Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-17
Select Gales.
THE BLOODY HAND.
A THRILLING BUT TRUE STORY.
BY JESSE E. DOW.

THERE is blood upon your hand,
John," said tall, masculine made wo-
man, in homespun dress, as she swept
up the hearth of the solitary farm house,
in the interior Of England, at the close of
a cold December's day, in the year IS.
The person thus addressed, was an iron
faced farmer, of about the middle size,
with dark eyes peeping underneath q pair
of shaggy eyebrows. His cheek was
flushed, az though old age had been cours-
ing like wild FIRE through his swollen veins,
and his brawney hand as he looked at the
clot of fresh blood that stained it, seemed
to have been made for descendant of
Cain.
"There is blood" said Brown, for such
was the mans name but it is off now
bring me my supper"
The wife-for such was the first speak
er-looked him long and anxiously in the
face. Horrid visions seemed to be float
ing before her eyes, and murder almost
escaped her compressed lips.
"Why, what in the name of nature ais
the woman :" said Brown, endeavoring by
au ill-contrived laugh to silence her fears.
elf people go where sheep are slaughter
ed they mast expect to get bloody"
"The blood of sheep has not been on
your hand,' said his wife firmly. "There
was melancholy looking man on the
hill to-day. He had money aud valua-
bic watch. He offered me a piece Of
gold to direct him to the next village, and
set his watch by our clock. Have you
seen the stranger, johns"
The iron features of the hardened hus-
band now contracted into fearful scowl.
"Woman," said he fercely, "what have
to do with travellers OH the hill side 3
Mind your own affairs" Then changing
his tone to whine, he said, "give ME my
food, Meg. I am cold and hungry, and
cannot joke with you any longer"
"Joke with mel" said the poor wife,
with countenauce agonized with hor-
ror.-"God grant that it may prove 4
joke"
The supper was now placed upon the
table. The farmer ate his food in silence
and went to bed. In few moments he
was lost in deep though troubled sleep.
Having seen that everything was quiet,
the good. wife put on her hooded cloak,
and went out upon the lawn. 1t was a
cold and cherries evening. The hills
seemed turned into misty shadows before
the wand Of an enchanter, and tie waving
tree tops seemed like the bosom of mid.
night deep. The bleak wind howled sad
ly amid the elm trees by the way side,
and the bay of distant watch dog came
echoiug by the vale. The unhappy wife
followed up the track of her husband
about mile. She now was startled by
a deep groan. Scanning narrowly the
hill side, she perceived a place where
some persons had apparently struggled to-
gether in a snow drift, and beyond lit
tie distance, she beheld the melancholy
stranger whom she had directed on his
course several hours previous, lying upon
the ground, with a dreadful wound upor
his pallid forehead. Browns wife was
strong and resoiute woman. She raiset
the wounded man, and wiped the blooe
from his eyes. Finding that life was no
extinct, she bore him upon her shouide
to her home. Having laid him down ii
the passage, she opened tho kitchen doc
where Brown was sleeping. His thick
heavy breathing gave evidence that tEt
sleep Of drunkenness was upon him. Sht
carried the stranger through tho kitchen
to little bed room, where she usual,
retired when the abuse of her brutal hus
became insupportable. Having staunch
ed the wound-the bleeding of which hat
been checked by the coagulating blood
the good wife dressed it in q manner ap
provedby medical men, gave her patien
"a composing draught, and then returned
to her seat by the kitchen fire. !,
The farmer now began to be himself
lie moved like wounded snake in hi
81 unquict sleep. He opened his eyes an,
:. rrlsroi uilfHv oround hin, NTba,o - .