New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-27

iaxes fbonch he had the reputation in the street
If being a very kind hearted and benevolent man.
Every day seemed to usher him into the arena OF
new strife with the powers OF misery. Appar-
emily be was tired Of life, and impatiently waited
for the hour that had now come, and which would
put him beyond the trials and woes of this sublu-
nary existence.
And yet many could remember when he YVES
gay and cheerful person. Before his marriage
with poor but beautiful girl, some seven years
before his death, he had worn a sunny smile, and
his life seemed to him pleasant dream
Though only thirty-tive when he married. people
said there was too much difference between his
own age and that of his wife, who was, believe,
about twenty-five. She had been poor, and forced
to content herself with but few of the gaieties of
life; but now she was rich, and her ndulgent
husband gave her free access to his Golfers.
Wealth fostered pride, and Mrs. Colebrook became
a leader of fashion--the gayest of the gay. Her
beauty and influential position in society made her
queen, and her smile was courted by the brilliant
and dissolute. The house, when she was at home,
was always filed with gay gallants and lordly
ladies.
All the world could see this: and the next thing
it saw was, that Mr.. Colebrook grew. sad and
melancholy; that his wife was cold to him, and
there was little, if any, sympathy between them
The people said the poor man had married badly
and the croakers all " knew it would be so."
Mr.. Colehrook was dead. Whatever woes had
weighed him down, he was beyond them reach
now People said he had died of a broken heart;
that the whirl of pleasure in his own house had
been q hell to him; and that his gay wife had
been the scorpion who stung him TO death.
For my part, pay but little attention to the
busy tongue of gossip. ! account all it says,
whether good or bad, as mere SANDER. What
ever stories had heard concerning Mrs. Cole
brook--and had heard many-passed '"in at one
ear and out at the other"
Mr.. Mortal" said man at my door.
g That is nv narne.n
"Mr. Colebrook is dead, and Mrs. Colebrook
wants you to come up to the house and lay him
out y
"ATr. Colebrook!i' 1 exclaimed, for the intelli.
gence was very unexpected to me, as well as to
| the whole city, when it was announced.
| had heard that he was suffering from an attack
of bilious cholie but it had not been even
| rumored that he was dangerouly i'll.
Eyes, he is dead, replied the man; g Mrs. Cole
| brook wishes you to make haste"
g didn't know he was sick"
Gle got very bad last night, and grew worse
ever since, till twenty minutes ago, whenne died
| Mr.. Colebrook's house was not five minutes
| walk from home, and fastened to perform the
office for the dead. I was shown into the room
where the corpse lay, just as death had done its
work. The sufferer had apparently died in the
| greatest agony. The bed-clothes still evidenced
| the struggle between the tyrant and lis victim.
| With the assistance of man servant who had
gone to my house, laid him out and put the room
| in order.
Twas about to depart when the man servant
| called me back.
/
as he showed me to parlor in front of the room
| in which the corpse lay.
She appeared to be in the deepest distress, and
the family physician was still present, using his
best efforts to reduce her to state of calmness.
He succeeded to some extent, and she spoke to me
with tolerable selfpossession.
!" You will make all the arrangements, Mr.. Nor
tai, \ said she.
81 will, madam
@ Oh, it was terrible!'' groaned she.
" BE- calm, Mrs Colebrook," interposed Dr..
Rowne.
q cannot, doctor; Ifeel as though should be-
come distracted
may, madam, control yourself, said the doctor,
who was ayoung andyery good looking man, took
her hand and uttered some sentimental remark,
which, have now forgotten. @
"Will you watch with him " she almost gasped,
Watch with him ~ asked DR.. Rowne, in sur
prise.
eyes"
"Itis entirely unnecessary
This corps must have Watchers she added,
more calmly than she had yet spoken.
There is no need Of that but ~
g would not have him left alone for all the
world" she said, with kind of convulsiVe
shiver.
No possible harm could befall him."
"But it seems so neglectful to desert the body
as soon as the spirit is fled.n
:. i is entirely matter of choices' / added.
Couldn't you watch with him, Mr.. Mortal?n
If you particularly desire itp
:" / do; l could not bear to have his remains
guarded by mere servant. You will oblige me
very much"
consented to the arrangement, and promised
to return by nine O'Clock in the evening.
After ordering the coffin for the deceased-for
at that time they were not kept on hand to such
an extent as they now are-and attending to my
private affairs, again repaired to the Colebrook
mansion.
It was customary at the time of which write
for two persons to perform the service for which
was engaged, though watching was then going
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. Cole
brook had provided very interesting repast for
me in the diningroom below, so that looked for
ward to a very comfortable night Throwing my
self into large rocking chair, which had been
placed there for my use, was soon engaged in
the entertaining pages OF my book As often as
the clock struck arose and examined the corpse,
moistening the face with alcohol, and Wiping away
the pufging at the mouth.
At II o'clock some one entered the house and
came up stairs. They were the feet of man, and
heard him enter parlor adjoining the room of
DEATH Though it seemed a rather singular cir
cumstance that man should enter the house at
that time of night / thought nothing more of it
till heard voices engaged in earnest conversation.
In few minutes they grew louder and more dis
tinct, and Recognized the voice of DR.. Rowne.
I STnhpS MIS- OOleDrOOh was SICK ana 16eQeQ MS
assistance. But he spoke not in the tones of his
profession. The other person spoke in whisper;
but the doctor spoke in his natural voice, and
seemed to be under no restraint.
The house was still as the tomb, and though
made no effort to hear what was said, the express
sions will, p Z" three witnesses thirty days.
and others of similar character, came distinctly
to my ears. They aroused my curiosity. Who
was this DR.. Rowne9 Why was he there at this
hour?
wall IL xvas none of INV hnainass and q hale q
dozen times determined not to concern myself
my mind upon the book again; it had lost the
opened into the room where the speakers were.
It would be mean to listen, and would not do it.
1t was the month of May and the weather was
quite chilly. / had neglected to bring any extra
clothing with me, and began to feel uncomfort-
ably cold. rose and paced the room several
minutes.
Both Wills came to my hearing, in the I'M
guarded tones of DIR. &aowne.
paused and looked at the door. Apparently
the other person, who / doubted not was Mrs
Colebrook, was speaking, but heard nothing.
threw myself into the chair, and began to SILVER
with cold again. On the table lay clean Mar.
settles quilt which had been left there by a SER
want, and in the absence of anything better, l
unfolded it and threw it over my shoulders. It
completely enveloped my body, and felt quite
comfortable again;
destroy the new viii, 2 said Dr. RoTne.
dropped my book, for this looked like foul
play. 1t occurred to me that Nj. Colebrook's
poor relations would have to suf64 for this mid.
night conference. ] knew that he had an only