The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-05-18

has fled."
h added sSsfi' ,SlTG'sSsl'T o'ss' +,
siCpian't /. a.,n you \. watch with him, NJ
| "If you particularly desire It. t.lon'
"r do; ! could not bear % have his
remains guarded by h mere servant
You will oblige me very much"
/ consented to the arrangement,
and promised to retiirn by nine
% clock in the evening. 1'l.2 y
After ordering the coffin, for the
dcceased--f at that time they were
not Kept on hand to such an extent
Ias tliey are now-and attending to
my private affairs / again repaired to
the Colebrook mansion.
It was customary at the time OF
which I write Tor two persons to per
form the service for which I was en-
gagged, though watching was then go
ing rapidly out of fashion; but, as my
business was with the dead, | was
perfectly at home in the chamber OF
death, and was even better satisfied
to be alone than with company.
had brought an interesting book from
home, and Mrs. Colebrool had pro
.vidcd very interesting repast for
me in the dining room below, so that
| looked forward to a very comforta
bic night Throwing myself into the
large rocking chair, which had been
placed there for my use, | was soon
engaged in the entertaining pages
of my ooll. As often as the clock
struck l arose and examined the
corpse, mostcning the face with al
cohol, and wiping away the purging
at the mouth.
AT eleven o'clock some one enter.
ed the house and came up stairs
They were the feet OF q man, and |
heard hlm enter the parlor adjoining
The room of death. Though it seem.
ed rather singular circumstance
that q man should enter the house at
that hour of the night, | thought
nothing more of it till heard voices,
engaged in earnest conversation. In
a few minutes they grew louder and
more distinct, and recognized the
voice Of DR.. Rowne. Perhaps Mrs
Colehrool1 was sick and needed his
assistance. But lie spoke not in The
tones Of his profession. The other
person spoke in whisper; but the
doctor spoke in his natural voice, and
seemed 20 bc under no restraint.
The house vas us still as the tomb,
and though | made no effort to hear
what was said, the expressions "will,'
"three witnesses" "thirty days. and
others of similar character, came
distinctly TO my ears. They aroused
my curiosity, Who was this DR..
Rowue? Why was he there at that
unreasonable hourP
Well, it was none Of my business,
and half n dozen times | determined
not to concern myself about it. But
it was in vain that | tried to faster
my mind upon the book again; il bad
lost the power to interest me. |
glanced at a door which opened into
the room where the speakers were.
1t would be mean to listen, and |
would not do it. It was the month
of May, and the weather was quite
chilly. | had neglected TO bring amy
extra clothing with me, and began
to feel uncomlortably cold. | rose
and paced the room several minutes
"Both Wills" came to my hearing,
in The unguardcd tones OF Dr. Rowne
paused and looked at the door.
Apparently the other person, who |
doubted not, was Mrs, ColebrooN
speaking, but | could hear nothing.
| threw myself into the chair and be
gan to shlycr with cold again. On
a table lay clean Marseillcs quilt
which had been left there 10y ser
want, and in the absence of anything
better, unlolded it and threw il
over my shoulders. 1t completely
enveloped my body, aud | felt quite
comfortable again.
destroy the new will, sid Doctor
Rowne.
l dropped my book, for this look
ed like foul play. 1t occurred to me
that Mr.. Colebrook's poor relations
would have to suffer for this midnight
conference. knew that he had an
only sister, an invalid, who was de-
pendent upon his bounty for su6sis'
tence, and my blood boiled with in.
dignation as 1 thought Of what might
be the result OF this midnight inter
view.
| arose from my chair and went to
the door. That the end will justify
the means | do not think is sound
logic, but where poor, suffering,
dependent woman was in danger OF
being cast upon the tender mercies
OF cold world | was content TO be
blamed for the meanness of caves
dropping, if thereby could prevent
SO foul Il wrong.
Before | did it, could not but re-
call the reputed character Of Mrs
Celebrook. Without believing much
Of the gossip that had been circulated
concerning her, l could easily arrive
ut the conclusion that she had been
The bane Of her husband $ happiness.
l had been personally acquainted
witlThim who now lay cold IN death
before me, SO that | was not obliged
To guess at the facts IN the case. My
own observation, though l moved in
an humber sphere than her, was sut-
fcient to assure me that all was not