The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-09-06

ward to very comfortable night. Throw
ing myself into q large rocking chair
which had been placed there for my use,
1 was soon engaged in the entertaining
pages Of my book. AS often as the clock
struck I arose and examined the corpse,
noistening the face with alcohol, and
wiping away the purging at the mouth.
At eleven o'clock some one entered the
house and came up stairs. They were
the feet of O man, and heard him enter
parlor adjoining the room OF death.
Thoueb it seemed rather singular cir
cumstanco that man should enter the
house at that timo of the night, l thought
nothing moro of it until heard voices
engaged in earnest conversation. In
few moments they grew louder and more
distinct, and I recognized tho voice of
Dr. Rowne. Perhaps Mrs. Colebrook
was sick and needed his assistance. But
he spoke not in the tones of his protes-
sion. The other person spoke in whis,
per; but the doctor spoke in his natural
voice, and seemed to be under no re-
straint.
The house was still as the tomb, and
though made no effort to hear what was
said. the expressions, "will," "thrco wit
nesse "thirty day" and others ofa SINH
lar character, came distinctly to my ears.
They aroused my curiosity. Who was
this DR. Rowne? Why was he thoro at
this unreasonable hour?
Well, it was mono of my business, and
half dozen times I determined not to
concern myself about it. But it was in
vain that tried to fasten my mind upon
the book again; it had lost it's power to
interest mo. I glanced at door which
opened into tho room whore the speakers
wero. 1t would be mean to listen, and
would not do it. 1t was the month OF
Nav, and the weather was quito chilly.
| / had neglected to bring any extra cloth
| ing with me, and began to feol uncom-
tably cold. I rose and paced the room
several minutes.
"Both wills" came to my hearing, in
tho unguarded tones of DR.. Rowne
I paused and looked at tho door. Ap-
parently the other person, who L doubt
not was Mrs. Colcbrook, was speaking,
but I heard nothing. I threw myself in
to the chair and began to shivor with cold
again. On the table lay a clean Mar
settles quilt, which had been left thoro by
a servant, and in the absence Of anything
bottor. unfoldod it and threw it over
nv shoulders It completely envclopcd
my body, and folt quite comfortable
again.
aDestroy the new WILL" said Rowno:
I dropped my book, for this looked
like foul play. 1t occurred to mo that
Mr. Colebrook's poor relations would have
to suffer for this midnight conference. !
knew that he had an only sister, aninvalid,
who was dependent upon his bounty tor
subsistence, and my blood boiled with in
dienation as I thought of what might be
the result of this midnight interview.
I 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 wo-
man was in danger of being cast upon the
tender mercies of q cold world, l was con-
tent to be blamed for the meanness of
oaves-dropping, if thereby could prevent
so foul wrong
Before I did it, could not but recall
the reputcd character of Mrs Colebrook.
Without believing much of tho gossip that
had been circulated concerning her, L
could easily arrive at the conclusion that
she had been tho bane of her husbands
happiness.
him who now lay cold in doath before
me, SO that was not obliged to guess at
the facts in tho case. My own observa-
ton, though 1 moved in an humber
sphere than she, was sufficient to assure
me that all was not right. l placed my
ear to the keyholo.
"When wo are married."
"Hush," said Mrs. Colebrook.
They spoke in whispers thon, andssl
could distinguish nothing moro. Need l
have heard moro?
Woman-angel of devil.
Was it she who had wept great tears
in my presence, who had trembled in the
agony of grief before mo, now calmly
plotting with her paramour, bargaining
away the affections which should have
fingered like q weeping angel over the
couch of him who was not yet buried out
of sight? Was it she who had groaned
in bitterness at her bereavement, now
scheming to rob her sistor and orphan Of
their bounty?
ooh, woman, false as fairl Yet sho is
not woman; she is demon !"
The clock struck twelve, and [ turned
from my reflections to attend to the
corpse. Tho alchohol which had been
provided to wet the face was all used, and
T needed further supply. Taking the
dish in my hand, / went to the door with
the intention of calling Mrs. Colobrook
for it.
First rapping on the door not to sur
prise them, [ opened it and stepped into
the room.
III .ond q littln moro alcohol Mrs. Cole