Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-01
THE CORPSE SAT UP.
A Watchers Grewsome Experience In tn
 Room of Dead Friend.

A Watchers Grewsome Experience In the
 Room of Dead Friend.
 "I am not believer in the supernatu- ral, " said 0 young man to writer for The Courier-Journal, "but every time see a copy of Wilkio Collins novel, The Woman in White, I get the crecps for it recalls one of tho most awful experiences in my life. l boarded in the southern DOT tion of the city, at the home of widow, in whose family was an interesting youth about 16 years old. He and were exceed ingly fond of one another, perhaps from the fact that he was afflicted with epilepsy, and was tho only person about the house who understood how to relieve him and was able to handle him without his hurt ing himself while in convulsions. He did not live long after I knew him and died in my arms in one of his attacks. The in- cdont,I adn speaking of occurred on one of the very coldest nights in January. The boy had died at noon, and the family sat up with the corpsc until midnight, when relieved them in the watch, requesting all to retire, as loved the boy so well I felt it my duty to stay near him in death. An hour passed, and I picked up copy of The Woman In White to while away the
 
 and turNcd up the lamp little higher, as the rest If the room was very dark, and window Eas raised back of tho corpse on the cool 6g board. After all had gone to bed the Nalization of the so1nbor situation obtruded itself upon mo, and as perused tho novel it's contents were not calculated to reassure mo. I thought about every thing possible, and fer the first time in my life 1 began to quako with fear.
 1T was in such condition of mind that the dropping of pin would have been noted at once, and tho creaking of piece of furniture or the sWaying of shutter would have sent terror throughsmy heart In this overwrought state of mind heard slight noiso and turned toward the corpse, when, awful to relate, I saw my friend raise his hands, throw back the pail and sit stark upright. Tho eyes, which had never been closed, looked searchingly about the room until they rested on mo, tho open mouth contracted, and tho counte- nancc took distorted expression. Without pausing I dashed from the room into the dark corridors.
 When | reached my bedroom, I fell in swoon, which must havo lasted several hours for on awakening saw the sun just tingeing the eastern horizon Finding my self on the floor with tho novel clinohed in my hand recalled tho dreadful scene, and pulling myself up from the floor I: rang d call bell for 0 servant. The servant came, and WIG descended to the parlor after had told him what had happened. Yes, had actually experienced that dreadful scene, for the corpse was found lying across the bier. We went over to it. Tho muscles were all relaxed. and it appeared sleeping peacefully It was laid back as it had been arranged by loving friends As I could not explain the phenomenon had witnessed, went for physician. He said the boy had been dead all the time, but that the muscles contracted during his fit had been relaxed in my presence. We agreed not to tell the circumstance to the family, but it is true in every particular and when think of the awful scene even in daytime I am filled with terror.
 II have never got into The Woman In White farther than three chapters, and do not think now that shall ever fin ish tho story that is so intimately assoei- ated with this awful ghost story in real life "-Louisville Courier Journal.