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 tell ye what, he dista mak them bide in their graves. What will yo wager, Mr. Mitchell, that here's no a dead woman standing up against the wa', in the kirk-yard?' 'The man's daft!' uttered the astonished Mr. Mitchell. Gang awa' hame to your wife, Tam Merrilees, and sleep yourseIf sober.' — 'Sober,' said Tam, very dryly, did ye say sober? Hum! that'll be just as muckle as saying that I'm fou'; may be I am, may be no; but if you think sae, Mr. Mitchell, that'll no hinder ye fra taking a bet upon it.' After a lengthened parley, in which Tam strenuously supported his assertion, Maister Mitchell, in order to get rid of his visitor's company, was fain to accept a bet of a dozen of 'strong ale' that no such thing existed, save in Tam's imagination; and it was agreed that the two should call at the sexton's house at seven o'clock, and procure the keys, after which they were to proceed to the scene of dispute. Who can imagine the amazement of the horror-struck elder, at perceiving the corps of a woman standing upright against the wall, in the very identical spot that Tam had described? It was some time ere he could sufficiently compose himself to interrogate Tam upon so mysterious an affair. On his explaining the whole circumstance, the elder's risibility was not a little faised at Tam's description of the jolting he had