Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1867-10-31


ously sick.
"Yes, he is dead" replied the man.
"Mrs. Colebrook wishes you to make
haste"
IL didn't know he was so sick"
"He got very bad last night, and grew
worse, ever since till twenty minutes ago,
when he died"
Mr.. Colebrook's house was not five
minutes walk from my home, and
FASTENED there TO perform the Offices of
the dead. | was shown into the room
where the corpse lay, just as death had
done its work. The sufferer had appar.
emily died in the gratest agony The bed
cloths still evinced the struggle between
the grim monster and his victim.
With the assistance of the manservant,
who had gone to my house, laid him
out. and put the room in decent order.
l was about to depart, when the man
servant called me back.
Mrs. Colebrook would like to see
you," he SAID, as he showed me to par
lor 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 had sue
ceeded to some extent and she spoke to
me with tolerable self.possession.
''You will make all the arrangements,
Mr. Mortal" said she.
II will, madam
"Oh, it was terrible ~ groaned she.
BE calm, Mrs. Colebrook," interpos-
ed Dr. Rowne.
II cannot, Doctor feel as though
should become distracted"
NAY, madam, control YOURSELF" and
the doctor, who was young and hand.
some man, took her hand, and uttered
some sentimental remark, which l have
now forgotten.
"Who will watch with him % she al
most gasped, looking eagerly at me.
Watch with him ?'' asked DR.. Rowne
in surprise.
Yes"
at is certainly unnecessary"
The corpse must have watchers" sht
added, more calmly than she had ye
spoken.
"There is no need of them, but"
; II would not have HIM left alone, TO
all the world, said she, with a kind 0
convulsive shiver.
mo possible harm could befall him.
"But 1t seems so neglectful to Geser
the body as soon as the spirit had fed.
at is entirely matter of choice,
added.
Couldn't you watch with him, MI
Mortal g"
"If you particularly desire it."
Il do; l could not bear to have his re
? mains guarded by mere servant. YO
a will oblige me very much.
n l consented to the arrangement, an
: promised to return by nine o'clock in tn
y evening.
', After ordering the coffin for the de
ct ceased-for at that time they were Mt
:. kept on hand to such an extent as the
n are now-and attending 10 my privaI
h affairs, again repaired to the Colebroc
le mansion.
ID Ii was Customary, at the time ofwbiC
I'd | write, for two persons to perform It
Is service for which was engaged thoug
watching was then rapidly going out
IN fashion; but, as my business was wit
re the dead, | was perfectly at home in ii
vi chamber of death, and was even bett
b, satisfied to be alone than with compan
n | had brought an interesting book fro
home, and Mrs. ColebroOk had provide
r a very inviting repast for me in the dl
if ing room below, so that / looked forwa
of 10 d very comfortable night Thrown
n myself into the large rocking chair viii
to had been placed there for my use, | W
nd soon engaged in The entertaining pag
of of nv book. AS often as the clock struc
,ut | arose and examined the corpse, moit
mt ened the face with alcohol, and wp
= away the purging at the mouth.
le- At eleven o'clock some one entered t
he house. and came up stairs. They we
ler the feet of man, and heard him enl
r the parlor adjoining the room of dea
he Though it seemed a rather singular C
len cumstance that a man should enter t
ith house at tha: hour of the night, Ithoug
nothing more of it until heard voic
he engaged in earnest conversation. In
lie. few moments they grew louder and me
hat distinct, and | recognized the voice
hat DR.. Rowne. Perhaps Mrs. Colebro
be. was sick, and needed his assistance.
oor he spoke not in The teEes of his prof
ers sion. The other person spoke In wh
per; but the physician spoke in his n
YER ural voice, and seemed 10 be under no
be- straint
he The house was still as the tomb, a
the though made no effort to hear what y
rad said, the expressions will, . "three v
lie nesses, thirty days and others Of
lin similar character, came directly TO
ears. They aroused my curiosity. "
at. was this DIR. Rowne Why was be tht
/ al such an unreasonable hour9
ad, Well, il was none of my business, Z
bad a half dozen times / determined not
d concern myself about it. But it was
ear vain that l tried to faslen my mind uI
the book again. Il had lost the poy
DOT. to interest me. / glanced at a d
which opened into the room where
Lrs. speakers were. II would be mean 10
the ten, and I would not do il.
Il was the month Of May, and
the weather vas quite chilly. II vas