The Dance of the Dead by Lady Francesa Wilde.
It is especially dangerous to be out late on the last night of November, for it is the closing scene of the revels -- the last night when the dead have leave to dance on the hills with fairies, and after that they must all go back into their graves and lie in the chill, cold earth, without music or wine till the next November come around, when they all spring up again in their shrouds and rush out into the moonlight with mad laughter.
One November night, a woman of Shark Island, coming home late at the hour of the dead, grew tired and sat down to rest, when presently a young man came up and talked to her.
"Wait abit" he said, "and you will see the most beautiful dancing you ever looked on, there at the hill".
And she looked at him steadily. He was very pale and seemed sad.
"Why are you sad?" she said, " and as pale as if you were dead?"
"Look well at me," he answered. "Do you not know me?"
"Yes, I know you now", she said. "You are young Brien that was drowned last year when out fishing. What are you here for?"
"Look," he said, "at the side of the hill and you will see why I am here".
And she looked, and saw a great company dancing to sweet music; and amongst them were all the dead who had died as long as she can remember-- men, women and children, all in white and their faces were pale as the moonlight.
"Now," said the young man, "run for your life; for it once the fairies bring you into the dance you will never be able to leave them anymore."
But while they were talking, the faires came up and danced round her in a circle, joining their hands. And she fell to the ground in a faint, and knew no more till she woke up in the morning in her own bed at home. And they all saw her face was pale as the dead, and they knew she had got the fairy-stroke. So the herb doctor was sent for, and every measure tried to save her, but without avail, for just as the moon rose that night, soft, low music was heard round the house, and when they looked at the woman she was dead.
Hope you all enjoyed tonight story :) I'll try and come back every night and post up more of these if you like them :)
~Irish Lass~
