The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-01-15


watching was then going rapidly out OF
fashion; bat as my business was with the
dead, 1 was perfectly at home in che
chamber of death, and was even better
satisfied to be alone than with company.
/ had brought an interesting book from
home, and Mrs. Colebrook had provided a
very interesting repast for me in the din
ning-room below, so that / looked forward
to a very comfortable night. Throwing
myselfinto large rocking chair, which
had been placed there for my use, / was
soon engaged in the entertaining pages Of
my book. AS often as the clock struck l
arose and examined the corpse moisten-
ing the face with alcohol, and wiping
away the purging at the mouth.
At eleven o'clock some one entered the
house and came up stairs. They were
the feet of a man, and / heard him enter
a parlor adjoining the room of death.
Though it seemed rather singular circum-
stance that man should enter the house
at that time of night, thought nothing
more OF it till heard voices engaged in
earnest conversation In few minutes
they grew louder and more distinct. and
| recognized the voice of DR.. Rowne.
Perhaps Mrs. Colebrook was sick and
needed his assistance. But he spoke not
in the tones of his profession. The other
person spoke in a whisper; but the doc
tor in his natural voice, and seemed to be
under no restraint.
This house was still as the tomb, and
though | made no effort to hear what was
said, the expressions twill, !" "threc wit
nesses," "thirty days." and others of a
similar character came distinctly to my
ear. They aroused my curiosity. Who
was this DR.. Rowne? Why was he here
at this unreasonable hour?
Well, it was none of my business, and
half dozen times determined not to
concern myself about it. But it was in
vain that | tried to fasten my mind upon
the book again; it had lost the power to
interest me- glanced at the door which
opened into the room where the speakers
were. 1t was the month Of May, and the
weather was quite chilly. had neglect
ed to bring any extra clothing with me,
and began to feel uncomfortably cold.
| rose and paced the room for several
minutes.
"Both ,cills," come to my hearing in the
unguarded tones of DIR. Rowne.
| paused and looked at the door. APP
parently the other person. who I doubted
not was Mrs. Colebrook, was speaking,
but l heard nothing. 1 threw myself
into the chair and began to shiver with
cold again. On the table lay q clean
MarseIles quilt, which had been left there
by a servant, and in the absence of any
thing better, | unfolded it and threw it
over my shoulders. 1t completely cnvel-
oped my body, and felt quite comforta-
bic again.
';Destroy the new will, !" said Dr. Rowne.
/ dropped my book, for this looked like
foul play. 1t occurred to mo that Mr.
Colebrook's poor relations would have to
suffer for this midnight conference. /
knew that ho had an only sister, an in
valid. who was dependent upon his boun-
ty for subsistence, and my blood boiled
with indignation as | thought of what
might be the result of this midnight inter-
view.
arose from my chair and went to the
door. That the end will justify the means
l do not think is sound logic, but where a
poor, suffering, dependent woman was in
danger Of being cast upon the tender
mercies of cold world, was content to
be blamed for the meanncss of caves
dropping, if thereby 1 could prevent so
foul wrong.
Before l did it could not but recall the
reputed character of Mrs Colebrook.
Without believing much of the gossip
that had been circulated concerning her,
| could easily arrive at the conclusion that
she had been tho bano of her husband s
happiness
/ had been personally acquainted with
him who now lay cold in death before me,
so that am obliged to guess at the facts
in the case My own observation, though
1 moved in an humber sphere than she,
was sufficient to assure me that all was
not right. l placed my ear to the key
hole.
"When we arc married.
"Hush !" said Mrs. Colebrook.
They spoke in whispers then, and 1
could distinguish nothing more. Need l
have heard more?
"Woman. angel, or devil?"
Was it she who had wept great tears
in my presence, who had trembled in the
agony of grief before me, now calmly
plotting with the paramour, bargaining
away the affections which should have
fingered like weeping angel over the
couch Of HIM who was not buried out of
sight? Was she who had groaned in Bit
terncss at her bereavement, now schem-
ing to rob her sister and orphan Of her
bounty?
"Oh, woman, false as fair! Yet she is
not woman she is demon"
The clock struck twelve and turned
from my reflections to attend to the corpse.
The alcohol which had been prepared to
wet thu faca was all used. and needed q