The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-01-15
A MIDNIGHT APPARITI0N.
9 treacherous night +!


Mr. Colebrook was dead. He was
rich man, vet slight acquaintance with
fhim would have convinced even superb
cial observer that lie was not a healthy
man. He was misant ntAropic in bis views
though he had the reputation in the street
of being very kind-hearted and bcnevo-
lent 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 come, and which
would put him beyond the trials and woes
of this sublunary existence.
And yet many could remember when
he was q gay and cheerful person. Before
his marriage with poor but beautiful
girk some years before his death, he had
worn sunny smile, and hrs life seemed
to him pleasant dream.
Though only thirty-6ve when he mar
red, people said there was too much diff
ference between his own age and that of
his wife. who was, I believe, about twenty
two. She had been poor, and forced to
content herself with but lew of the gaye-
ties of life but now she was rich, and hcr
indulgent husband gave her free access to
his Golfers. Wealth fostered pride, and
Mrs. Colebrook became leader of fash
ion-the gayest of the gay. Her 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, was always filed
with gay galants and lordly ladies'
All the world could see this; and the
next thing it saw was, that MIR. Cole
brook grew sad and melancholy-that his
wife was cold to him, and there was little
if any sympathy between them. The
people said the poor man had married
badly, and the eroakers all "knew it would
be sc"
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 Owl house had
been a hell to him; and that his gay wife
had been the scorpion who had 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, us mere
SANDER Whatever stories had heard
concerning Mrs. Colobrook-and I had
heard many-passed sin at one ear and
out at the other.''
"Mr. Morton ?" said man at my door.
"That is my name"
"Mr. ColebrooE is dead, and Mira. Cole
brook wants you to come up to the house
and lay him out"
"Mr. Colebrook,' exclaimed, for the
intelligence was very unexpected to me,
as well as to the whole city, when it was
announced.
1 had heard that ne was suffering from
an attack of bilious cholic, but it had not
been even rumored that he was danger
onsly i'll.
eyes, he is dead" replied the man
"Mrs. Colebrook wishes you to make
haute"
HE got very bad last night, and grew
worse ever since, till twenty minutes ago,
when he died"
utes walk from home, and / hastened
there to perform the Office for the dead.
I was shown into the room where the
corpse lay, just as death had done its
work. The sufferer had apparently died
in the greatest agony. The bed clothes
still evidenced the struggle between the
tyrant and his victim.
With the assistance Of man servant
who had gone to my house, l laid him
out and put the room in order.
was about to depart when the man
servant called me back.
"Mrs. Colebrook would like to see you,"
he said, as he showed mo to paror 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 state of calmness. He succeeded
to some extent; and she spoke to me with
tolerable selfposscssion.
t:You will make all the arrangements,
Mr.. Norton" said she.
II will, madam"
"Oh, it was terrible! - groaned she.
"Be calm, Mrs Colebrook," interposed
DR.. Rowne.
III cannot, Doctor, 1 feel as though I
should become distracted"
"Nay, madam, control yourself" said
the doctor, who was young and very
good looking man. He took her hand
and uttered some sentimental remark,
which have now forgotten.
"WilI you watch with him p she almost
gasped, looking eagerly at me.
"Watch with hnf?" asked DIR. Rowne,
in surprise.
eyes"
at is entirely unnecessary"
"This corpse must have Watchers she
added more calmly than she had yet
spoken.
"Tbere is no need of that, but
~ would not have him let alono for all
tho world" she said, with kind of con-