The Portland daily press., 1875-07-31


laboratory to the care of an assistant, clear
ed his fine countenance from the furnace
smoke, washed the stain of acids from his fin
gers, and persuaded beautiful woman to be-
come his wife. In those days, when the COM
paratively recent discovery of electricity and
other kindred mysteries OF nature seemed to
open paths into the region of miracle, it was
not unusual for the love of science to rival the
love of woman in its depth and absorbing en-
ergy. The higher intellect, the imagina.io
the spirit, and even the heart might all find
their congenial allment in pursuits which, as
some of their ardent votaries believed, would
ascend from one step of powerful intelligence
to another, until the philosopher should lay
his hand on the secret OF creative source and
perhaps make new worlds for himself We
know not whether Aylnier possessed this de-
gree OF faith In mans ultimate control over
nature. He had devoted himself, however,
too unreservedy to scientific studies ever to
weaned from them by any second passion.
His love for his young wife might prove the
stronger of the two; but it could only be by
INTERVIEWING itself with his love of science
and uniting the strength of the latter to his
own.
Such union accordingly took place, and
was attended by truly remarkable consequent
ces and deep impressive moral. One
day, very soon after their marriage, Aylmer
sat gazing at his wife with a trouble in his
countenance that grew stronger until he
spoke.
'sGeorgiana," said he, 'shas it never occur
ed to you that the mark upon your cheek
might be rernoved?" - - = ~
''No, indeed" said she, smiling; but, per-
ceivlng the seriousness of his manner, she
bushed deeply. TO tell you the truth,
1t has SO oflen been called charm, that 7
was simple enough 10 imagine it might be
so. -''~ - ~ A 49, p
"Ah, upon another face perhaps it might"
replied her husband, sbut never on YOURS
No, dearest GeorgiaIa, you came so nearly
perfect from the hands of nature that this
slightest defect, which We hesitate whether
to term defect or beauty, shocks me as be-
ing the visible marks of earthly imperfec-
ton. rsft-A4 ~ --e- 49,
Shocks you, my husbandw cried Georg-
lana, deeply hurt; at first reddening with
momentary anger, but then bursting into
tears. "Then why did you take me from my
mothers side? You cannot love what shocks
youv' es
To explain the conversation, it must be
mentioned that in the centre of G eorgianas
cheeks there was a singular mark, deep in
terwoven, as it We're, with the texture and
substance of her face. In the usual state of
her complexion--a healthy though delicate
bloom-the mark wore a tint of deeper GRIM
son, which imperfectly defined its shape amid
the rosiness. When she bushed it became
gradually more indistinct, and finally van
lshed amid the triumphant flow OF blood that
bathed the whole cheek with its brilliant
glow. But if any shifting emotion caused
her to turn pale there was the mark again,
crimson stain upon the snow, in what Ally
mer sometimes deemed an almost fearful dis
tlnctness. Its shape bore not little similar
ity to the human HAND, though of the smallest
pigmy size. Georgiana's lovers were wont to
say that some fairy at her birth hour had
lad her tiny hand upon the infants cheek,
and left this impress there in token of the
magic endowments that were to give her
such sway over all hearts. Many desperate
swain would have risked life for the privilege
of pressing his lips to the mysterious hand
1t must not be concealed, however, that the
Impressions wrought by this fairy sign
manual varied exceedingly, according to the
difference OF temperament of beholders,
Some fastdous persons-but they were ex-
clusively OF her own sex-afirmed that the
bloody hand as they called il, quite destroyed
the effect OF Gecrgiana's beauty and rem
dered her countenance even hideous. But it
would be as reasonable to say that one OF
those small blue stains which sometimes oc-
cur IN the purest statuary marble would con-
vert the Eve OF Powers to monster. Mas
culine observers, if the birthmark did not
heighten tteir admiration, contented them
selves with wishing it away, that the world
might possess one living specimen of ideal
loneliness, without the semblance of flaw.
After his marriage-for he thought little or
nothing of the matter before-Alymer dis
covered that that this was the case with him
self.
Had she been less beautifcl-f envy's self
could have found aught else to sheer at--he
might have found his affection heightened by
the prettlness OF this mimic hand now
vaguely portrayed, now lost, now stealing
forth again and again glimmering to and fro
with every pulse of emotion throbbed within
her heart; but seeing her otherwise so per-
feet, he found this one defect grow more and
more intolerable with every moment Of their
united lives. 1t was the fatal flaw of human
ity which nature, in one shape or another,
stamps intellectually on all her productions,
either to imply they are temporary and finite
or that thei- perfection must be wrought by
toll and pain. The crimson hand expressed
the ineludeabe grippe in which mortality
clutches the highest and purest of earthly
mould, dcgr aiding them into kindred with the
lowest and even with the very brutes. like
whom their visible frames return to dust. In
this manner, selecting it as his wifes liability
TO sin, sorrow, decay and death, Aylmer's
sothbre imagination was not long in render
ing the birthmark frighttul object, causing
him more trouble and horror than ever
Georgiana's beauty, whether of sou, or sense
had given him delight.
At. all seasons which should have been
their happ:est, he invariably, and without in
tending 1t, nay. in spite OF a purpose to the
contrary, reverted to this disastrous tonic.
Trifing as it at first appeared, it so connected
Itself with innumerable trains of thought
and modes of feeling that it became the CEN
trial point OF all. With the morning twilight
Aylmer opened his eyes upon his wfe's face
and recognized the symbol of imperfection;
and when they sat together at the evening
hearth, his eyes wandered steadily to her
cheek, and behed, Pickering with the blaze
OF the wood fire, the. spectral hand that had
written mortality where he would fain have
worshlped. Georgana soon learned to shud-
der at his gaze. 1t needed but "a glance with
the peculiar expression that his face often
wore to change the roses of her cheek into
deathlike paleness, amid which the crimson
hand was brought out like bas-reief of ruby
on the purest marble. m
Late one night, when the lights were grow
ing dim SO as hardly to betray the stain on
the poor wiie's cheek, she herself, for the
hrst time, voluntarily took up the subject,
DO you remember, my dear Aylmer,"
said she, with feeble attempt at smile
''have you any recollection of dream last
night about this odious hand?'
''Nonel none, whateverp' replied Aylmer
starting; but then he added, in cold, dry
tone, affected for the sake of concealpe the
real depth of his emotion, 81 might well
dream of it; for, before 1 fell asleep, it had
taken firm hold of my fancy.''
''And you did dream of it," continued
Georgiana hastily; tor she dreaded lest
rush OF tears should interrupt what she had
tosay. ga terrible dream! wonder that
you can forget it. Is it possible to forget
this one expression?-'Is it in her heart
now; we must have it outw Reflect, nv
husband; for by all means 1 would have YOU
recall that dream"
The mind is in sad state when Sleep,
the all-lnvolving, cannot confine her spectres
within the dim region of her sway, but suf-
fers them to break forth affiighting this ac-
tual lie with SECRETS that perchance belong
TIC deeper one. Aylmer now remembered
his dream. He had fanced himself with his
servant Aminadab, attempting an operation
for the removal OF the birthmark; bat the
deeper went the knife, the deeper went the
hand, until its tiny grasp appeared to have
caught hold of Georeiana's heart; whence,
however, her husband was inexoraby re-
solved to cut or wrench it away.
When the dream had shaped itself per-
fectly in his memory, Aylmer sat in his
wife,s presence with guilty feeling. Truth
often finds its way to the mind close mufled