The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-24
THE WITHERED HAND.
BY harah Crosse, spinster.

GuCumnat uay RdtueIcu oFei Ihc SAS''A A
scape, drew closely the shutters OF my ollce
windows, and, turning the gas down, prepared
to enjoy cozy reverie.
The storm grew louder and tercer. Ine
wind howled dismaily through the crevices,
and my little wooden sign creaked anu gfoall-
ed on its iron hinges.
AsI sat lost in the may depths ofmy fances,
iairyland, there came loud and imperative
knock upon my office door,
Mutterins something not at all compliment
ary to evening callers, l arose and answered
the unwelcome summons.
A slight, boyish figure. cnvclopcd in large
black cloak which covered HIM from hca,i 10
foot. stood leaning wcarily against the railing
Of the steps.
SIS this DR.. Merriam 2
The voice was singutarly clear and sweet:
and, with little thrill Of curiosity, stepped
back and bade the intruder enter
turned on the gas, when instantly lileG
the room with a sudden food OF siSht' ana
wheeling great armchair oeioTe the hte, ~
quested him TO be seated.
Bnt. to nv surprise. with most decided
gesture, lie declined, and turning 10 tlle street
door, locked 1t, and put The key IN MS pocket
The movement filed me with indignation,
and was about demanding an explanation,
when he advanced to where | was standing,
and throwing aside the heavy Cloak, extended
and bleeding in a very profnse manner.
do not fear me-" he said rapidly, II mere
" locked the door 10 prevent Intrusion.
called to have this wounded htlnocr properly
bandaged. and beg that you Will DC as eApeui-
tious as possible.
.'Fear him!' smiled at the absurd idea. for
the fellow was not us large a. an ordinarily
sized girl, and would as soon have Thought oil
being taken captive by Il mosquito us OF beng
worSted IN hand-to-hand encounter with
him.
But I made no reply, and procuring band
ages and splinters went to work.
1t was very ugly wound ind eed. Inc Wnole
hand looked as it it had been chawed and oit-
ten, while the forehnser was entirely gone.
NHow in the deuce,"l CALCULATED, ''did you
manage to get hurt SO ?"
He shrugged his shoulders impatiently-
..Le da6le n he burst OIL passioDately. "Do
mp the thing. I'll pay, good price"
Then, as II ashamed OF his rudeness, he con-
tinued more civily.
However as you medicine mem know eve
rything, 1 shall have to tell you that happen
ed to have little difficulty and got the
worst of it."
perceived that he did not like to converse
about it. so did not refer 10 IL again.
He wore his broad-rimmed hat sloucned
down over his eyes, and could only sec the
lower part Of his face, which was round, dim
pied and womanish in the extreme.
But he bore pain with fortitude never
saw equalled. Not groan escaped him,
though his face was covered with perspiratioR,
and his lips were white with agony, but, when
the operation was over. with an attempt at
bravado, he asked how long ere the hand
would be well again, and when told him 1t
would be useless forever, he said nothing, but.
laying roll of bills on the table, unlocked
the door. and in another instant was alone.
picked up the roll Of bills, aud, counting
fhoyn nySplf
possessor OF $500 more than was ere my one
nights work. aad, congratnating myself on
the pleasant fact, got into my bed 10 most
eSutant frame OF mind; for the little village
wherein hung out my shingle boasted tWo
disciples of the healing art besides myself,
and I am free to confess that patients anu
filthy ldcre were provokingly scarce.
The next morning was shocked to hear the
astounding story that old John Bradley, of the
tneighborlng village, had been found dead IN
bed, his throat cut from ear to car.
Old Bradley was q miser, and lived alone,
with the exception OF girl, now grown 10
Young ladyhoo1, whom, in q rare instance OF
charity, he had rescued from the cutters or
Boston, and adopted rs his own. She would lie
with more case than any one else coLlG tell
the truth. She could, and did, steal with
facility almost marvellous. While her stock OF
'Billingsgate" was of the choicest description,
and beggared anything OF the kind the villa
gers haG ever seen.
She was singularly handsome, but her tenn
per was as high-s.rung as her face was pretty;
and ten years previous, when old John had
been forced to send her TO the Reform School,
her rage and anger knew no bounds. But all
that was past After her return. Bradley hao
purchased an elegant outfit for his vicious
ward, and sent her to a distant city toa fash
ionable ladies' school, from which she had
lust returned an accomplished lady OF niue
teen.
About 9 o'clock an inquest was held, and
myself and colleagues met at Bradley's.
4 more notwithstanding corpse never be-
held than the one stretched out before me-
The face was thin anil Shrunken, and long,
liyid scratches ran horizontally over the
cheeks, while, extending from ear to ear, ran
deep, jagged cash, irOm which the blood had
ooZed, and lay in q congealed mass around
him.
Bending telhim. and endeavoring to close
his mouth, 1 perceived white substance be-
tween his teeth.
To draw it forth was the work Of an Instant.
a cold chill crept over me as | laid IL down.
1t was white, slender flnger-the finger OF 8
delicate left hand.
John Bradley had been murdered, and like u
flash Of lightning it burst upon Inc that his
murder was none other than my visitor OF the
previous evening. IeXplained the case, as soon
as could command myself, to my colleagues,
and claimed the ghasuy clue to The perpetra-
tion fthe terrible crime.
we determined to say nothing concerning
our discovery for time, but calling III tfc
services or the secret police, we battered our
selves hat ere long we would be enabled To
deliver the assassin into the hands OF Tie all-
thorties.
Bradley's adopted daughter, immediately
upon being apprlSed OF The death OF ller guar
dian, had gene into n violent lit OF Mysteries
and boiling her chamber door, positively re-
fused COM npanionship of any kind. saw fer
at the funeral TWO day. later.
She was very pale. and her appearance in
dicated that She had indnlged in most eX-
haustiye tit Of weeping. | had never seen her
before, TO my knowledge; still there seemed u
strangely familiar air about Ecr ior which
could not account. She was dressed III deep
mourning, wore Russian sable collaretle,
and carried u mutf Of the same; indeed, her
whole appearance was elegant in the extreme.
The young lady wepJ softly from the depths OF
costly and exquisite motchoir, and noticed
the hand that held the elegant trillc was while
and small. displaying 10 good advantage u
valuable diamond ring. glanced III lhe girl
curi0nsv, and thought OF all the stories mad
heart. concerning her queer, uncanny child.
hood; and as the prosy minister descanted
upon the merits of the deceased, | specuated
upon the future course of the heiresS OF all Old
Bradley'S boarded thousands.
The will was short and concise, beginning
with the usual formula and ending with the
sentence
"Do will and bequeath to my adopted daughter
Jaqueline Roseni Bradley, the sum OF Slo,o0o In