The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-03-14

some one raped at my door, and on my
calling "come in," opened it and entered
1t was Bob. GLOW do you do, my dear
fellow ?" he said, ~ hope you feel better
than I do. For my part, l never passed
so restless night. Some one in the
house or next door kept continualmoan-
ing, and the strange part of it was, when
I arose to listen, haring some one was i'll
or dying, the sound ceased, until L once
more placed my head upon the pillow,
when they were resumed more loudly
than before. At one time I 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, Greystock. have bottled it in
spirits, in private cupboard, where my
laundress, who once tainted at the sight
of skeleton, will never be alarmed by
it,"
He spoke merrily, but there was some
thing him different from his usual man.
ner, thought, as we went out to break
fast together. pit was foggy morning,
and the streets were very dreary There
were but few people abroad, but as we
turned corner, we came face to face
with woman, whose head was bent up
on her bosom, and who was moaning bit
terly. She wore no bonnet, and was
dressed in white, but the mad and rain
had drenched and dabbled her until she
was until she was a pitiable object to be-
hold. 1 paused and spoke to her.
"What is the matter ?" asked. "Can
do anything to help your"
AS I spoke the woman raised her eyes
and showed me face, the beautiful fea-
lures of which were of an ashen pallor ;
then, without speaking, held both her
arms toward me. Upon the left there
was no hand. In my astonishment l
stepped aside, arfl as did SO, the white
robcd figure glided past me, and vanished
in the fog. In vain we looked for her.
She was gone beyond our sight or hear
ing.
THAT is strange" L said, turning to
Robert. "How miserable tho poor crea-
turc looked"
And my Door friend, turning from me o
check of ashy palcncss, muttered between
his teeth: The left hand, too. Good
heavens the left handl' p
We brcaldasted together, but through
out the meal Robert Rcdlaw was utterly
unlike himself No merry jcsts passed
his lips, no laugh rang out upon the air,
and every now al,9 then his eyes fixed
themselves on vacancy, as those Of one
whose thoughts arc far away arc prone to
do AS for myself I was also strangely
low-spirited and distracted.
For week subseqent to that day [
saw nothing Of my friend, but at the ex-
piration of that time I went to call upon
him. Bob was standing by the mantle
when I entered his room, but he turned
toward me, and came forward with both
hands outstrcched "My dear Grcystock," "
he said, {" am glad to see you. I should
have como after you to-day if you lad
not found your way here Do you know
| have been i'll since We met last ?"
"I am sorry to hear that" L replied.
eyes, extremely ILL.," continued Rob
crt "I caught q cold that night in the
damp graveyard, and have been feverish
and delirous. / believe would not pass
such another week, ,'Greystock, for all the
diamonds of Golconda."
He paused a moment, and then draw.
ing closer TO me, placed his hand upon
my shoulder. Don't mention it to the
other fellows" he said, but I absolutely
imagined that Isaw face looking at me
from the window yonder, and that tall
woman's figure, dressed in white, and
having only one hand-the left one was
gone-stood upon the parapet of the next
roof, and waved her arms towards me
Such mad idea, you know, for there is
scarcely foot-hold upon it for a monkey
let alone woman"
aBut these fancies have left you now, .
1 said.
eyes, I hope they have" replied Rob.
ert. "I have suffered from no optical de.
lusion for two days, but I do wish that
terrible groaning could be put stop to-
[ hear it every night, but I cannot per-
suade myself that it is the work Of imagi
nation. vet no one in the house is i'll, and