The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-20
A WINTERS TALE.
A Denver Undertaker's Experience With
An Apparltion.

A Denver Undertaker's Experience With
An Apparition.
From the Denver Tribune.
Miller, of Browns undertaking eetab-
lishment, is not an imaginative or sup
erstitious genius, but 8 like all men
of even balencsd minds he dreams occa-
sionally. Being accustomed to the hand
ling of stats, to arranging the toilets Of
the dead and To preparing them for their
last sad and long repose, one would think
he would be inclined to terrible visions and
to horrible night mares. Such does not
seem to be the case a. a rule.
The only terrible. real terrible, dream
ever had, said Miller to a social COM
pany the other night, was about two
years ago. 1t was during the winter OF
II. | remember it to this day just as if
it had occurred yesterday. You bet it
was awful. In the first place it was rs
cold as forty-a terrible night; showing
like Ten-Mile. The man that came after
me was bundled up as old Kris Krinkle
himself and be was entirely covered with
the beautiful. He wanted me to 60 to the
hospital. 1t was one O'Clock in the morn.
ing. Well. l went. poor fellow had
died Of consumption. A long, lean. bony,
CHASTITY, horrible sight he was. His bony
fingers looked like crooked, knotty sticks.
and his skin was full of, death. Somehow
the man made deep impression on my
mind. His sunken eyes seemed to stare
at me, as if to say, i know you; you want
to laugh at me; you have me IN your
power, you think; but Ill get even you
See
well, worked over that stiff. dressing
and preparing it for burial, for fully two
hours. The dim rays from solitary coal
oil lamp with dirty chimney fell across
the paliid features until it really seemed
to me that each atom Of air was full OF
foul beings. The mans flesh felt pecu-
liar. After taking the corpse to the shop,
| went to my bed half sick and half frog
en-, and after awhile went to sleep; but
the phantom still pursued me.
II was in sound sleep, and had in q
manner forgotten the business which had
90 recently engaged my attention and dis
tracted my mind All of sudden that
consumptive appeared at the door Of my
room and opened it and walked in, life
size and living-a living death-the same
haggard, lean, death look. His eyes fairly
glared at me from out of their rockets
He came toward me, and a. he walkedthe
kept rubbing his long, bony and knotty
hands together as ifthey were very, very
cold, and he was trying to warm them up.
never saw any thing mEe distinctly in
my life. He kept walking up until he
reached my bedside, and when near
enough for me 10 feel his breath, he
stopped down over me, still rubbing his
hands and said-he had said nothing be.
fore.
II was mad at you when you we're fool
ing with me q while ago; but have got
ten over If now. That stuff you shot int
INV skin has brought the life back 10 me
and shall live. The man that was dead
will live. You shall see. The dead j.
risen"
The fright disappeared as did also the
Ipparition. l slept well until the next
morning. When | awoke the storm wa.
driving pihlessly against my window. The
snow was pouring down. the window wa,
blinded: the wind whlstled through the
housetop, and a breath came shooting
through the key-hole. the mere remem
brance of which thrills me now, il was %
| cold and so like the breath Of nv con
sumptive. The first thought that STRUCK
me was that If my staff, who had come :,
life. had ventured out in that atmosphere
he would have been frozen-another stiff
| and didn't want it. Said | 10 myself
VALLEY can have him.. Tie first thins
that struck my mind was the apparition
Well, thought ne was gone, sure. and
never was convinced that he wasn until
went and sa~ ham In the coffin. But b.
was there-fnRers, eyee, and all-ant
since that time have never had An appa
rition. don't wan't another one. eiher
you believe me. In fact, haven't qui
seeing that mans eyes and bony finger
vet