[GreyWulph]

I have noticed on these boards that many of the members have fantastic memories. So I was wondering if I give some details of a story I read as a child someone would know what the title is and who the author is since I don't have the foggiest notion of either. It was a short story though not a novel so it was probably in some ghost story book.

Anyway, all I can recall is that some young poor boy, I think he was the assistant to a grave digger, could see into the window of a noble womans house and one night he could see her remove her own head at will. Of course he was scared and she noticed that he was looking. Soon after she "died" and was laid out in the church or some building in the grave yard and the boy was warned that she would arise to kill him so he had to spend three nights in the same room as the body inside a circle (maybe reading from a book) and no matter what he heard he could not look up or he was doomed.

Thats the general idea of the story. As a child it scared the begeezus out of me although now I would probably laugh at it. But I really want to know where I read it before. Any help would be appreciated although I will frankly be shocked if anyone knows!

[Cadfael]

I have actually read this story, it was included in a series of paperbacks published by Pan... called the Pan Book of Horror Stories, Volume 1,2,3... etc.

I cannot remember which volume it is from, or the title... bit I am 100% certain it is from one of these books.

[GreyWulph]

Thanks for the quick response. I knew I couldn't have imagined that story. At least I have a starting point now for looking.