New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-10-29

THE WOMAN WITH ONE HAND.
nY MARY KYLE DALLAS.
The following Is taken from manuscript FOUND
In aia aiiica Of q Z, old s11raenrl:

ever, i beg any one WIZ tuus Pea sAeheN
five ia understand that am no supersttious crea-
ture. afraid OF nv own shadow, lending an atten-
tive ear to old women's stories, and seeing some
thing white in every corner where the shadows
rather thickiy after dusk. 1t IS scarcely likely
that an old surgeon who has stood beside SO marry
diving pillows, and watched so many spirits ts.ke
iirht from racked and wounded bodies, should
tremble at the thought of a disembodied so'al. /
know too well the release death often is &c poor,
pain stricken MORALS, to fear their voluntary re-
turn to the scenes of their unhappiness and suffer-
ing. Neither am the victim Of disordsred nerves
or fevered Imagination, have performed opera
tons In which one treEnor OF the hane would have
been fatal, where, had my hand swerved but
hairs breadth to the right or left, would have
been murderer.
Nay, can do what many able, energetic men
have foHad impossible, for | have had those dear
est TO m,y soul beneath my hand, aud though each
moan of anguish each futter OF the heart, went
through my every nerve, the kindly cruel knife
worked on as steadily as though it carved block
of seHseless wood. Che portrait OF myself which
hangs above the lRantel yonder,is not that Of a
dreamer or maniac, and yet should pronounce
the man who told me such tale as that am about
to commit on paper, fit inmate for lunatic asy-
lam. Even now pause BEFORE write the words,
and am half inclined to Hing aside the pen, lest
any who should peruse the story should pronounce
old DIR. Greystock mad. And what if they should
do SOP know that every scene shall record has
passed before my eyes, that my mind is calm and
clear. and my senses unimpaired. Shall |, who
never ldlLeIeu WU6H KNEW bndt one idisS
would send the cruel steel through dear brothers
loving heart, turn coward now, and hide the truth
lest the world should laugh at met will not.
Come ON, my gray goose-qui, and do your task,
ere | am grown SO old that the story shall be
deemed the drwehng of childish brain.
Twas born in q quiet and retired country village.
My father mingled the professions of doctor and
apothecary and at times drew teeth, or set frae-
tured inlb-anything for living, poor man, for he
had large family, and neither property nor eS-
pectations of a legacy. His patients were dis
tributed over a wide tract Of country, and during
an unhealthy season he was often upon horseback
from morning until night, enduring the scorching
sun of summer, the cold blasts of winter, or the
miasmatic Yapors of the marshy ground over
which he was called to travel, upon many a rainy
midnight, to prescribe for some poor creature who
was Every low with the fever During his fire.
auent absence presided oyer the pills and potions
mixed washes, made up prescriptions, and amused
myself by the perusal Of several works upon
anatomy, which graced the heok-shelyes of the
room behind the shop. This science was my chief
delight and in q little while the determination to
become surgeon filled my mind. Much expert
ence had made me doubt the power of medicine.
The mysteries of the unseen machinery within us
might battle the most learned, but the surgeon,
dealing with the outward man, could see his work,
and really benefit his fellow-creatures. knew the
strength of my nerves, and the value they would
be to me in the surgical profession and declared
my intention to adopt it before had reached my
18th year.
My IatleT Was pleaSeQ, anu gave his cDUSeIt III
once; but there were some prelminaries to be ar
ranged and some funds to be accumulated, before
could enter upon regular course of study.
Meanwhile, stayed at home, impatiently, and
gathered all could from books and from my faith
ers Instructions, The time passed tediously enough,
for was anxious to commence my career, and
start upon the highroad to wealth and eminence,
and many were the anxious days and sleepless
nights which spent ere the time arrived which
witnessed my departure for the city. Atlast, how
ever. allwa ready. / babe adieu to my mother,
my father, and my young brother, from whom
lad never yet been separated for one night, and
with heart which beat with high hopes, even amid
the grief Of parting, took my place in the stage,
and left, fer the frss time, the home Of my glad
childhood
In month / had become accustomed to the
separation, and thought only Of my profession.
Medical students are generally wild, reckless and
dissipated. | was neither. The discretion of old
age seemed to have come suddenly upon me. /
shared my comrades stories, but refused to mingle
in their orgies, for had determined to retain my
strong nerves and nnshaking hand to the last
Nevertheless, was general favorite, and formed
many friendships among the giddY band, which
lasted long after they had become gray-headed
men. There was one among the number whose
name was Robert Redlaw--a gay, handsome boy
he was full of fan and frolic, and terribly addicted
to practical jokes, but, nevertheless kind-hearted
and generous to fault for he would have given his
last penny TO one who seemed in need of it, To
the living he was all tenderness: to the wounded
woman's, and have seen his eyes fill with tears
while he inflicted necessary pain; but to the dead
he seemed heartless-a lifeless body being of no
more valne, in his eyes, than the trunk Of dead
tree.
Would you value your old violin case ~ he
would say, when any one demonstrated with him
upon the subject. The strings broken-nay, the
destroyed-of what value is that which
was but formed for its protection For my part
when my soul has taken flight, care not what you
do with this combination OF flesh and bones which
now contains it, And upon this principle he
seemed to act invountarily.
One nighJ--oh, how well remember it; Geld
black evening in mid-winter-T sat alone beside
my fire, absorbed in meditation. The book had
been reading lay beside me, upon the table, and
my candle burnt low within the socket, for it was
nearly O'Clock. although had not yet retired.
suddenly was aroused by q loud ringing of my
ioor-bell, and the sound of sand thrown against
ny window from without, and, lighting another
aper, descended and opened the door.
There. upon the steps, stood Robert Redaw and
our other fellow Students all the worse for liquor,
and all in boisterons spirits. Let us in, old fell
VIZ cried Robert; s'we want to tell you of our
ark By George we've made night of it. Such
punch as we've been having at Tom BIS, while
you have been moping over your musty books.
You must 60 with us next time.n
There was no use OF remonstranee, and, one by
one, my unexpected visitors mounted the stairs,
and took their places around my Preside.
" say, Bob frightened us ALL awhile ago began
one Of them, after temporary silence.
Z. How ?''I asked.
:. How " laughed Bob why with thisa And,
without another word OF preface, he drew folded
Kerchief from his pocket, and, unfolding IT. exhib-
ted o human hand.
bob, where did this come from PIT asked. in
drawing back a step or two.
He took 1t from grave which the rain had
washed open, answered tall young fellow, turn.
ng away with a shudder. "Cut t Off with his
Knife as cooly as he might bit ofwood, although
Illswear sigh or groan or scream, or all Of them
ogether, came from the body when he first laid
lis finger upon it,
6 Bah!n laughed Robert Redlaw your ventril-
,quist tricks can never impose upon me. took
he little hand in spite of them, and shall keep it,
A pretty creature it must have belonged to? Look
It the almond shaped nails, Greystock'
"a woman's hand, said and, OH Bob, there
q weddingring upon the iingerl
So there Isl, said the boy. leaning across the
able so there is. Strange that did not notice
t before. Come, gentlemen, Greystoek is in
erious mood--let Us leave him. And, wrapping
lis strange prize once more in the kerchief, my
Wild friend and his comrades departed.
| passed the night in restless dreams, in all OF
which that pale little hand, which had been laid
,efore me, played conspicuous part, and arose
i daylight unrefreshed and dspirited. While
vas putting the finishing touches 10 my toilet,
ONE one raped at my door, and on my calling
tut come in,n opened it and entered. II was
Sob.
'How do you do. my dear fellow2' he said. Z. i
lever passed so restless night Some one in the
md the strange part Of it was, that when arose
N Hat fan inn lam ON xraS ItrtDr skn