Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-23
DAILY COMMERCIAL.
aIes of an Old Sexton.
"A MIDNIGHT APPARETEON.
CONCLUDED

[CoEcLUDED.I
wen, 1t was none of my business. and half
| dozen times | determined not to concern
inySeH aDoutIt But it was in vain that tried
10 1aSten my mind upon the book AGAIN =. if had
lost the power to interest me. | glanced at q
oooT which opened into the room where the
SPEAKERS were. 1t would be mean to listen.
ana would not do it. 1t was the month of
May, and the weather was quite chilly had
neglected to bring any extra clothing with n me"
and began to feel uncomfortable cold
rose and paced the room several minutes.
Both wills, came to my hearing, in the
unguarded tones of DR.. Rowne.
Ipaused andlooked at the door. Apparently
the other person, who | doubted not was
Mrs. COlebrook speaking, but | could hear
nothing. l threw myself into the chair and
began to shiver with cold again. On table
lay clean Marseilles quilt, which had been
LETT there by a servant, and in the absence of
anything better, l unfolded it and threw it
over my shoulders. 1t completely enveloped
my body, and | felt quite comfortable again.
destroy the new will, :" said DR.. Rowne.
dropped my book, for this looked 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 dependent upou
MS bounty Tor subsistence, and my blood boiled
with indignation as ! thought of what MIGHT
be the result from this midnight interview.
arose from my chair and went to the door.
That the end will Justify the means do not
think IS sound logic, but where a poor, suffer.
ing, dependent woman was in danger of being
cast upon the tender mercies of a cold world /
was content to be blamed for the meanness of
eayesdropping, if thereby could prevent SO
foul a wrong.
Before | did it, ] could not but recall the
reputed character of Mrs. Colebrook. With
out believing much of the gossip that had been
circulated concerning her, could easily arrive
at the conclusion that she had been the bane
OF her husband happiness.
mad been personally acquainted with him
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 moved in
an humber sphere than her, was sufficient to
assure me that all was not right, | placed INV
ear at the keyhoe.
when we are married-''
Hush" said Mrs. Colebrook.
Ihey spoke IN whispers then, and | could
distinguish nothing more Need have heard
more2
Woman-angel or devil.
Was 1t she who had wept great tears in NIX,
presence, who had trembled IN the agony Of
grief before me, now calmly plotting with her
paIamoQr, bargaining away the affections
which should have fingered like a weenino,
angel over the couch of him who was NOT vet
buried out of sight? Was it she who had
groaned IN bitterness at her bereavement now
Schemng to rob her sister and orphan of her
bounty?
so, woman, false as fair! Yet she was not
woman; she was a demon!n
The clock struck twelve and | turned from
my reflections to attend to the corpse The
alcohol which had been provided to wet the
face was all used, and I needed n further
supply. Taking the dish in my hand, | went
to the door with the intention of calling upon
Mrs. Colebrook for it.
First rapping on the door, so as not to sur
prise them, opened it and stepped into the
room.
Il need little more alcohol, Mrs. Cole
brook" began.
She rose from her chair, and with one lone
and most unearthly shrek, she fell upon the
floor.
Dir. Rowne's knees smote each other, and he
shrank back to the turthest corner of the room.
who are your he gasped.
vi course, was very much surprised at this
singular reception. Long familiarity with the
dead had made me so Indifferent to those
breads and fears, which disturb many persons.
that had little consideration for nervousness
on this subject.
''Who are your" groaned the doctor, his
teeth chattering with terror.
Then it flashed upon my mind that the quilt
which enyeloped my body was the cause of the
mischief | was involuntarily personating the
ghost Of the deceased Mr.. Coebrook, and do
not wonder that the guilty wife, and the more
wretched accomphce were terrified, when at
midnight ! stalked into the room.
| had pinned the counterpane around NV
neck, so that nothing could be seen of me but
my face.
! was a ghostly spectre, coming
How awful in that hour when conscience stings-''
to curse her for the base treachery she was
concoctlng. No wonder she tainted; no
wonder even the doctor trembled.
l threw off the quilt and told the doctor who
was.
"See what you have done!" said he, point
ing to the PROSTATE lady.
81 heard some voices here, and came for
some ALCOHOL
Need you have come in that garb ~
- had quite forgotten that l had the quilt
"You have killed her, believe" he con.
tnued, bending over the PROSTATE form Of
Mrs. Colebrook.
We raised her up, and placed her upon
lounge. She was not dead, and presently her
eyes opened.
Where is he?o gasped she, shaking con-
yulsivey.
"Be calm"
he will haunt me all my days"
cit was only Mr.. Mortal"
Her eyes glared upon me, and then rolled
up IN her head. Heaven grant that | NAV
never see such hideous expression again,
She was in a fit.
The house was alarmed, and DR.. Rowne
used every exertlOn to restore her, but all in
vain.
'She will de-" he said savageIy; "you
have killed herr
(Which will did you destroy, doctor ?''
asked.
He staggered into the corner of the room.
unable to reply, He would never accuse me
again, and yet promised not to expose him;
but 1t was in Difference to the invalid sister of
the deceased, that | allowed myself to be silent
IN the presence of infamy,
Before daylight there was another corpse in
the house, and it was told for two months after
that Mrs, Colebrook had been killed by the
shock Of her husband DEATH
buried them both two days after, and
had the pleasure of seeing the Colebroolz
fortune pass into the hands of the poor and
deserving sister.
l have never seen nor heard from DR.,
Rowne from that day to this. 1t is said he
went to the East Indies. If he did, the devil
Is with him there, and always will be.
The Cork GRUB.-The corn crop has several
formidable enemies to contend with, and
among them is the grub, which sometimes
literally destroys whole fields, or damages the