The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-06-11
AN UNDERTAKINGS TALE.
A Horrible Story with a Most
Distressing End.

horrible than most of my fellow-men-
am, in fact, more easily wrought upon.
At all events 1 have fancied that at
times, when 1 have been telling this
experience of mine, l could detect GER
tain indications that some of my
hearers were of that opinion; but I
have not yet so far failed in charity as
to wish any of these scoffers put to
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
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, remark of my companions
led me to say that he seemed to have
had very wide experience, and among
nearly all classes of society.
Eyes, " he answered, slowly and with
marked hesitation. eyes, lam an
undertaken. have had a good deal of
experience and have had my share, I
think, of remarkable adventures /
never take this ride from Dover to
London without a 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 ftp" l asked.
A quick, involuntary shudder gave
TO his voice slight tremor, as he an
swered: 81 wish | 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. had
established q very good business, chiefly
among the upper class of trades-people
though, of course, did not decline
any call upon me that promised a rea-
sonable profit. l received one day
Geographic 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, and went to Dover in the ey-
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 had
nothing to do but wait. / sat up read
ing to keep myself awake.
1t was a beautiful, still night. in
the late fall, with an almost full moon.
l remember, and the boat cot 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
tho next morning, when the proper
parties would call to make arrange
ments about the burial. SO far, of
course, there was nothing specially re-
markable about the affair. 1t is a If
tie unusual in such cases not to find
some one connected with the deceased
accompanying the body, but / hardly
gave that matter n second thought 7
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 us 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 broken, uneasy slumber on the
journey from Dover to London and
when went to sleepin my chair, after
stirring the fire into q blaze. slept
very sopndly-vcry soundly, that is,
for awhile, for it was still dark when
woke up in a sudden and startline
way.
Have you ever wondered" the
undertaken asked, turning his ewes fun
upon mine for the first time since he
lhad begun his story, what mysterious
influence that is which makes you feel
another presence in the same room as
yourself, though you hear no one and
zee no oneP It's queer feeling at any
Mime, but don't know of any occasion
when 1t can seem more queer and awful
than when it comes to man locked M
IN the dead of night with nothing but
black plumes and grave-clothes and
pals and collins about him."
He turned his eyes to the floor again
and cold tremor crept through nv
own flesh in the brief and ominous
paused he made before he went on in q
lower voice.
THAT was the feeling had when |
suddenly woke from sound sleep to full
consciousness with q chilling shudder
of horror. l was sitting before the fire
place, with my back to the door that
led from the office to the shop. had
purposely left the door ajar. The fire
had died down to dull glow and it
seemed to me that breath from the
Arctic zone had penetrated the room.
can not describe the kind of cold it
was. My very bones seemed to be ice
A1ld then I felt that preSence!n
Inc undertaken seemed terribly affect
ed even now by his recollections of that
night. 1t was impossible to resist the
infection and my own flesh was creep
ing in very uncomfortable way. He
made q strong effort to recover himself
and to steady his voice, but in spite of
all it trembled with an ever-deepening
terror as he went on, curdling my very
blood in Symnathv
81 had turned out the gas when /
sat down in m, chair to sleep, so that
the only light in the room came from
the dying fire. became aware of that
presence the very instant l awoke.
Mind, sir, this is not dream. was
as fully awake as am at this moment
The thing was there! 1t was at the
back of me. 1t was between me and
the door. / had got to turn nv head
to see it Bat I knew it soas there,
Who it was, or what it was, didn't
know; but | was sure that some living