New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-10-29
ID for her. She was gone beyond our sight OF

ana my poor friend, turning from me cheek of
ashy pagsness, mnttered between his teeth. The
lett mar d, too. Good heavens the left handt F"
we breakfasted together, but throughout the
meal. Robert Redlaw was utterly unlike himself.
No merry jests passed his lips, no laugh rang out
az on the air. and, every now and then, his eyes
Ned themselves upon vacancy, as these of one
whose thoughts are far away are prone 70 do. AS
for myself, l also was strangely lowHspirlted and
distracted.
For week subsequent TO that day ! saw nothing
of my friend but at the end OF that time went to
call upon him. Bob was standing by the mantel
when entered his room, but he turned towards
me- and came forward with both hsnds outstretched.
.sMy dear Greysteck," hes ad 80 am so glad TO see
YOU should have come after you to-day if you
had not found your way here. Do you know L have
been i'll since we met last2H
90 am sorry to hear that,n replied.
Eyes, extremely illa continued Robert. stI
caught q cold that night in the damp graveyard,
and have been feverish and delirious. | believe l
would not pass such another week, Greystock, for
all the diamonds of Golc0nda."
He paused moment, and then drawing closer to
me, placed his hand upon my shoulder. "Donft
mention it to the other fellews,n he said; but
absolutely imagined that | saw face looking at
me from the window yoHder, and that tall wo-
mans figure dressed in white, and having only one
hand-the lett one was gone-stood upon the par
apet OF the next roof and waved her arms towards
me. Such a mad iiea yon know, for there is
scarcely foothold upon it for a monkey, let alone
woman.' a%
But these fancies have left you now = / said.
Yes, hope they have" replied Robert g
have suffered from no optical delusion for two
days. but do wish that that terrible grooming
could be put a stop to. hear it every night, and
cannot persuade myself that it is the work of my
imagination yet no one in the house is i'll, and my
landlady will not confess that she has ever heard
the slightest noise. Greystock, it must be terri
BILE thing to be insane.n
g Put such fancies out of your mind Robert l
said. !" The truth is, you have been feyerish, and
the remembrance of your silly piece of work with
that hand has acted upon your mind and caused
these apparitions. Take my advice, my dear fell
low, and abstain from the punch bowl and the wine
enpi they will lead any one into committing fool
ish, if not criminal actions. Come, let us go out
into the open air to-day; will devote myself to
you, and we will see what a country walk will do
towards the exercising of these fancies.a
Robert assented to my proposition, and we set
of together. AT first he was more serious than
usual, but as the day passed on saw with delight
that his spirits were once more resuming their
wonted tone. The rich color came back to his dark
cheek, his eyes beamed with their Wonted bright
ness. The pald ghost-seer was gone, and the
careless boy stood once more before me. I re-
joeed in the happy change, a mother might in
The returning smiles of her ailing infant, and at
dusk we returned to the city, as happy pair as
you could wish to meet.
Now, Bob said, when we had dined, 1--WE
will finish the evening at the theater, and Danish
those gloomy fances even more eifectualy amid
the lights and music.n
GLOOMY thoughts y laughed my friend, 81 am
in high spirits tonight, and feel utterly ashamed of
my .ghostly stories. Come, if you are ready l
amp
We went out into the hail. as he spoke, and my
hand was upon the lock Of the door, when Robert
suddenly exclaimed:
's | had nearly forgotten my gloves and handker
chief, Dnah ~ and he beckoned to the little black
waitress. Dinah, run up and bring them to me.
My gloves are upon the table, and you will find
handkerchief in one of the bureau drawers, which
is unloekedb
The little darkey started with alacrity; butwhile
we waited for her return, terrible scream sound
ed through the house, and she came rushing down
again without the articles for which she had been
dispatched.
.sOh, de ghost de ghost!n she screamed.
/" Oars ghost in Redlan's roomrt
I" What do you mean ~ calculated Robert: and
What do You mean ~ was reiterated by the land
lady and her boarders as they iocked to the scene
of action.
~ went after der han kereher to Massa Redlan's
room,' gasped Dinah, G and tell yer de Dressed
truf dar was woman all in der middle of the
room holding up jar, and in dat jar dar was
hand and de woman She had mt only one herself for
I seen her jest as plain as daylight. True as I'm
alive it was ghost"
snatched the candle from Dnah's trembling
fingers and rushed up stairs. The apartment was
empty, and the window upon the roof closed
opened the cupboard and looked in. There stood
the glass jar in which the hand was preserved, on
a remote corner Of the shelf. Nothing had been
disturbed that could discover, and, perplexed
and disturbed, closed the door. AS did 50,
low waiting moan, DISTINCT dispairng and horrible
broke upon my ear; and, with the blood running
cold within my veins, descended to the hall once
more.
Robert sat upon chair his pale face hidden in
both hands. touched him upon the shoulder and
found that he was senseless. At first thought he
was dead.
For four weeks Robert Redlaw trembled ON the
margin of the grave, and we his comrades,
.l0I h Il. So
excitement which he had undergone had deve-
oped heart disease which might, at any mo-
ment, prove fatal. At last, however, the danger
seemed to grow less imminent, and although yet
weak, he seemed to be upon the high road 10
All that time | never left him, day or night
Study had been thrown aside, business aban-
earthly interest seemed conferred in the
dying friend, beside whose pillow | watched SO
When the happy hour of conyaiescence
came could have wept for joy.
One day had been sitting beside Robert reading
rom an old book to which he loved to listen, until
the twilight fell and the room grew so dark that
could not see the words. Then my friend said to
me, z Lay down beside me, Greystock, and rest
little while you must be weary, and ! need no
now. 1t will do me good to see you
q ietly asleep
I was very weary and, in my happy confidence
of his safety, obeyed, and had scarcely flung
myself upon the pillow ere slumber overlook me-
How long slept know not, but was awakened
by a low moan, and, lifting my head, saw Robert
sitting upright, gazing through the window.
Rob, dear Rob!o calculated, .swhat is the
81 committed sacrilege," moaned my friend,
land this is my punishment. Robert, she has been
here again. Put your arm about me, and let me
die upon your shoulder"
Horror-strieken, Isupported him upon my breast
called to God for aid, and prayed for one SMILE for
one word more from those pale lips, but all In
vain. The voice was hushed forever; the eyes
aid har5 nfiN
and the white moonlight fell upon dead mans
face, as pressed my last kiss upon his lips.
Have you ever watched beside the dead, dear
reader? Do you know what it is to see form
which once was full of life and mirth lay like
marble block before you? All sweet emotions
frozen within its sunken eyes, and those changefu
and well-ioyed expressions which charmed you
90, in life, settling into that fixed and rigid sme
which, even in its beauty, seems to forbid your
gaze, and tell you that your past in what lies there
is blotted out forever. OH if you know the grief
of such scene, need not tell you what felt, as
the hours of the next sad night wore on towards
the morning
His watch lay on the mantel-piece, ticking as
busily as ever. oh! how strange it seemed to
think it's masters hand would never rest upon it
more looked upon it; the hands were pointing
to the hour of3--the night was over and the mser.
able day was close at hand, ! turned away and
walked towards the window. / was alone for
would not permit another TO share that vigil aud
the tears tiekled slowly down my cheeks as
paced the floor.
just then, heard once more that low melan.
choly moan, apparently, just without the case
ment and starting back, held my breath to listen.