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

before me, now calmly plotting with the para
mour. bargaining away tie affections which should
have fingered like weeping angel over the couch
of him who was not vet buried out of sight? Was
it she who had groaned in bitterness at her be-
reavement, now schemtng to rob her sister and
orphan of their bounty
"Oh, woman, false as fair Y ct she is not q
woman she is demon!"
The clock struck twelve and / turned from my
reflections 10 attend to the corpse. The alcohol
which had been provided to wet the face was all
used and needed further supply. Taking the
dish in my hand went to the door with the IN
tentiOn of calling Mrs. Colebrook for it.
First rapping on the door not to surprise them,
opened it and stepped into the room
l need little more alcohol, Mrs. Colebfook,'
Ihegan.
She rose from her chair, and with one long and
most unearthly shrek, fell upon the floor.
DR.. Rowne's knees smote each other and he
shrank back to the fapthest corner OF the Foom
"Who are you E' he gasped.
| 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 had little
| consideration for nervousness on this subject.
| "Who are you 2" groaned the doctor, his teeth
chattering with fear,
Then it flashed upon my mind that the quilt
which enveloped my body was the cause of the
mischief. | was inYoluntarily personahng the
ghost of the deceased Mr.. Colebrook, and do not
wonder that the guilty wife and wretched accom-
plice were terrified when at midnight stalked
into the room.
had pinned the counterpane around my neck
so that nothing could be seen of me but my face
Tas ghostly spectre, coming
How awful in that hour when conscience stings--
to curse her for the base treachery she was CON
Gootng. No wonder she tainted; no wonder even
the doctor trembled.
threw oil the quilt and told the doctor who
was.
''see what you have dcne ?n said he pointing to
the PROSTATE lady.
al heard some voices here, and came for some
alcohol
| "Need you have come in that garb?u
~ had quite forgotten that had the quilt on. =
"You have killed her, I believe he continued,
| bending over the PROSTATE form Of Mrs. Cole
brook.
She was not dead, and presently her eyes opened
| "Where is he?n gasped she, shaking conYul'
sivey
Be calm?" ..
! "He will haunt me all my days"
| +" 1t was only Mr.. Mortal'
Her eyes glared upon me, and then rolled up ia
her head. Heaven grant that may never see such
hideoqs expression again: She was in fit.
| The house was alarmed, and DR.. Rowne used
every exertion to restore her, but all in vain.
:. She will die, p he said sayagely; you have
killed her.
(Which will did you destroy, doctor !? " Il
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 it was in
Difference to the invalid sister of the deceased that
allowed myselfto be silent in the presence Of in
| fanny.
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 husbands death.
! buried them both two days after, and had
the pleasure of seeing the Colebrook fortune pass
into the hands of the poor and deserving sister.
| I have never seen or 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.
SCEYT.-It is a commonly accepted theory that
game birds, when sitting on their eggs, carry no
scent and without inquring very closely into the
facts, naturalists have asserted this to be wise
provision Of nature, in order to afford protection
to the bird when engaged in the faithful duty Of
bringing young brood into existence. During
the period of incubation, the pheasant hen APP
pears to enjoy greater degree of security than at
any other time, but it is questionable whether she
owes the security to a special and wonderful pro.
| vision of nature or net,
| We notice that the inclination is continually
growing stronger to disbelieTe the old and usually
accepted theory, Sitting birds, probably, do not
lose their scent, but they are favored by Gircum-
stances. Scent, certainly, is very extraordinary,
| and perhaps one of the greatest mysteries in
nature. correspondent of Land and Water
asks: May not the higher temperature of the
| atmosphere, during the breeding season, and the
dry and heated state of the ground, both preiu
dieial to the holding of scent, have given rise to
the idea thatno scentwhatever belong to the setting
hen? or, may notthe fact other constantly remaining
on her eggs never moving off them but once or
| twice in the twenty-four hours, and thus seldom
leaving any tale-teiling trail behind her, be, of
itself, her security" This seems to be the most
probable theory, and in order to give it force, the
writer remarks: ''Honnds often draw over a fox
snugly esconoed under furze bush, though pass
ing within yard Of him, especially when he has
been kenneled up there an hour or two, and his
| drag has got stale. In The same way we may
take it for granted that foxes, dogs and 7ernin
pass by the game bird as she sits on her eggs.m
Scent depends upon air as well as land, and ex-
perience tells us That it is altered by difference of
soil 1t likewise varies with different degrees Of
motion. The faster an animal travels, the less
scent it leaves behind. 1t is difficult to explain
exactly what scent is, although we know it chiefly
depends upon the condition Of the ground and the
Temperature of the atmosphere. When both are
moist, without being wet, experienced hunters
will tell you that the scent is nearly perfect. The
argument. then, that the game birds, sitting upon
her eggs, is partially protected by the heat, and
dryness of the soil and atmosphere, is very plau-
sble one. 1t is more within the bounds of reason
| than the theory that security is afforded by a
special provision of Providence.
TIlrrg Fiad and Farr,