The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-21
OFFICE IN HooPER's BRICK ]
he stairs, and took their places around my

UTtSluc.
Il say, Bob frightened us all, awhile ago,
began one of them, after temporary silence
'IIow, I asked.
"Ilow !" laughed Bob; "why with this.
And without another word Of preface, h'
drew folded 'kerchief from his pocket, and
unfolding Ii, exhibited human hand.
Bob, where did this come from?' asked
inteluntarily drawing back step or two.
lie took 1t from grave which the rain
had washed open,' answered tall young
fellow; turning away with shudder. Cut
II off with his knife US coolly as he might a
bit OF wood, although I'll swear sigh or
groan or scream, or all Of them together,
came from the body when he first laid his
finger upon it,
Bah! laughed Robert Redlaw, 'your ven-
triloqulst tricks can never impose upon me.
took the little hand in spite of them, and
shall keep it. A pretty creature it must have
belonged to Look at the almond shaped
nails, Greystock =
"A woman's hand ! said; 'and. oh, Bob,
there is wedding-ring upon the fingcr'
so there is, said the boy, leaning across
the table; 80 there is Strange that did
not notice it before. Come, gentlemen, Grey.
stock is in a serious mood-let us leave him.
And wrapping his strange prize once more
in the 'kerchief, my wild friend and his CON-
rades departed. :.
passed the night in restless dreams, in oil
OF which the pale little hand. which had been
laid before me, played q conspicuous part,
and arose at daylight unrefreshed and dis
pirited. While was putting the finishing
touch to my toilet, some ono raped at
my door, and on my calling out 'come in,
opened ii and entered, II was Bob.
How do you do, my dear fellow?' he said.
Il hope you feel better than do. For my
part, never passed so restless night. Some
one in the house, or next door, kept up
continued moaning; and the strange part OF
IL was, that when arose to listen, fearing
some one was i'll or dying, the sound ceased,
until once more placed my head upon the
pillow, when they were resumed more loudly
than before. At one time | thought the other
fellows were trying to frighten me about the
hand, but there was no chance Of that. You
remember my little pet hand, Grcystock? l
have it bottled In spirits, in private cup.
board, where my laundress, who once tainted
at tho sight of skeleton, will never be
alarmed by it,
He spoke merrly, but there was something
about him different from his usual manner,
! thought, as we went out to breakfast, to-
gcthcr. 1t was foggy morning, and the
streets were very drcary. There were but
few people abroad, but, as We turned n cor
ner, we came face to face with a woman whose
head was bent upon her bosom, and who was
moaning bitterly. She wore no bonnet, and
was dressed in white, but the mud and rain
had drcnchcd and drabblcd her until she was
n pitable object to behold. paused and
spoke to her.
what is the matter, asked. 'Can do
anything to help you2
As spoke, the woman raised her eyes,
npd sbSErad ,ne taco the beautiful features
OF which were a '.'''s.. I-..'os s''O'', "iiii-
out speaking held both her arms towards me.
Upon the lelt there was no hand. In my
astonishment, stepped aside, and, rs did
80, the white-robcd figure glided past me and
vanished in the fog. In vain we looked for
her. She was gonobcyond our sight or hear
ing.
THAT is strange | said, turning to Robert,
'How miserable the poor creature looked
And my poor friend, turning from moa
cheek of ashy paleness, muttercd between his
teeth-'The left hand too. Good heavens?
the left hand =
We breadfasted together but throughout
the meal Robert Redlaw was utterly unlike
himself. No merry jests passed his lips, no
laugh rang out upon the air, and every now
and then, his eyes fixed themselves upon va
cancy, as those of one whose thoughts are
far away are prone to do, Us for myself, |
was strangely low.spirited and distracted.
For week subsequent to that day ! raw
nothing of my friend, but at the end of that
time went to call upon him. Bob was
standing by the mantcl when entered his
room, but he came forward with both hands
My dear Greystock, hc said
Il an so glad to SEQ you. | should have come
after you to-day If you had not found your
way here. DO you know have been i'll
since VIC met last?'
Il am sorrylto hear that replied.
Yes, extremely i'll, continued Robert. u
caught cold that night in the damp grave
yard, and have been icverish and delirious,
/ believe. l would not pass such another
week, Greystock, for oil the diamonds of
GOlcOnda.'
IIe paused moment, and then, drawing
closer to me, placed his hand upon my shoul.
der Don't mention 1t to the other fellows.
he said; but l absolutely imagined that ]
saw face looking ut me from the window
yondcr, and that tall woman's figure,
dressed in white, and having only one hand
the left was gone-stood upon the parapet OF
the next roof, and waved her arms towards
me. Sbch mad idea, you know, for there
is scarcely a 'oothold upon 1t for monkey,
let alone woman
But these fancies have left you now, j
said
YES, I hope they have,' replied Robert;
Il have suffered from no optical dclusion Tor
two days, but do wish that that terrible
groaning could be put stop to. hear 1t
every night, and cannot persuade myself
that II is the work Of my Imagination yet
no one in the house is i'll, and my landlady
will not confess that she has heard the slight
est noise Greystock, 1t must bea terrible
thing to be insane,'
'Put such fancies out OF your mind, Robert,
l said. The truth is, you have been ieycrish.
aud the rcmemberance of your silly piece OF
work with that hand has acted upon your
mind and caused these apparitions. Take
my advice, my dear fellow, and abstain from
the punch bowl and the wine cup; they will
lead any one into committing foolish, if not
criminal actions. Como. let US 60 oit into
open air to-day: will devote myself u you,
and wo will sec what o country walk will do
towards the exercising OF these iancies.'
Robert assented to my proposition, and we
set Of together. At first he was moro serious
than usual, but, as the day passed on, saw
with delight, that his spirits were once more
rcsuming their wonted tone. The rich color
came back to his dark cheek, his eyes bcamed
with their wonted brightness. The pallid
ghost-secr was gone. and the careless boy
stood once more beside me. lrejoiced in the
happy change, as o mother might in the re-
turning smiles of her infant. and nj dusk we