Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-11-19
AN UNDERWRITERS TALE.
Horrible Story with q Most
@@ Distressing End.

.. q r
Perhaps I am more sensitive to the |
horrible than most Of my fellow-men-,l
am, in fact, more easily wrought upon.
At all cyents have fancied that at !
times, when I have been telling this |
experience Of mine, could detect GER
tain indications that some of my
hearers We're of that opinion; but l
have not yet so far failed in charity as
to wish any Of these sooffers put to a
similar test. - %.& z.,.%,.'
had run over to Paris, had spenta
couple of weeks in that bright city and
was on my way homo again. I took a
night tram from Dover to london, and
in the compartment which OCCUPIED
there was but one other passenger-a
sharp, intelligcnt-looking man, with a
very grave face. We got into CONVEX
sation after travelling more than half
the distance in that silence which is in
variably adopted by Englishmen when
they meet. After discussing general
subjects, a remark of my companions
led me to say that he seemed to have
had a very wide experience, and among
nearly all classes of society.
Yes" he answered, slowly and with
a marked hesitation. Eyes, lam an
undertaken. I have had good deal of
experience and l have had my. share, I
think, of remarkable adventures. I
never take this ride from Dover to
London without very painful recol-
lection of one SUCH"
We had still nearly a half-hour's
ride before us, and his manner, as well
as his words, reused my interest,"
DO you care to tell it?'' asked.
A qnick, involuntary shudder gave,
to his voice a slight tremor, as he an
swered: II wish I could keep from
thinking Of it, but / might as well tell
it as sit here quaking in silence over
the awful memory of it, He paused
a moment, drew a long shuddering
breath, and then commenced:
"A little over a year ago what I am
about to relate happened to me. I had
established a very good business, chiefly
| among the upper class of trades-people
though, of course, did not decline
any call upon me that promised rea-
sonnble profit. / received one day a
telcgraphic dispatch from Paris. asking
me to take char &c OF dead body that
was to be sent from Paris to London for
! burial. l was to meet it at Dover on
the arrival of the night boat from
Calais, and make all the arrangements
for its further transportation by rail,
and / was referred to well-known
banker as security for my expenses.
This looked like good business, so l
lost no time in getting the necessary
permits, and went to Dover in the ev-
ening. l had some details to attend
to there, in order that every thing
might be in readiness, and no time lost
after the boat arrived Then 1 had
nothing TODD but wait, sat up read
ing to keep myself awake. j.
ut was a beautiful, still night, in
the late fall, with an almost full moon,
! remember, and the boat got in to
time received the box containing
the body and saw it placed in one Of
the luggage vans of the train, and in
due course arrived with it at Victoria
Station. One of my wagons was there,
waiting to take the body to my place,
where was instructed to keep it until
the next morning, when the proper
parties would call to make arrange
ments about the burial. So far, of
course, there was nothing specially re-
markab1e about the affair. 1t is lit
tic unusual in such cases not to find
some one connected with the deceased
accompanying the body. but I hardly
gave that matter second thought. !
had no doubt but that the right persons
Mould appear later in the day. When
4 81, ,&s
two hours of daylight and as felt nc
slight responsibility / didn't think OF
going home, but made myself as com.
Portable as possible in my office for the
rest of the night. You must bear In
mind that all the sleep / had secured
was a broken, uneasy slumber on the
journey from Dover to London and
,whcnI went to sleep III my chair, aftel
II stirring the fire into u blaze. slep,
Y very soundlY-very soundly, that is
3 for awhile, for it was still dark when
4 woke up in sudden and startling
way. ..:@.@. - .J.s#=s5 >.. .
Have you ever wondered,' thu
undertaken asked Stunning his eyes full
upon mine for the first time since hi
had begun his story, what mysterious
(. influence that is which makes YOU fee
another presence in the same room a
yourself, though YOU hear no one ant
see no one? 1t $ a queer feeling at an,
time, but I don know Of any occasion
] when it can seem more queer and awful
than when it comes to a man lock ed u,
II the dead OF night with nothing bn
black plnmes and grave-clothes an,
4 pals and collins about him. = .54s
He turned his eyes to.the floor again
and a cold trenor crept through m,
own flesh in the brief and ominou
paused he made before he went on IN
lower voice. .z.l ..} 4 s: 3. :s
!; That was the feeling had when
suddenly woke from sound sleep to full
s cos,scionsness with q chilling shudde
OF horror. I was sitting before the fire
4 place, with my, back to the door tina
led from the Office to the shop. ha.
pi,rposely left the, door ajaf. The fir
81 had died down TO. dull glow and
I seemed - me that 3 breath frum th
L II Arftic zone had penetrated the room
III can rot describe the kind IL cold
s. Was Ny very bones seemed "a 10 ice
3 Asd thea 4 tclt that .''
= The md ertsker ssetl lerribly a0ec,
ga esi even now 81 hi IIecti ions of "a,
: a night lt Wa III dflbie fd rssist "a
q intecti md ~, 5 d, p cr ss,l1I
: u n Inn worry