Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-12-28
OLD SERIES.

ha'u N'ps i'f pls
One day. ! had been sitting beside Rob-
ert, reading from an old book 10 which hs
loved to listen. until the twilight fell. and
the room grew 90 dark that could not $50
the words. Then my friend said to me.
Lay down beside me, Grey,tOek, and rest
a llule while you mus, be weary, ani
need no watching now. I, will do me good
to SEQ you quietly asleep"
was very weary. and in my happy con-
6lsnce Of his safety. obeyed, and had
scarcely flung myself upon the pillow ere
.lumbcr overlook me. How long I slept I
know not. bu, I was awakened by low
moan, and lifting my head saw Robert sit
ting uprirh, gazing through the window.
Rob. dear Rob :" ejaeulated. "wba,
is the maiter?"
81 committed sacrilege," mOuned my
friend. " and this Is my punishment. Grey
stock, ,hc has been hsrc again. Put your
arm about me, and 10. me die upon your
shoulder"
iIoror..trieken, I supported him upon
my brta.,. called 10 God for aid. and pray
ei for ono smile, Tor one word more from
,hoss pale lips; butin vain. The voice was
hushed forever the eyes wero CLASSY. the
cold hand stifcned in my own, aud tho
white moonlight fell upon dead man.
face, as ! pressed my las, kiss upon his lips.
Have you ever watched beside the dead.
dear rcader9 Do you know what II u TO
80 form. which once was fol- OF life and
mlrih. lay l,koa marble block before you ?
All sweet emotions frozen within 10. sunken
ewes. And iho-s shangcful and well loved
impressions which charmed you -. in life,
-c,,ing into tha, fixed and risi smile which,
even in it, beauty. -ceDs % forbid your
gaze. and tell you ,ha, your past, in wha,
lie, there. Il, blo,ted forever. oh n you
know the grief Of such a scsn-, need not
tell yoa what felt as the hour, Of the next
sAd nigh, wore on toward. tho morning.
H., swatch lay on the mantsl.piecc ticking
as busily A ever. oh. how strange il
seemed. u think it, masters hand would
never res, upon il more | looked upon IL,
tho hand. were pointing TO the hour Of
thrce-ihc nigh, was over. AMI the miseri-
bic day was at hand. ! tunnel away. ani
walked toward. the window. was alone,
for would not permit another to share
iba, vigil. and the tears ,ricklci slowly
down NY checks rs paced the floor.
Just then. heard once moro,,hai.. low
melancholy moan. apparently jos, without
the easement. and, starting back. held my
brraih 10 listen. By the iain, lgh, OF q
shaded taper upon the table, | saw tho win
dow open. IL va. froneh window. and
isrnci upon It. hinges like door, and, a.
Il nnfoldcj, hgurs crossed the sill aud
stepped sptly in. |, vas tha, OF woman,
10 white garment. and saw, as she crept
s,elllhily toward. me. that ono hand was
c1nc. This was no fancy II spirit. ever
came to mortal man, one stood balors mo
now.
tn, Apparition advanced. and - did !.
Horror gave courage, AMI srapPled with
it. held IL IN firm, un'hrinking grasp,
and found that il was solid as thing Ut
nc.h and blood. and that il moaned and
trembIci as IN terror. Should call for aii?
Thi. thing. living or dead. bal killed my
poor young friend. No ie'ered imagina-
,ion bad eonjursi up tho form ana face
which no believed wa. OF the other world.
Hero Il was, powerless, in my hands. and |
would exercise IL or die. While ! stool ir-
rc.olute. the light Of q taper cleaned from
out the darkness, and saw \ man standing
by the opoh sash. lie looked upon the bed,
and the .,ill thing beneath is snowy coTer.
inr. upon me and the being grapPled with,
and then whispered
"for Gods sake. don't hurt her, sir
She does not know wba, she Is doing-'he
ha. los, her senses
"who. ani wha, is this bein:2" | ask.
ed /. land why does she come TO the cham
ber Of death a, thi. silen, hour? You must
tell me. for she is already a muricrc-s
She !. my wife," said the IS.
have lived in the next ho" .aan: "w
and all that time'' sc for lea years
|t,k,b IA has L.,en mad 81
was b 'ier senses since her only chill,
.rned to dath. in the same Ere II
"nlch she losi sos hand. She was Away
n fond u PcePing through ,hi. window. anc
e ! had not the heart TO hinder her. Bu
1 ono night she saw the young doctor, poor
: fellow dong something with a hand
which. l'up?ose. he rad brought, from ;hc
d's.eciing room, and has been wild ever
, since. lhayeno, been able TO keep her from
the window, or even from thi, room for.
You see. sh" thought the hand was her own.
and wanted it back. Three time. I've fol-.
lowed her and brought her back-once when
she had the jar in her arm. and was bring.
ing !. away. God help her she would not
harm any one give her to me. and le, me
take her away"
let the wroiChed creature 20. and he
took her about the waist very afrsciiona,e.
ly.
DO you know what she has dope,"
asked.
"No." replied the man. To my Lnowl.
edge she has done nothing"
Nothing Is tina, no,hing'" I asked,
pointing to the white couch. "Tha, !. her
handiwOrk. She killed him. Her presence