Year: 1878

Hundreds of stories are related of the
horrible deeds of the body-snatcher, but
among them all none is more remarkable
and sOul-harrowing than the one just
about to be narrated. The facts were
given to the writer recently, and it is
believed that they are now published for
the first time.


In the town of Kilmare, in the north
of Ireland, reside many families of dis
tinction. The head of one of these was a
Mr.. Bell, a young gentleman of twenty
five. He inherited large estate from
his uncle, and soon afterWard removed
from his former abode to take possession
of the family mansion in Kilmare. He
married the only child of a wealthy
East India merchant residing in Liver
pool, by whom he had two children. In
the fourth year of their welded life Mrs.
Bell wss taken suddenly i'll, and expired
the next day. The symptoms were of a
peculiar nature, and the limbs so in
creased in size Immediately after death
that a magnificent diamond ring of great
value could not be removed from the
lady's finger, and was buried with her.
OF course, this fact was well known to
the Inhabitants of Kilmare. as Mrs. Bell
was the wife of the most considerable
man thereabout, and naturally, therefore,
all concerning her was matter of conver-
sation and TumOr.


The old churchyard of KiImare stood
on the side of bill, and Immediately in
the rear of the church and adjoining the
chancel was the tomb of the Bell family.
Here, in accordance with immemOrial
usage, the body of the deceased lady was
to Tepose, and there it was deposited on
IL 1, A
the ceremony the key of the vault was
put in its usual place by the sexton in
the vestry of the church.


The day had been gloomy, and as
night drew on a thin rain fell, which in
creased at about midnight to a smart
shower. Mr.. Bell, who was about re,
tiring, went to an Open window, and as
he did so, fancied he saw white figure
crossing the lawn in front of the house.
The next moment it disappeared, and,
satisfying himself that he was the sub~
ject of a delusiOn, he commenced to
undress Suddenly the clear tones of
the door-bell rang through the building.
Mr.. Bell paused and moved toward the
door of the apartment to listen. In a
few seconds the sound again reveFberated
through the house, and Mr.. Bell opened
the door and stepped out into the corri~
dor. At that moment, as he glanced
down the stairway, he saw the house,
keeper moving toward the front door.
Then he heard her set the small lamp
she carried on the table, and open the
lock and bolts OF the massive door
Then a dreadful and prolonged shrek
followed, and at the same moment Mr..
Bells butler ran along the hall toward
the front door. Mr. Bell had reached
the head of the stairs and was in the act
of descending when the butler reached
the spot where the housekeeper lay en-
the floor apparently in a swoon. What
was Mr.. Bells surprise to see the butler
raise his hands, fix his gaze upon the
door, and then sink to the floor as though
struck dead,


Utterly bewildered and cOnfounded
Mr.. Bell hastened down stairs. The
sight that met his gaze wnen he reached
the centre OF the hall almost froze his
blood, There stood the fgule of his
wife in her grave clothes, leaning against
the pillar of the door, with one hand
thrown across her breast. Fora moment
Mr.. Bell was almost overcome. Then
he remembered the white figure which
be saw crossing the lawn 8 few seconds
before the bell rang, and another glance
showed him that the garments of the
figure before him were dripping with
rain.


Julia, my darling, my wife!" MT.
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure.


1t made move toward him, and the
next instant it was EMBODIED in his arms.
The scene that ensued battles all descrip~
ton. It was indeed the wife but that
dav buried, who was restored to the
arms of the beTeaved husband and chilA
dren. The explanation which she offered
was very imperfect and unsatisfactory.
Fer short time after her supposed
death sne was aware of all that went on
areuno her, but before she was placed in
the coffin she lost all consciousness.
She said that the first sensation of con-
sciousuess she had was one of pain.
Then she saw an indistinct glimmer, and
finally severe pang shot Through her
frame. With a powerful effort she rose
and saw a woman standing by her side
The woman shrieked and fed, and then
Mrs. Bell discovered that she wss lying
in a coffin in the family vault. Fresh
strength came to her every moment, and
releasing herself from the shroud, she
stepped to the ground and passed out of
the vault, the door of which was wide
open. Down the churchyard she passed
to the main street, along which she
walked for half mile, until she reached
her late home. Fortunately the large
gate to the park was uBiastened. and she
hsstened up the roadway to the dwell~
ing. The rest the reader knows. She
rapidly regained her health, and lived to
good cid age.


But who was the woman who stood
by the side CT the coffin, when the corpse