The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-23


Throwing myself into large rocking chat
| which had been placed their for my USE
was soon engaged in the entertaining page
of my book. AS often as the clock struck
| arose and examined the corpse, moistenin.
the face with alcohol, and wiping away tn
purging at the mouth.
| At IL o'clock, some one entered the hous
and came up stairs. They were the feet O
a man. and heard him enter room adjoin
ing the chamber.of DEATH Though it seemed
rather a singular circumstance that mar
should enter the house at that time o
night, l thought nothing more of it till
heard voices, engaged in earnest converse
ton In few minutes, they grew loude
aud more distinct, and | recognized thu
voice of Dr. Rowne. Perhaps Mrs Cole
brook was sick and needed his assistance
but he spoke not in the tones of his profes
sion. The other person spoke in a whisper
but the doctor spoke in his natural voice
and seemed to be under no restraint.
The house was still as the tomb, anC
Pthough made no effort to hea what was
said, the expression will, !" ''three witness
ess, 'thirty days" and others of similar
character, came distinctly to my ears. They
aroused my curiosity. Who was this DIR
Rowne? Why was he there at this unsea
sonable hourp
Well, it was none of my business, anc
half dozen times determined not to con
Germ myself about it. But it was in vair
that tried to fasten my mind upon the
book again it had lost the power to inter.
est me. glanced at a door which opened
into room where the speakers were II
would be mean to listen and would moi
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 Internationally cold | rose
and paced the room several minutes.
''3oth Wills came to my hearing, in the
unguarded tones Of DR.. Rowne
paused and looked at the door. Appar
emily the other person, who | doubted moi
was Mrs. Colebrook, was speaking, but
heard nothing. l threw myself into the
chair again and began to shiver with colo
again. On table lay clean Marseile,
wilt, which had been left there by Il ser
want, and, in the absence of any thing bet
ter, unfolded it, and threw it over my
shoulders. 1t completely enveloped my
body, and l felt quite comfortable again
Destroy the new WILL" said Doctor
Rowne
| dropped my book, for this looked like
foul play. 1t occurred to me that Mr.. Cole
brooks poor relations would have to suffer
for this midnight conference. knew thai
he had an only slater, an invalid, who was
dependent upon his bounty for subsistence
and my blood boiled with indignation as
thought Of what might be the result OF 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, suffering, dependent woman was in
danger Of being cast upon the tender mer.
cies of cold world, | was content to be
blamed for the meanness of eaves-dropping,
if thereby could prevent so foul wrong
Before did it, l could not but recall tie
reputed character of Mrs. Colebrook With
out believing much of the gossip that had
been circulating concerning her, could ca
silly arrive at the conclusion that she had
been the bane of her husbands happiness
l had 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
she, was sufficient to assure me that all was
not right, and placed my ear at the key
hole.
''When we are married."
''Hush, +" said Mrs. Colebrook.
They spoke in whispers then, and could
distinguish nothing more. Need | have
heard more?
Woman-angel or devil.
Was it she who had wept great tears in
my presence, who had trembled in the ago.
ny Of grief before me, now calmly plotting
with her paramour, bargaining away tile
affections which should have fingered like a
weeping angel over the couch OF him who
was not yet buried out of sight? Was it
she who had groaned i'll bitterness at her
bereavement, now scheming to rob her sis
ter and orphan of their bounty?
Oh, woman, false as fair Yet she is not
a woman she is demon
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 | needed a
further supply. Taking the dish in my
hand, | went to the door with the intention
of calling Mrs Co.ebrook for it.
First rapping on the door, so as not tc
surprise them, opened it and stepped into
the room.
81 need little more alcohol, Mrs Cole
brook" l began.
She rose from her chair, and with one
long and most unea1thIy shrek, she fell
upon the floor.
n. PowDo', l,-ooio e.S,oto -. -
he shrank back to the farthest corner of the
room.
"Who are you ?" he gasned.
Of 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 l had little considera
ton for nervousness on this subject
''Who are you?' groaned the doctor, his
teeth chattering with terror.
Then it flashed upon my mind that the
quilt which enveloped my body was the
cause of the mischief. was involuntarily
personating the ghost of the deceased Mr.
Colebrook, and do not wonder that the
guilty wife and the wretched accomplish
were terrified, when at midnight | stakeC
into the room.
had pinned the counterpart around my
neck, SO that nothing could be seen of m,
but my face.
was ghostly spectre, coming:
'How awful in that hour when conscience stings :
to curse her for the base treachery she wa
concocting. No wonder she tainted nj
wonder even the doctor trembled.
threw off the quilt and told the docto
who | was.
''See what you have done !'' said he
pointing to the PROSTATE lady.
81 heard some voices here, and cam
for ALCOHOL
''Need you have come in that garb? p
81 had quite forgotten that had tn
quilt on"
"You have killed her, l believe" he con
tinued, bending over the PROSTATE form c
Mrs. Colebrook.
We raised her up, and placed her upon
lounge. She was not dead, and present.