West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-02
AN UNDERTAKER'S TALE.
A Horrible Story with a Most
Distressing End.

Perhaps l am moro sensitive 10 the
horrible than most of my fcllow-men-
am, in fact, more easily wrought upon.
AZ all events 1 have fancied that at
times, when ] have been telling this
experience of mine. could detect GER
tain indications that some of nv
hearers were of that opinion: but |
have not yet so far failed i'm charity As
TO wish any of these scoffers put 20 n
similar test.
had run over TO Paris, had spent a
couple of weeks i'm that bright city and
was on my way homo again. took "A
night train from Dover 20 london. and
I'M the compartment which I occupied
there was but one other passenger-a
sharp, intelligcnt-looking man. with a
very grave face. We got into convcr-
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, remark of my companion 5
led me TO say that he seemed TO have
mad very wide experience, and among
nearly all classes Of society.
Yes, he answered, slowly and with
marked hesitation. Yes, I-am an
undertaken. have had good deal of
experience and have had my share. [
think, Of remarkable adventures. /
never take this ride from Dover 10
London without very painful recol-
lection of one SUCH
We had still nearly half-hour's =
ride before us, and his manner, as well
as his words, reused my interest.
do you care TO tell itP'' / asked.
quick, involuntary shudder gave
TO his voice "A slight tremor. as he an
swered: II wish | could keep from
thinking of it, but might as we'll tell
1T as sit here qua6ing in silence over
the awful memory OF it," He paused
a moment, drew long shuddcring
breath. and then commenced:
"A little over year ago what | am
about to relate happened to me. ! had
established very good business, chiefly
among the upper class of trades-pcople
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 j was to meet il 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 a well-known
banker as security FOR my expenses.
This looked like good business, so
lost no time in getting the necessary
permits, and went TO Dover i'm the ev.
ening. | had some details 10 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.
- IL was n beautiful, still night. i'm
the late fall, with an almost full moon.
remember, and the boat got i'm 10
time ] received the box containing
the body and saw it placed i'm one of
the luggage vans of the train, and i'm
due course arrived with il at Victoria
station. One Of my wagons was there,
waiting to take the body TO nv place.
where ! was instructed to keep IL until
the next morning. when the proper
parties would call 20 make arrange
ments about the burial. So far. Of
course, there was nothing specially re-
markable about the affair IN is lit
tie unusual in such cases not to find
some one connected with the deceased
accompanying the body. but ] hardly
gave that matter a second thought I
had no doubt but that the right persons
would appear later in the day. When
] got to my shop it still lacked about
two hours of daylight and as felt no
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 i'm
mind that all the sleep / had secured
was a broken, uneasy slumber on the
journey from Dover TO London and
when / went 10 sleepin my chair. after
stirring the FIRE into a blaze. 7 slept
very soundly sOundly. that Is.
for awhile, for IL was still dark when I
woke up in q sudden and startling
way.
Have you ever wondered" the
undertaken asked. turning his eyes full
upon mine for the first time since he
had begun his story, "what mysterious
influence that is which makes Won feel
another presence in the same room as
yourself, though YOU hear no one and
see no one? It's q queer feeling at any
time, but ] don know Of any occasion
when IT can seem more queer and awful
than when II comes 70 n man locked up
in the dead Of night with nothing but
black plumes and grave-clothes and
pals and collins about him
He turned his eyes % the floor again
and a cold tremor crept through my
own flesh in the brief and ominous
paused he made before he went on in
lower voice.
THAT was the feeling had when /
suddenly woke from sound sleep 10 fall
with n chilling shuddfr
of horror. ] was sitting before thc fire.
place, with my back % the door that
led from the Office 10 the shop. had
purposely left the door aiar. The fire
had died down b. q dull glow and 10
seemed 20 me that a breath from the
Arctic zone had penetrated the room