Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-07-22
AN UNDERTAKINGS TALE.
A Horrible Story with a Most
Distressing End.

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Perhaps | am more sensitive to the
horrible than most of my fellow-men-
am, in fact, more easily wrought upon.
At all events 1 have fancied that at
times, when / have been telling this
experience of mine, / could detect GER
tain indications that some of my
hearers were of that opinion; but l
have not yet so far failed in charity as
to wish any of these scoffers put to a
similar test.
had run over to Paris, had spent a
couple of weeks in that bright city and
was on my way home again. took a
night train from Dover to london, and
in the compartment which / occupied
there was but one other passenger-a
sharp, intelligent-looking man, with
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 very wide experience, and among
nearly all classes of society.
"Yes," he answered, slowly and with
q marked hesitation. "Yes, lam an
undertaken. | have had good deal of
experience and l have had my share, l
think, of remarkable adventures. l
never take this ride from Dover to
London without very painful recol-
lection of one such"
We had still nearly a half-hour's S
ride before us, and his manner, as well
as his words reused my interest.
''Do you care to tell itp' | asked
A quick, involuntary shudder gave
to his voice slight tremor, as he an
swered: II wish l 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 long shuddering
breath, and then commenced:
"A little over year ago what | am
about to relate happened to me. l had
established very good business, chiefly
among the upper class of trades-people
though, of course, did not decline
any call upon me that promised rea-
sonable profit. | received one day a
telegraphic dispatch from Paris, asking
me to take charge of dead body that
was to be sent from Paris to London for
burial. | 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
lost no time in getting the necessary
permits, aud went to Dover in the ev.
ening | 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 | had
nothing to do but wait. / sat up read.
ing to keep myself awake.
at was a beautiful, still night, in
the late fall, with an almost full moon,
remember, and the boat got in tC
time ] received the box containing
the body and saw it placed in one Of
the luggage vans of the train, and ir
due course arrived with it at Victoris
Station. One of my wagons was there
waiting to take the body to my place
where | was instructed to keep it unit
the next morning, when the proper
parties would call to make arrange
ments about the burial. So far, O
course, there was nothing specially re
markable about the affair. 1t is lit
tie unusual in such cases not to fine
some one connected with the deceased
accompanying the body, but l hardly
gave that matter second thought
had no doubt but that the right person
would appear later in the day. Whel
l got to my shop it still lacked abou
two hours of daylight and as l felt n,
slight responsibility | didn't think o
going home, but made myself rs com
Portable as possible in my office for tn
rest of the night. You must bear il
mind that all the sleep | had secure,
was broken, uneasy slumber on tn
journey from Dover to London an,
when l went to sleepin my chair, afte
stirring the fire into a blaze, | slep
very soundly-very soundly, that is
for awhile, for it was still dark when
woke up in sudden and startling
way.
"Have you ever wondered" tn
undertaken asked, turning his eyes ful
upon mine for the first time since h
had begun his story. "what mysteriou
influence that is which makes you te'
another presence in the same room a
yourself, though you hear no one an
see no one? It's queer feeling at an
time, but don't know of any occasio
when it can seem more queer and awfI
than when it comes to man locked u
in the dead of night with nothing br
black plumes and grave-clothes an
pals and coffins about him"
He turned his eyes to the floor agai
and cold tremor crept through m
own flesh in the brief and ominoU
paused he made before he went on in
lower voice.
THAT was the feeling had when
suddenly woke from sound sleep to fu
consciousness with chilling shudd'
of horror. l was sitting before the fir
place, with my back TO the door tn;
led from the Office to the shop. / hs
purpoSely left the door ajar. The fl
had died down to dull glow and
seemed to me that breath from Il
Arctic zone had penetrated the room
can not describe the kind of cold