Horror Story Review: "The Dead and the Countess" by Gertrude Atherton

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The cemetery in Brittany was old before the story began and had not been used for a while. The village became fashionable with artists and the tourists followed, which made a railroad necessary. The tracks were laid near the old cemetery since no one went there anyway. This disturbed those sleeping there. The only living person who noticed this was the old priest, who sprinkled every grave with holy water so that the dead might every morning and every evening, each time the train would pass, so that they might sleep uninterrupted when the ground shook with the passing of the train. One night he misses this sprinkling tending to the ailing young wife of the local count. She is lonely and says she wishes she were on the train out of town. She asks that when she dies she be buried in the old cemetery so she can hear the train out of town. On returning, he hears voices in the cemetery after the train passed: “Jean-Marie, art thou read? Surely that is the last call.” “Nay, nay. That is not the sound of the trumpet, François. That will be sudden and loud and sharp, the great blasts of the north…” He is horrified upon realizing the dead are indeed awakened by train and that they suffer. He hears a baby cry and a mother who sobs because she can’t reach him to comfort him. He quickly gets the holy water and hears that they’re at peace. This little story is an odd mix of sentimentality and horror. The priest, an older man with physical ailments, knows no relief himself. When he turns to superiors for help, he’s treated rudely and threatened. The reader can’t help but feel him. The pacing is a perhaps a little slow for most 21st century readers. Also, it may be a little maudlin, but I rather liked this little story. It spoke of compassion. This story is available at Project Gutenberg: Title: “The Dead and the Countess” (also “Death and the Countess”) Author: Gertrude Atherton (1857-1948) First published: The Smart Set