Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-03-15
The Bloody Hand.

farmhouse, in the interior of England,
at the close of a cool December's day.
in the year IS. a ~
The person thus addressed was an
iron-faced farmer about the middle
size, with dark eyes peering under
meath pair of shaggy eyebrows. His
cheek was flushed, as though old age
had been coursing like wild-fire thro'
his swollen veins, and his brawny
hand, as he looked at the clot of fresh
blood that stained it, seemed to have
been made a descendant of Cain.
There is blood" said Brown, for
such was the farmers name, "but it is
all off nOw-bring me my supper"
The wife, for such was the first speak
er, looked him long and anxiously in
the face. Horrid visions seemed to
be floating before her eyes, and MUIR
der almost escaped from her COM
pressed lips.
why, what In the name of nature
ails thee, woman ?" said Brown. en-
deavOring by an ill-contrived laugh to
silence her fears. "Ifpeople 90 where
sheep are slaughtered, they must ex-
pect to get bloody
The blood of sheep has not been
on your hand" said his wife firmly.
There was melancholy looking man
upon the hill to-day. He had money
and a valuable watch. He offered
me piece Of gold for directing him
to the next village. and set his watch
by Our clock. Have you seen the
stranger, John %
The iron features of the hardened
husband contracted into a fearful
scowl. Woman" said he, "what have
| to do with the travellers on the hill
side? ? Mind your own affairs Then
changing his tune to sort of a whine,
he said, "give me my food, Meg. I
am cold and hungry, and cannot joke
with you longer"
"Joke with me, said the poor wife,
with a countenance agonized with
horror. God grant that it proves a
joke"
The supper was now ready upon
the table. The farmer ate his food
in silence, and then went to bed. In
a few moments he was lost in deep,
though troubled sleep. Having seen
that everything was quiet, the good
woman put on her hooded cloak and
: went out upon the lawn. 1t was a
: cold and cheerless evening. The
hills seemed turned into misty shad-
, OWs, before the wand of an enchantcr,
t and the waving tree-tops seemed like
the bosom of the mighty deep. The
2 bleak wind hOwled sadly amid the elm
; trees by the wayside, and the bay of a
distant Watchdog came echoing up
g the vale. The unhappy wife followed
5 the track of her husband for about q
5 mile. She was startled by a deeI
+ grOan. Scanning narrowly the hill
e she perceived place where some per
0 sons had apparently struggled togeth
er in the snow drift, and beyond, {
little distance, she beheld the melan
: choIy stranger whom she had directed
a Oh his course several hours previous
e lying upon his paIIid forehead
?. Browns wife was a strong and reso
= lutte woman. She raised the wounded
man and wiped the blood from hi
} eyes. Finding that life was not eH
tinct, she bore him upon her shoulde
to her dwelling. Having laid hiG
/, down in the passage, she opened tn
kitchen door where Brown was SLEEP
ing. His thick heavy breathing CAV
evidence that the sleep of drunken
t. ness was upon him. She then carrie
the stranger through the kitchen to
" little bedroom where she usually r,
tired when the abuse of her bruta
is companion became insuppOrtablc.-
As the head of the wounded ma
lk brushed by the face Of Brown, h
hands instinctively griped the be-
clothes and carried them over h
<e head. Having staunched the wOun
Ill the bleeding of which had been chec
ed before by the coagulating blood, I'll
Ike good wife dressed it in "a manner we
De approved by medical men, gave h
* patient a composing draught and th'
returned to her seat by the kitcht
y, fire.
, The farmer now began to be hiI
he self. He moved like wounded snail
on in his unquiet sleep. He opened h
he eyes and glared wildly round him.
w.: There is no blood on my hand,
. said. "Meg it was all joke. Fl
VS. ha deviliSh good joke" AS he sa
- this, conscience felt the dreadful gna
~ .5o ing of that worm that never dies, al
nf shiver along the limbs of Brown to
MO but too plainly, that he had sealed
vet blood a bond, conveying to the regio
w. of everlasting fire his immortal so
"a :? The fumes of his dcbauch rose like
osr mist upon his brain, and he sic
y . again. His wife now paid the strang
,or another visit, and finding everythi
% working as it should, retired to |
couch. Morning, and the sober
'oSt farmer arose from his pillow of
,n;s morse. His face was haggard,
eyes bloodshot, and his hair like t
Of the furies, seemed changing i
, al serpents.
rom He said but little and went out
Wis mediately after breakfast. His v
rom saw him go up the hillside.
and knew that he had gone to bury
ent, body. and rejoieed to think that
would labor in vain. Noon, nj
~no , and morning came. butno husband
no preached the farmhouse. We
nn m passed and John Brown was seen
'"0' more upon the hillside, or in