The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-10
Miscellaneous.
THE SPIRIT HAND.
A MYSTERY.

For what am about to relate | can offer
no explanation. l merely state the facts,
and leave the reader to draw his own con-
clusiOn.
On the night of March 20, 1868, my
friend Dornton Leroy and myself were
seated together in my room in the-Hotel.
The night was a very bitter one outside, but
we cared little for it as we sat there talking
of the past and the present, in which there
was little that was disagreeable to discuss,
and Of the future, the knowledge of which
was mercifully withheld from us.
"Do you remember old Doctor Trent ?"
Leroy asked, with laugh.
"Indeed do" L replied but / did not
without strange feeling of horror.
He had been at one time member of the
faculty of the college which Leroy and |
had attended. He was deeply learned in
metaphysics, and was in many respects a re-
markably agreeable man, but he was not
generally liked. One morning there had
been terrible interview in his room be-
tween him and the president of the college,
and the next day he was dismissed from his
position and left the institution, since which
time had not met him. 1t was never known
why he had been discharged; there were
many vague rumors atloat, but nothing de-
finite was known One Of the students had
heard him say to the president as the latter
left his room:
Remember DIR. D, this secret is
yours ard mine alone, and, by the eternal
powers, if it becomes known through you,
the vengeance of one whose might you have
never, until this day, dreamed, will follow
you through a wretched life and into a rest
less grave"
The student said that President D.
tottered through the hallway as if he had
been face to face with death.
What occurred in DR.. Trent's room that
morning | do not to this day know.
"Do you remember" Leroy continued,
"what singular ideas the old doctor had re-
garding future eXistenceW
Leroy, though a splendid fellow,a brilliant
scholar, possessing n wonderful intellectual
power, was an iniidel,
81 wish you would not mention the man."
| said, impellcd to the uttcrancc by the un-
accountable feeling of horror of which |
have spoken. 81 cannot bear even to think
of him. | do not know what his ideas OF
futurity were; do not think | ever heard
him express them"
at seemed to me-" Leroy said, "that the
old man used to take strange delight in
drawing me aside and reiterating to me his
belief of what occurred after death and
now that | think of it, | do not remember
that ever heard him ventilate his ideas in
public. Why, he believed"
excuse me, Doruton," interposed, 81
don't want to hear what he believed, or any
thing about him. | cannot bear to hear the
man mentioned"
"Well, he was a disagreeable old fellow,
Leroy said, "and we'll let him rest though
can't understand why you have so great {
horror of him. Take another glass of sherry
my boy, it will steady your nerves."
"As we are on the subject, Dornton,"
said, "do you still maintain the same opin
ions regarding future existence as of old
Haye you not been forced to change you
viewsp
lie replied that he had not, We thel
entered into an argument, | endeavored Il
make him understand the subject as un
derstood it but all my efforts were in vain
At last, jumping from his seat, he ex
claimed
'Fnnk, listen to me, and remember wha
| say. If die before you, will, if still