Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-02-18
THE HIDDEN HAND.
BY EMMA D. E, ". SOUTHWORTH.
AUTHOR OF THE BRIDE OF AN EVENING" "rHR DE
SERTED WIFE" ETC, ETC, ETC.

CONTINUED.
Have you got through p asked the man at
the door. rapping impatiently.
No, no, sid |, as directed.
lie resumed his tramning up and down,
aud went back to my patient She beckon-
I'd 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 be
will not know there was another Oh, hide
and save my child
Master. vas used TO queer duings.
but this was little the queerest. But if
was t. conceal that second child in order to
save 1t it was n,cessary to stop its mouth.
for it was squaling like wild cat So
took vial of piragorlc from my pocket and
give 1t drop, and it went off to sleep like
on angel. | wrapped it up warm and lay it
along with my shawl and bonnet in a dark
corner. Just then the man wrapped again.
'Come in, master. said |.
mo, bring me the babe he said.
took up the dead infant Its mother
kissed Its brow and dropped tears upon its
little cold face; ant | carried it to the man
outside
Yes. master said |, as put it, well
wrapped up, in his arms, very sound Sleep
so much the better said the knaye
walking away.
Il bolted 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 we'd
ding 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
Il declare. master hadn't time to think
before heard one Of them wretches rap at
the door
Come get ready to go, he said
She also beckoned me. | FASTENED u her
With eager whispers and mploring gestures
she prayed me to take h,r ring and save her
child
But you, said l. who is too attend YOU 2
Il do not know or care Save her
The rarping continued. ran to the cor
ncr where had left my things. put on
my bonnet, nude 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 folded my
big shawl around my breast and nobody any
the wiser. The rapping was very impatient.
Il am coming, said |.
Remember whispered the poor girl
Il will, said |, and went and opened the
door. There stood t'other willin with his
head covered with black Grape drempt
OF nothing but blackhes.ded demons for six
months afterwards.
Are YOU ready ? says he.
Yes, your worship, saysI.
Come along, then
And binding another silk handkerchief
around my eyes he lead me along
Instead Of my mule carriage stood near
the horse block.
Get in says he, holding the pistil to my
ears by way of an argument.
got in. he jumped up upon the driver
scat and we drove like the wind in another
direction from which we come, in course, for
there was no carriage road there. The car
raiage whrled along at such a rate 1t made
me quite giddy. AT last it stopped again
The man in the mask got down and opened
the door.
Be quiet, says he, or and with
that he put the pistil to my cheek. ordered
me to get out, take the bandase from my
eyes, and walk before him. did so, and
saw dimly that we were in part o. the
country that was never at before We
were in 4 dark road through IL thick forest
On the left side of the road, in clearing,
stood an old house; a dim light was burning
in lower window.
go ON in there, said the willn, putting
the pstil to the back of my head. As the
door stood ajar went in to a narrow, dark
passage, the man all the while at my back.
He olp.ned IA door on the left side, and made
me 90 into Il dark ro1m. Just then the IN
fortunate child, that h d been moving rest
lessy began to wall Well it might, poor
starved thing
What's lat?' says the mscrant, under
his breath and stopping short.
lit amt nothing, sir, says and .hush-h-h
20 the baby. But the poo little wretch rails
ca a squat.
what is the meaning of this? says he
where did that child come from? Why the
demon don't you speak, and with that he
seized me aga in by the scrutf OF the neck and
shook me.
oh, Master, for the love of heaven don t
says |, this is only poor, unfortunate in
FAINT as it parents wanted to get outen the
way, and hired me to take care on And
have had Vt wrapped up under my shawl all
the time 'eept when was in your house;
when put it to sleep IN the corner.
'Humph and you had that child concealed
under your shawl when first stopped you
in the woods
In course, Master, says l..
Whose is it?'
Master, says I, .it's--it's dead secret
for haddent onother lie ready.
lie broke out into rude scornful laugh
and seemed not half to believe me and yet
not to care ab'ut questioning me too closely
He made me sit down then in the dark, and
went out and turn ID the key on me. wet
my huger with the paragoric and put it to
the baby slips to quiet its pains OF hunger
Then heard whispering in the next room
Now my eye-sight never was good, but to
make up for it | believe had the sharpist
ears that ever was and don't think any
body could have heard that whispering but
me. saw little glimmer OF light through
the chinks that showed me where the door
was, and 50 creeped up to it and put my
ear t, the key-hole. Still they whispered So
low that no ears could o heard them bnt my
SHARP oaes They was talking about selling
so.l.e WOMAN aud child | should 'ay been
onea.y II they hadn't called the woman Kate
Nv william offered 'em for fifty dollars, but
t'othrr villain wouldn't give a cent. Tie
{ Id nv william, us he ca He'd Captain, thai
IA ,tSe 'ezn Ut his hands and no more
snes tarsAteusd each other, and