The Platform Edge: Uncanny Tales of the Railways (British Library Tales of the Weird Book 6) by Ashley Mike

Author:Ashley, Mike [Ashley, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: British Library Publisher
Published: 2019-01-21T16:00:00+00:00

Messrs. Harvey & Moor’s letter announced the unfortunate death of the elder partner from an accident on the railway. They thought, as he was engaged in business for Mr. Markham at the time of his decease, they ought to lose no time in communicating the sad intelligence to Mr. Markham’s representative.

George had not expected his father’s death so suddenly, and was much affected. He wished he had been with him at the end. Their relations had not always been friendly, but he admitted the fault had been his own, though the punishment in the end was unfairly severe. He went home therefore with mixed feelings of sorrow and resentment.

He alighted at the same station on the tube railway which had been the scene of the catastrophe the night before, and he looked with horror at the fatal spot. As he made his way to the lift he had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being followed. To be sure a crowd was going with him, but it was not that; he saw no one especially noticing him, and could not account for the feeling. He had given up his ticket and entered the lift, when the attendant said “Ticket, please,” to some one behind him. He turned but saw no one.

“Old gentleman with you, sir?” asked the attendant. “Why, what has become of him?” he continued, looking about him.

“No. There is no one with me,” said George, much surprised.

“Well, I’m dashed,” said the attendant, staring about. “He’s gone, anyhow. That’s rummy”; and then he attended to his duty and started the lift.

George found the great house with all the windows darkened: the straw with which the street had been strewn during the late owner’s illness deadened all sound from outside, and within was the silence of death. James met him, already attired in funereal weeds, and his wife was there whom George disliked, for he thought her intriguing and meddlesome, and mistrusted her influence on James himself. He knew instinctively he had no friend in her should any question arise about the disposition of the estate. He went and saw his father; the tears stood in his eyes as he thought of the unkindness that had grown up between them year by year, and he was touched with remorse as he recalled the many occasions on which he had given cause for his father’s displeasure. He even, at that moment, forgave him that fatal codicil, though the feeling of resentment returned as he sat at luncheon with James and his wife, and thought how unfairly they were to benefit at his expense. He took his part in the arrangements for the funeral and other matters, but would not stay in the house, and returned in the evening to his chambers in the Temple, anxious and dispirited, and with a sense of impending calamity. And then he remembered that he was to have sent that paper to the lawyers in the morning, and had not done so. Well, it was too late tonight: he would do it in the morning.

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