Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-09
TIE HIDDEN HAND.

LIZ A@AN
BY EMMA D. E. n. souTHwoRTH.
AursoA OF TRs kyESrSo," ''TuE DESERTED
wITS," ETC., ETc, ETc
[CoNTINrED.l
"'Have you got through?' asked the man at
the door, rapping impatently.
"'No no. said !, as directed.
ale resumed his tramping up and down, and
| went back to my patient. She beckoned 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 save my child
Master, l was used to queer doinss but this
was little the Queerest But if was to con-
ceaI that second child in order to save it, it was
necessary to stop its mouth, for it was squalling
like wild cat So / took vial Of paragoric
from my pocket and give it a drop, and it went
off TO Sleep like an angel. | wrapped it up
warm and lay it along with my shawl and bon
net, in n dark corner. Just then the man wrap
ped again.
"'Come in, MASTER, said |.
"'No, bring me the babe, he said.
81 took up the dead infant. Its mother kiss
ed its brow and dropped tears upon its little
cold face; and carried it TO the man outside.
ais it Gsleep?' the william asked me.
"'Ycs, MASTER said ], as put it, well wrap
ped up, in his arms, very sonnd asleep
$50 much the better, said the knave, walk
ing away
~ bolted the door and went back to my pa
tent. 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; conceal
the child under your shawl, and take her with
you when you go; save her and your fortune
shall be made
~ declare, master, I hadn't time to think,
before heard one of them wretches rap. at the
door.
"'Comel get ready to CO. he said.
"She also beckoned me. hastened to her.
With eager whispers and imploring gestures
she prayed me to take her ring and save her
child.
"'But you,' said I-'who is to attend to your
"'l do not know nor care! Save her!
"The rapping continued. ran to the corner
whereI had left my things. Iput on my bon
not made sort of sling around my neck of the
silk handkerchief, opened the large part oft
like hammock and laid the little sleeping babe
there. Then folded my big shawl around my
breast and nobody any the wiser. The rapping
was very impatient.
81 am coming said |.
"'Remembetn whispered the poor girl.
'''I will, said /, and went and opened the
huuls lucIe SlOUu OItlcI Wlbu ltSteN
covered with black Grape. dreamt of nothing
but tlackheaded demons for six months after
ward
"'Are you ready?' says he.
Yes, your Worship says /.
"'Come along them
+" And binding. another silk handkerchief
round my eyes, he lead me along.
"lnstead ofny mule carriage stood near the
horse block.
"'Getin,' says he, holding the pistil to my
ears by way of an argument
got in. He jumped upon the drivers seat,
and we drove like the wind. In another direc-
tion from which we come, in course, for there
was no carriage road there. The carriage whirl
ed along at such a rate it made me quite giddy.
At last 1t stopped again. The man IN the mask
got down and opened the door.
"'where are you taking meP' says I.
Be quiet says he, 'or -' and with that
he put the pistil to my cheek, ordered me to get
out, take bandage from my eyes, and walk before
him. did SO, and saw dimly that we were in a
country that was never ut before we were
ma dark road through thick forest On the
left side of the road, in clearing, stood an old
house; dim light was burning in n lower win
dow. &
"'Go on in there, said the william, putting
the pistil to the back of my head. As the door
stood pjar went into narrow, dark passage,
the man all the while at my back. He opened
adoor on the left side, and made me go into a
dark room. just then the unfortunate child
that had been moving restIessly began to vail
What's that?n says the mscreant under
his breath and stopping short
~ aint nothing, SIR says I, and hush h-h'
to the baby. But the poor little wretch raised a
~, What is the meaning of this9 p says he
Where did that child come froms Why the
demon don't you speaky and with that he seized
me again by the scruff of the neck and shook me;
"'0h, Master, for the love-of heaven don't,
says |, this is only poor, unfortunate infant as
,s parents wanted to get outer the way, and
hlred me to take care on. And L have had II
wrapped up under my shawl all the time 'cep,
Mhenl was inyour house, when putt to sleep
in the corner.
'Humph! and you had that child concealed
under your shawl when first stopped you in
in the wOods?' - s
I'm course, Master says /.
Whose isitf ~