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

"Destroy the new will," said DIR.
Rowne.
/ dropped my book; for this looked
very much like foul play. 1t occurred
to me that Mr.. Colebrook's poor rela-
tons would have to suffer for this mid
night conference. knew thut he had
an only sister, an invalid, who was de-
pendant upon his bounty for subsistence,
and my blood boiled with indignation as
l thought of what might be the result
of this interview.
rose from my chair and went to the
door. That "the end will justify the
means L do not think is sound logic !;
but where poor, suffering dependant
woman was in danger of being cast upon
the tender mercies of cold world, L
was content to be blamed for the mean
ness of eavesdropping, if thereby L
could prevent so foul wrong.
Before | did it, / could not but recall
the reputed character of Mrs. Cole
brook. Without believing much of the
gossip that had been circulated concern
ing her, | could easily arrive at the con-
clusion that she had been the bane of
her husbands happiness.
l had been personally acquainted with
him who now lay cold in death before
me, so that L was not obliged to guess
ut the facts in the case. Ny own OBJ
servation, though / moved in humber
sphere than he, was sufficient to assure
me that all was not right. | placed my
ear at the key-hole.
"When we are married."
"Hush - said Mrs. Colebrook.
They spoke in whispers then, and |
could distinguish nothing more. Need
| 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 her paramount, bargaining
away the affections which should have
fingered like n weeping angel over the
couch of him who was not buried out OF
sight? Was it she who had groaned III
bitterness at her bereavement, now
scheming to rob the widow and the
orphan of his bounty?
o woman false as fair Yet she was
not a woman-she was demon
The clock struck twelve, and L turned
from my reflections to attend to the
corpse. The alcohol which had been
provided to wet the face was all used,
and / needed further supply. Taking
the dish III my hand, | went to the door
with the intention of calling upon Mrs.
Colebrook for it.
First rapping on the door, so as not to
surprise them, | opened it and stepped
into the room.
81 need little more alcohol, Mrs.
Colebrook," began.
She rose from her chair, and with one
long, loud, and most unearthly shrek,
she fell upon the floor
DR.. Rowne's knees smote each other,
and he shrunk back to the farthest cor
ner of the room.
"Who are you ?" gasped he.
OF course l was very much surprised
at this singular reception. Long famil-
iarty with the dead had made me so in
different to those breads and fears which
disturb many persons, that / had little
consideration for nervousness on this
subject.
"Who are you?" groaned the doctor,
his teeth chattering with terror.
Then it flashed upon my mind that
the white quilt which enveloped my body
was the cause of the mischief / was
involuntarily persOnating the ghost of
the deceased Mr.. Colebrook, and do
not wonder that the guilty wife and her
wretched accomplish were terrified,
when, at midnight, / stalked into the
room.
L had pinned the Counterpart around
my neck, so that nothing could be seen
nf l,,,f Co. Il IL,
specter, coming
" How awful in that hour when conscious stings-"
to curse her for the base treachery she
was coHcocting. No wonder she tainted
no wonder even the doctor trembled.
/ threw off the quilt, and told the
doctor who / was.
" See what you have done ~ said he,
pointing to the PROSTATE form of the
lady.
81 heard voices here, and 1 came for
some alcohol"
Need you have come in that garb 2"
Z" L had quite forgotten that had the
quilt on.
you have killed her, believe I" he
continued, bending over the form of
Mrs. Colebrook.
We raised her up and placed her upon
a lounge. She was not dead, and in
half an hour she opened her eyes.
"Where is he ?" gasped she, shaking
convulsively.
Be calm"
{" He will haunt me all my days"
=" 1t was only Mr.. Mortal"
Her eyes glared upon me, and then
rolled up in her head Heaven grant
that | may never behold such hideous
expression again. She was in fit.
The house was alarmed, and DIR,
Rowne used every exertion to restore
her, but in vain.
"She will die" said he to me, saw
agely. "You have killed her %
Which will did you destroy, doctor ?"
/ asked
He staggered into the corner of the
room, unable to reply. He would never
accuse me again, and yet promised not
to expose him but it was in Difference
to the feelings of the invalid sister of
the deceased that allowed myself to be
silent in the presence of such infamy.
Before daylight there was another
corpse in the house, and it was told for
two months after that Mrs. Colebrook
had been killed Inv tho eboolr nc bar