The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-21
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FRIDAY NJ ORNING, DEC. 2l, 1860.

handkerchief, Oman = ana no Deck0ned "
tho little black waitress. 'Dinah, run W
and bring them to me. Ny gloves are. upor
the table, and you will find handkerchief
in one Of the bureau drawers, which is un
, locked
The little darkey started with alacrity
but while we waited for her return, a terrible
scream sounded through the house, and she
came rushing down again without the articles
for which she had been despatched.
!, '0h, do ghost de ghost J. she screamed
Oars ghost in Redlaw's room! =
"What do you meanT CALCULATED Robert
and what do you mean 2 was reiterated by
the landlady and her boarders ms they hocked
TO the scene Of action.
Il went after der kan'kercher to Massa
Redlaw's room,' gasped Dinah, 'and tell
yer der Dressed truG, dar was woman In dc
room holding up a jar and in dat jar der was
hand, and dc woman she hadn't only one
herself. for seen her Jest as plain as day.
light. True Us I'm alive II was q ghost
snatchcd the candle from Dinah's tremb-
ling fingers and rushed upstairs. The apart.
ment 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 q remote corner OF
the shelf. Nothing had been disturbed that
could discover, and, perplexed and disturbed,
| closed the door. As did so, low wailing
moan distinct, despairing and horrible broke
upon INV ear; and with the blood running
cold within my veins, | descended to the hall
once more.
Robert sat upon chair, his pale face hid
don in both hands. touched him upon the
shoulder and found that he was senscless.--
At first, thought that he was dead.
For four weeks Robert Redlaw trembled
on the margin Of the grave, and We, his COM
rades watched over him with sad forebodings
for the excitement which he had undergone
had developed heart disease which might,
1t any moment, prove fatal. At last, how
ever, tho danger seemed to grow less immin'
ent, and although yet weak no seemed to be
upon the high road to recovery.
| All that time never left him, day or night.
Study had been thrown aside, business aban-
doned-all earthly interest seemed centered
in the dying friend, beside whose pillow !
watched so anxiously. When the happy
hour of convalescence came, l could have
wcpt for joy.
One day, / had been sitting beside Robert.
reading from an old book to which he loved
to listen, until the twilight fell, and the room
grew 80 dark that could not see the words.
Then my friend said to me, Lay down beside
me, Greystock, and rest little while; you
must be weary, and need no watching now.
II will do me good tosce You quietly asleep
was very weary, and in my happy conf
dence Of his safety, lobcycd, and had scarce
ly flung myself upon the pillow ere slumber
overlook inc. How long slept know not,
but was awakened by low moan, and
lifting my head saw Robert sitting upright
gazing through the window.
Rob, dear Rob' l calculated, what is
Il committed sacrilege,' moaned my friend,
and this ismy punishment. Grcystock, she
has been here again. Put your arm about
me. and let me die upon your shoulder
Horror-strlcken, supported him upon my
breast, called to God for aid, and prayed 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 were CLASSY. the cold hand stiffened in
my own, and the white moonlight fell upon
o dead mans face, as Iprcsscd my last kiss
upon his lips.
Have you ever watched beside the dead.
dear reader? Do you know what 1t ID to see
form, which once was full oflifeand mirth,
lay like marble block before you? All
sweet emotions frozen within its sunkcn eyes,
and those changcful and well.loved impress
sons which charmed you 50, in life, setting
into that filed and rigid smile which, even in
its beauty, seems to forbid your gaze, and
tell you that your Iast. 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-piecc, ticking
as busily as ever. Oh! how strange 1t seemed
to think its masters hand would never rest
upon II more looked upon it; the hands
were pointing to the hour of three-the
night was over, and the miserable day was
close at hand. turned away, and walked
towards the window. was alone, for |
would not permit another to share that vigil,
and the tears tricklcd slowly down my cheeks
as paced the floor.
Just then, heard once more that low
melancholy moan, apparently just without the
easement, and, starting back, held my breath
to listen. BY the faint light ofa shaded
taper upon the table, saw the window open.
II was French window, and turned upon
its hinges like u door, and, rs 1t unfolded. q
figure crossed the sill and stepped softly in.
Il was that of woman, dressed in white
garments and saw rs she crept stealthily
towards me, that one hand was gone. This
was no fancy If spirits ever came to mortal
man, one stood before inc now.
The apparition advanced, and 10 did Ii
Horror gave me courage, and Igrappled with
II. held it in firm, unshrinking grasp,
and found that it WIS solid as n thug OF flesh
anc blood, and that it moancd and trembled
as in terror. Should call for aid? This
thing, living or dead had killed my poor
Young friend. No fcvered imagination had
conjurcd up the form and face which he be-
lieyed was of the the other world. Here IL
was, powerless, in my hand, and would ex-
orcise it or die. While stood irresolute,
the light ola taper CLEANED from out the
darkness, and saw a man standing by the
open spn. uc iVohcu uPoh 'ho Vcu' anu
the still thing beneath its snowy covering.
upon me and the being grappled with, aud
then Whispered
.For Gods sake, don't hurt her. sir She
docs not Inow what she is doins-shc has
lost her senses !"
who, and what is this being" ! asked
.and why does she come TO the chamber Of
death ut this silent hour? You must tell me,
for she II already murdercs.'
She Is my wife, said the man, I'VE have
lived in the next house for ten years, and all
that time she has been mad. She has not
had her senses since her only child was burned
to death, in the same fire in which she lost
her hand. She was always fond OF pccping
through this window, and had not the
heart to hinder her. But one night she saw
the Young doctor, poor fellow doing some