Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-01

thlnR more 10 be done. ZONE over Desiuo
me, Tom; that old woman don't hear well at
the best, and she's sleeping now, and no mis-
take. viii you promise me and his
voice sunk TO whisper, "that, whatever you
hear or see, you'll make no remark 10 any
living, and be as cautious as you can about
the body3 There's foul play" said he, for
began to look frightened; but maybe this
legs a judemgnt for taking on such Dusl-
ness. Howsomeyer I'm TO have f300 for 1T
and You'll have the half, Tom, the full half If
you'll conduct it properly, and give me your
solemn promise. know you'll never break
"Uncle," said |, 'I'Tl promise, and keep it
too; but you must tell me what it is"
DWELL, Tom"--and he drew long breath
OTIS a living man you're going to put in that
coffin in the Workshop | have made it high
able. Nobody knows about it but Steele and
Stoneman, and yourself they'll go with you.
Mind you trust no one else. Don't look so
stupid, man; can't you understand, Mr. Els
worthy didn't die at all, and never had brain
fever but he wants to get off with marrying
Miss Westbay or some thing of that sort.
They're taking queer way about 1t, must
say; but these genteel people have ways OF
their own. II was the cousin that prepared
my mind for it in the back parlor; that
woman's up to any thing. | stood out
| against having a hand in it, till heard that
| the sexton of Beverly Church was a poor re-
lation of theirs. The key of the coffin is to
be given to him; it will be locked, and not
screwed down, you see; and when all over
at the vault--it will be dark night by that
| time for we don't move till three, and these
| December days are short-he'll come and help
| Mr.. Elsworthy out, and smuggle him off TO
| Hull with his son the carrier. There's ships
enough there to take him any where under
| feigned name"
"Could he get off the marriage no easier ?"
said /, for the thought of taking a living
man in q hearse, and hearing the service read
over him, made my blood run cold. You see
| was young then.
"There's some thing more than the marriage
in it, though they didn't tell me- Odd things
will happen in my business, and this is one
of the queerest But you'll manage it, Tom
and get my blessing, besides your half of the
f300; and don't be afraid of any thing coming
| wrong to him, for | never saw any man look
so like corpse
| / promised my uncle TO do the business and
keep the secret. A hundred and fifty pounds
| was no joke to young man beginning the
| world in the undertaking-line and the old
man was so pleased with what he called my
senses and understanding that before falling
| asleep, close upon daybreak, he talked Of
| taking me into partnership, and the jobs we
| might expect from the Harrowgate family ;
| for the dowager-countess was near fourscore,
and two of the young ladies were threatened
with decline. Next day, early in the after
noon, Steele, Stoneman aud were at work.
| The family seemed duly mournful I suppose,
| on account of the servants. Mr. Elsworthy
| looked wonderfully well in his shroud; and if
one had not looked closely into the coffin,
they never would have seen the air-holes.
Well, we set out, mourning-coaches, hearse,
and all, through the yellow fog OF December
day. There was nothing but sad faces to be
seen at all the windows as we passed; heard
them admiring Steele and Stoneman for the
feeling hearts they showed, but when we got
on the Beverley road, the cousin gave us a
sign and away we went at a rattling pace; n
funeral never got over the ground at such a
rate before. Yet it was getting dark when
we reached the old minister, and the curate
grumbled at having to do duty so late. He
got through the service nearly as quick as
we got over the miles. The collin was
| lowered into the family vault; it was more
than half filed with Mr.. Elsworthy's fore
fathers, but there was good wide CRATE in
the wall, and no want of air. 1t was all
right The clerk and the clergyman started
off to their homes; the mourning coaches
went to the Crown Inn, where the ladies
were to wait till the sexton came to let them
know he was safe out-the cousin would not
go home without that news-and ! slipped
coursed to us all about the mysterious dis
pensations of Providence.
My heart was light going home, so were
Steele's and Stoneman's. None of us liked
the job, but we were all to be paid for it; and
| must say the old man came down hand.
somely with the needful, not to speak o.
Burton ale, and was to be made his partner
without delay. We got the money, and haC
the joli6cation; but it wasn't right over, snC
| / inst Mt xurh thara W. 4
ring at our door-bell, and the house-keepe
came to say that DR.. Parks wanted to see mi
or my uncle. What could he want, and how
had he come back so soon? Parks was tn,
Esworthys' family DOCTOR and the only
stranger at the funeral he went in the seconC
mourning coach, and | left him talking tC
the sexton. Ny clothes were thrown on, and
| was down stairs in a minute, looking rs
sober as ! could; but the doctors look would
have sobered any man. Thomas said he
'this has turned out bad business and
can not account for it; but Mr.. Elsworthy ha
died in earnest. When the sexton and
opened the coffin, we found him cold ant
stiff. think he died from fright, for such
| face of terror never saw. 1t wasn't you
uncle's fault there is no doubt he had al
enough, but it can't be helped; and the les
$ said about it, the better for all parties. | au
going to Dr. Adams to take him down will
2 me to Beverley. The sexton keeps poor Els
t worthy, to see if any thing can be done; an,
l | Adams is the only man we could trust; but
l. know it's of no use.
The doctor apprehension was well founde,
c MIR. Elsworthy could not be recovered; an,
0 after trying every thing to no purpose, the.
laid him down again in the coffin with air
7 holes. The ladies came back and we KEEP
the secret; but in less than six months after
= a rumor went abroad of heavy forgeries ol
e the North Eastern Bank. On investigation
c they proved to be over G5O0O0, and nobod
y was implicated but the deceased manager
l. His family knew nothing about it; being al
d ladies, they were entirely ignorant of bank
r ing affairs; but they left York next season
c took handsome house at Scarborough, an
1 were known to get money regularly fror
London. They never employed any docto
but Parks; and his medical management di
= not appear to prosper, for they were neve
: well, and always nervous; not one of ther
: could sleep alone or without light in the room
7 and an attendant from private asylum ha
j to be got for the cousin. | don't think tn
o matter ever left my uncle's mind; he neve
!, would undertake an odd job after it: and a
the partnerships in England would not hay
$ made me continue in the business, and Tu
y the risk of another false funeral.