The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-09-06
Anosrso1t gnteQigenter.
"A MIDNIGHT APPARITION.

Mr. COteDrOOk HstS eso<'u. ~ ~
rich man, yet slight acquaintance Win
Elm would have convinced even q super
fetal observer that he was not healthy
man. He was misanthropic in his views,
thouoh he had the reputation in the street
of being very kind-hearted and benev-
olent man. Every day seemed to usher
him into the arena Of new strife with
the powers of misery. Apparently he
was tired of life, and impatiently waited
for the hour that had now como, and
which would put him beyond the trials
and woes of this sublunary existence.
And yet many could remember when
he was a gay and cheerful person. BE-
fore his marriage with a poor but oeaqtl-
full girl, some seventeen years before MS
death, he had worn sunny smile, ana
his life seemed to him pleasant, dream
Though only thirty-fve when no mar.
ried, people said there was too macn oll,
ference between his own age and that OF
his wife. who was, I believe, about twen-
tv.two. She had been poor, and forced
70 content herself with but few of the
pa;eties of life but now she was rich,
and her indulgent husband gave her free
access to his Golfers Wealth tostered
prido, and Mrs. Colebrook became lead
er of fashion-the gayest Of the gay.
Her beauty and influential position IN So
ciety made her queen, and her smile was
courted by the brilliant and dissolute
The house, when she was at home, was
always filled with gay gallants and lord
ly ladies'. -,
All the world could 500 this; and tho
next thing it saw was, that Mr.. Cole
brook grew sad and melancholy-that his
wife was cold to him, and there was little
if any sympathy between them. The
reople saw the poor man had married
badly, and tho croakers oil "knew IL
would be So"
Mr.. .Colebrook was dead. Whatever
woes had weighed him down, he was be-
yond their reach now. People said he
had died of broken heart; that the
whirl Of pleasure in his own house had
been a hell to him and that his gay wito
had been the scorpion who had stung him
to death.
For my part, I pay but little attention
TO gossip. I account all it says, whether
rood or bad, as mere SANDER Whatever
Stories 7 had heard concerning Mrs. Cole,
brook-and I had heard many-passed
tsin at one ear and out at the other"
uMr: Mortal" said man at my door.
- sThat is my name" 81
aMr. Colebrook is dead, and Mrs. Colo
brook wants you to come up TO the mouse
y and lay him out"
@Mr. Colebrook p exclaimed, for the
intelligence was very unexpected to mo,
as well as to the whole city, when it was
announced.
an attack of bilious cholic, but it had not
) heen even rumored that he was danger
ously i'll. -, -,
Mrs. Colebrook wishes you to mako
haste" ~.
MHe got very bad last night, and grew
worse ever since, till twenty minutes ago,
when he died."
Mr.. Colebrook's house was not tivo
minutes walk from my home, and has
tened there to perform the office for the
dead. I was shown into the room where
che corpse lay, just as death had it lett.
The sufferer had apparently died in the
greatest agony. The bedclothes still evil
denced the struggle between the tyrant
: and his victim.
With tho assistance of man servant
who had gone to my house, laid HIM
ont and put the room in order.
I was about to depart, when tho man
servant called me back.
"Mrs. Colebrook would like to see you,
he said as he showed me to parlor In
front of the room in which the corpse lay.
She appeared to be in the deepest dis
tress, and the family physician was still
present, using his best efforts to reduce
her to a state of calmness. He succeed
ed to some extent, and she spoke to me
with tolerabIe self-possession.
aYou will make all tho arrangements
Mr.. Mortal" she said.
ssI will, madam"
ooh. it was terrible" groaned she.
oBe calm. Mrs. Colcbrook," intorposed
DR.. Rowne.
~ cannot, doctor-I feel as though L
should become distracted" =,
"Nay, madam control YOURSELF said
The doctor, who was young and very
good looking man, taking her hand and
ntterinr some sentimental remark, which
have now forgotten: ..
sWill you watch with him" she almost
rasped, looking eagerly at mo.
"Watch with him ?" asked DR.. Rowne,
in surprise.
eyes"
sIt is entirely unnecessary"
aThis corpse must have watchers" she
added, more calmly than she had yet
"There is no need of that, BUT
mI would not have him left alone for
all the world" she said, with q kind OF
convulsivo shiyer