed TO SIT up |
with the remains during the night. |
dreary-loOkng rain made matters d0ubly |
uncomfortable, and at ~ o'clock the three
charitable young men were seated by a
log fire that glowed in the old-iashioned
fireplace smoking their pipes and telling
Anecdotes, while the body OF the Italian
lay in the rude coffin some ten feet away.
They had rhattcd away for two hours
when one OF them proposed game OF
cards. This was agreed to, and the game
was interpreted now and then with a
glass OF cider from big jug that sat 10
pne side.
An old-fashioned clock on the shelf
struck u dolefully. The last stroke had
scarcely died away in the dense stiffness
when one OF the men aroused himself
suddenly, dropped his hand on the table,
and stood up from the stool on which he
was seated Ills hair was on end, MS
eyes were twice their usual size, ana with
one hand he pointed nervously 10 the
coffin in the corner. The other two men
left their seats simultaneously, and were
!n the act OF leaving the room when tnc
first caught his companions by the arm,
and the three cautiously approached Il
step nearer.
Hiss IIissl Hssw came the sound at
regular intervals from the direction OF |
the coffin. while from d trap-door its
tail coiled around one Of the Stats, hung
q long black snake that swung back and
forth like a pendulum over the entire
/
an inch or so Of the Italian, ard the
fideous thing fixed its iesh-tinted eyes
on the face, as if trying TO charm the
miser.
The three men stood perfectly still as
though riviied 10 the floor. They were
dumbfounded. and for several moments
neither spoke. The colrtelance Of one |
OF them was pale as a sheet another
stared at his companions with bewilder-
q "a xuT,ft -. |
third. with a horror-stricken grin, finally
Seized the poker, and creeping stealthily |
towards the snake, aimed a terrible blow |
at the intruder. But the latter was not
10 be outwitted Quick as flash IL |
lodged the weapon and, coiling up, dis
appeared through "a creVice in the trap
door.
The men gezed at each other mystified.
There was no accounting for the phenome-
non. For ten minutes they stood gesticu-
lating wildly and advancing a variety
OF theories about the mystery
Il always thought there was some
thing wrong about the Dago.' observed |
one OF them
"Conjured." suggested another. while the
third.announced his intention to leave the
house at once.
A conference was held. and each Of the
men simultaneously recalled a number
Of strange stories that had furnished
subjects for gossip about the Italian.
For half an hour this was continued.
until finally they elapsed into a half
sleep monotony. and drowsily puffed
their pipes. The stiffness was dense
Mo- sound could be heard save the
ureary patter Of the rain on the window
panes. The lamp fickered and went out.
leaving only the dim rays OF the fire.
hgnt one OF the men aroused himself. |
win yawn, and got up TO refill the lamp. |
Scarcely IVES this done before the men
were suddenly astcnished to see the snake
reappear from the trap-door. The reptue
was even holder than before. As IL swept
over the length OF the coffin. its ewes |
ehstened as threatening those dis
turbing II. One OF them hurled a stick
or wood at the hideous thing which !
avoided the blow, and Just as before !
vanished through the trap-door. Several |
timeD II reappeared and every effort
was made 10 Kill IL, but all to no purpose. |
IL was impossible to strike the reptile. |
The men planned a number OF schemes
70 eaten the intruder unawares. One Of / !
mem concealed himself behind the coffin
ana kept perfectly still. He waited hair
an hour for the intruder TO come ont
from his hiding place This too failed
Early the next morning everybody I'm
The netghborhood had learned OF the
strange experience In old Faranchini's
dOmcile Some said the mystery ought
10 be investigated, while others decIar-
ed they couldn't be paid TO enter the
msers house
That morning the Italian was buried
In the old burying ground, overgrown
with briars and underbnsh. One or two
graves had caved In years before. and
bricks were scattered about