The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-11-13
A Midnight Apparation.

And tecming mischief thrives beneath thy shade
aaron Hill
Mr.. Colebrook was dead He was rich
man, yet slight acquaintance with hin
would have convinced even a superficial %
server that he was not healthy man. He
was misanthropic in his view though he
had the reputation in the street Of being a
very kind hearted and b"evolent man
Every day seemed to usher him into the are
IA Of a new strife with the powers of misery
Apparently he was tired Of life and impati.
emily waited for the hour that had now come
and which would put him beyond the trials
and woes Of this subl;minary existence.
And yet many cou'd remember when he
was a gay and cheerfu' 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 a
pleasant dream
Though only thirty-fve when he married,
people said there was too much difference be-
tween 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 gaities Of life; but now she
was rich, and her indugent husband gave
her free access to his Golfers. Wealth foster
ed PRIDE and Mrs Colebrook became a leader
of fashion-the gayest of the gay. Ee'
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, WIS always filed with
gay gallants and lordly ladies'.
Ali the world could see this and the next
thing it saw was, that Mr.. Colebrook grew
sad and melancho ly-that his wife was colo
to him, and there was little if any sympathy
between them. The people said the poor
man had married badly, and the creafers all
* lew it would be So
Mr. Coebrook was dead Whatever woes
had weighed him down, Re was beyond their
reach now People said he had died of a
broken heart that the whirl of pleasure in
his own house had been 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.
Whatever stories I had heard concerning
Mrs Colcbrook-and I had heard many
passed Sin at one ear and out at the other. "
"Mr. Mortal" said man at my door.
ssThat is my name
"Mr Coebrook is dead, and Mrs Cole
brook wants you to come up to the house and
lay him out!''
"Mr Colebrook" Iexclaimed, for the in
telligence was very unexpected to me, as
we'll as the whole city, when it was annouced.
had heard that he was suffering from an
attack of bilious cholic, but it had not been
even rumored that he was dangerously ILL.,
eyes he is dead" rep'ed the man Mrs.
Colebrook wishes you to make haste.
Il didn't know he was sick" M
"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 min
utes' walk from home, and | fastened there
to perform the office for the dead. | was
shown into the room where the corpse lay,
just as death had done its work. The suffer.
er had apparently died in the greatest agony
The bed clothes still evidenced the struggle
between the yrant and his victim.
| With the assistance of man servant who
had gone to my house, laid him out and
put the room in order.
was about to depart when the man ser
want 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 distress,
and the family physician was still present
using his best efforts to reduce her to a state
Of calmness. He succeeded to some extent;
and she spoke to me with tolerable selfpos-
session.
"You will make all the arrangements, Mr.
Mortal" said She
II will, madam"
ooh, it was terrible!' groaned she.
"Be calm, Mrs. Colebrook," interposed
DR.. Rowae.
.....:sI cannot, Doctor I feel as though should
become distracted
ssNay, madam, control yourself" said the
doctor, who was young and very good look
ing man, took her hand and uttered some SEN
timemtal re mark, which, have now forgotten
"Will you watch with him? ?" she almost
gasped, looking eagerly at me.
@Watch with him 2" asked Dr. Rowne, in
surprise.
eyes"
at is entirely unnecessary"
sThis corpse, must have watchers" she add
ed more calmly than she had yetspoken.
aThere is no need of that, but
II would not have him left alone for all
the world" she said, with kind of convul
siye SILVER.
"No possible harm could befall HIM
"But it seems SO neglectful to desert the
body as soon as the spirit has fed"
sItis entirely matter Of choice" I add
ed.
nCouldn'ty you watch with him, Mr.. Nor
tai ?"
eff you particularly desire it."
II do; / could not bear to have his remains
guarded by a mere servant. You will oblig'
me very much.
[ consented to the arrangement, and pro
missed to return by nine o'clock in the even
ming.
After ordering tie coffin for the deceased
| for at that time they were not kept on han'
to such an extent as they are now-and at
tending to my private affairs, again repair
ed to Colcbrook mansion,