The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-02-24
The Hidden Hand.
BY EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH,
AUTHOR OF "THE BRIDE OF An EVENING"
"THE DESERTED WIFE," ETC, ETC., ETC.

al the door, r0pPlng impatlently.
"'NO, no. said |, as directed.
He resumed his tramPing up and down,
and went back to my patient. She beck
oned me to come close, and whispered
"'Save my child the living one mean
hide her! oh, hide her from him! When he
demands the babe, give him the poor little
dead one-he cannot hurt that And he
will not know there was another. Oh hide
and suve my child
"Master, was used to queer doings, but
this was little the queerest. But II was
to conceal that second child in order to save
it, 1t was necessary to stop it's mouth, for it
was squalling like wild cat. So l took
viul of paragoric from my pocket and give it
q drop, and it went off to sleep like an an
gel. l wrapped it up worm and lay it along
with my shawl and bonnet, in dark corner.
Just then the man wrapped ogun.
"Come in, master,' said |.
"No, bring me the babe he said.
81 took up the dead infant. It's mother
kissed its brow and dropped tears upon it's
little cold face; and carried it to the man
outside.
"'Is it asleep 2 the villain asked me.
"Yes, master,' said I, as put it, we'll
wrapped up, iD his arms, very sound asleep
$50 much the BETTER said the knave,
walking away.
81 boIted the door and went back TO my
patient. With her free hand she seized mine
and pressed it to her lips, and then held up
her left hand, pointed TO the wedding ring
upon her third finger.
"Draw it off and keep it, she said; 'con.
ceal the child under your shawl. and take
her with you when you go ; save her and
your fortune shall be made
II declare, master, hadn't time to think,
before heard one OF them wretches rap at
the door.
"Come! get ready to 60 he said.
"She also beckoned me. hastened to
her. With eager whispers and imploring
gestures she prayed me to take her ring and
save Ter child.
"'But YOU said I-'who is to attend your
"'I do not know nor care Save her y
"The rapping continued. ran to the
corner where had left my things. put
on my bonnet, made sort of sling around
my neck of the silk handkerchief, opened
the large part of it like hammock and laid
the little sleeping babe there. Then fold
ed my big shawl around my breast and no.
body any the wiser. The r piping was very
inpatient.
"'I ain coming said |.
"Remember = whispered the poor girl
"'l will said |, and went and opened the
door. There stood t'other wiIlin with his
head covered with black Grape. dreamt Of
nothing but blackheaIed demons for six
months afterward.
"Are you ready ? says he.
"Yes, your worship says1 /.
"Come along, then.'
"And binding another silk Handkerchief
round my eyes, he led me along.
"Instead Of my mule a carriage stood near
the horse block.
"'Get in,' sOys he holding the pistol to
my ears by way Of an argument.
got in. He jumped up upon the drivers
seat, and we drove like the wind. In ano-
ther direction from which we come, in course,
for there was no carriage road there. The
carriage whired along at such a rate it made
me quite giddy. At last it stopped again.
The man in the mask got down and opened
the door.
where are you taking me 2 says I.
"'Be quiet says he, 'or - and with
that he put the pistil to my cheek, ordered
me to get out, take the banduge from my
eyes, aud walk before him. did so, and
saw dimIy that we were in a part of the
country that was never at before. We
were in dark road through thick forest
On the left side of the road, in clearing
stood an old house; dim light was burning
in lower window.
"Go on in there said the wilin, putting
the pistl to the back OF my head. AS the
door stood ejar went 10 to narrow, darl
passage, the man all the while at my back
He opened door on the left side, and mad,
me 90 into dark room. Just then the un
fortunate child, that had been moving rest
lessly began to wall! Well it might, poo
starved thing!
Whats ,hat!' says the miscreant, un
der his breath and stopping short. .
"'It aint nothing, SIR says I, and 'hush
h.h' to the baby. Bot the poor little wretcI
raised a squall.
"'What is the meaning of this = says he
r Where did that child come from Why tn
y demon don't you speak = and with that h
= seized me again by the scruff of the neck an
}. shook me.
y "'Oh, Master, for the love ofheaven don
It says I, this 10 only poor, unfortunate in
n FAINT as it's PARENTS wanted to get outen tn
way, and hired me to take care on. And
&have had ii wrapped up under my shawl al
the time 'cept when Twas in your house whe
put it to sleep in the corner.
"'Hhmp! and you had that child conced