The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-09

/ had heard many-passed IN at one
ear and out mt the other"
"Mr. Mortal?" said man at my
door.
"That is my name.
"Mr. Colebrook is dead, and Mrs.
Colebrook wants you to come up to the
house and lay him out. i"
"Mr. Colebrook % / exclaimed, for the
intelligence was very unexpected to me,
as well as to the whole city, when 1t was
announced.
| L had heard that he was suffering from
an attack of bilious colo but it had not
been even rumored that he was danger
Ously sick.
Eyes, he is Dead" replied the man.
:" Mrs. Colebrook wishes you to make
haste.
81 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 home, and hasten
ed 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 apparently died
in the greatest agony. The bed-clothes
! still evidenced the struggle between the
grim tyrant and his victim.
With the assistance of the man-servant
who had gone to my house, L laid him
out, and put the room Ill decent order.
| was about TO depart, when the man.
servant called me back.
50 Mrs. Colebrook would like to see
you," he said, as he showed me to a
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 state of calmness. He had sue
ceeded to some extent and she spoke
to me with tolerable self-possession.
9" You will make all the arrangements,
Mr.. Mortal, said she.
:" 1 will, madam"
"Oh, it was terrible !" groaned she.
BE calm, Mrs. Colebrook," inter-
posed DR.. Rowne.
1" cannot, doctor feel as though L
should become distracted"
Nay, madam, control yourself, and
the doctor, who was young and very
good-looking 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. "
1t is entiely unnecessary.
The corpse must have watchers,
she added, more calmly than she had yet
spoken.
"There is no need of them, but"
Il would not have him left alone for
all the world" said she, with a kind of
convulsiye shiver.
No possible harm could befall him"
But it seems so neglectful to desert
the body as soon as the spirit has fed
q" 1t is entirely matter of choice" L
added.
Couldn't you watch with him, Mr..
Mortal 2"
eff you particularly desire it.
CT do could not bear to have his
remains guarded by mere servant.
You will oblige me very much"
| consented TO the arrangement, and
promised to return by nine O'Clock i'll
the evening.
After ordering the coffin for the de-
ceased-for at that time they were not
kept on hand to such an extent as they
are now-and attending to my private
affairs, again repaired the to the Cole
brook mansion.
1t was customary, at the time of which
L write, for two persons to perform the
service for which | was engaged, though
watching was then rapidly going out of
fashion but as my business was with
the dead, was perfectly at home in the
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 inviting repast for me in the
dining-room below, so that | looked for
ward to very comfortablenight. Throw
ing myself into the large rocking-chair
which had been placed there for my use,
l was soon engaged in the entertaining
pages of my book AS often as the clock
struck, arose and examined the corpse,
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
the parlor adjoining the room of death.
Though it seemed rather singular cir
cumstance that man should enter the
house at that hour of the night, thought
nothing more of it till L heard voices en-
gagged in earnest conversation. In
few moments they grew louder and more
distinct, and recognized the voice of
DIR. Rowne Perhaps Mrs. Colebrook
was sick and needed his assistance. But
he spoke not in the tones of his profess
sion. The other peIson spoke in whis-
per but the physician spoke in his
natural voice, and seemed to be under
no restraint.
The house was still rs the tomb, and
though / made no effort to hear what
was said, the expressions twill y" three
witnesses, thirty days." and others of
a similar character came distinctly to
my ears. They aroused my curiosity.
Who was this DIR. Rowne? Why was
he there at such an unreasonable hour?
Well, it was none of my business, and
half-a-dozen times / determined not to
concern myself about it. But it was in
vain that tried to fasten my mind upon
the book again: il had lost the power TO