New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-20

a
upon the infants cheek, and left this i'm.
press there in token Of the magic endow'
ments that were to give her such sway
over all hearts Many desperate swain
would have risked life for the privilege o.
pressing his lips to the mysterious hand
| It must not be concealed, however. thai
the impression wrought by this fairy
sign-manual varied exceedingly, accord.
ing to the difference of temperament o.
beholders. Some fastidious persons-Du'
they were exclusively Of her own sex
affirmed that the bloody hand, as tnsy
called it, quite destroyed the enec' y
Georgiana's beauty and rendered ne,
countenance even hideous. But u "ouio
be as reasonable to say that one OF tnose
small blue stains which sometimes occur
in the purest statuary marble would co d
vert the Eve OF Powers to monster
Masculine observers, if the blrthmark die
not heighteu their admiration, contenteo
themselves with wishing it away, thai
the world might possess one living speci-
men OF ideal loneliness without the SEM
blance Of flaw. After his marriage
for be thought little or nothing OF the
matter before-Alymer discovered that
this was the case with himself.
Had she been les beautitul-if envy
self could have found aught else to sneel
at-he Nigh. have felt his affection height
enea by the prettiness of this mimic hand
now vaguely portrayed, low lost, no"
stealing forth again and glimmering te
and fro with every pulse OF emotion
throbbed within her heart; but, seeing bel
otherwise so perfect, be found this one de
feet grow more and more intolerable with
eyerv moment OF their united lives. II
was the fatal law of humanity which ma
ture, in one shape or another, stamps IN
efiaceably on all her productions. either
to imply they are temporary and Unite, OF
that their perfection must be wrought by
toll and pain. The crimson hand eX-
pressed the ineludable grippe in which
morality clutches the highest and pures'
or earthly mould, degrading them into
kindred with the lowest and even with
! very brutes. like whom their visible frames
| return to dust. In this manner, selecting
j. as his wife's liability to SIM sorrow, de-
cay and death. Alymer's sombre imagina-
ton was not long in rendering the birth
mark frightful object, causing him more
| trouble and horror than ever Georglana 5
| beauty. whether of soul or sense, had
| given him delight.
At all SEASONS which should have been
their happiest he invariably, and without
intending it, nay, in spite OF purpose to
the contrary. reverted to this disastrous
topic. Tritiing as it at first appeared. 1t
so connected itself with innumerable
trains Of thought and modes Of feeling
that it became the central point Of all
With the morning twilight. Aylmer opened
his eyes upon his wifes face and recog-
nlzed the symbol of imperfection; and
when they sat together at the evening
hearth, his eyes wandered steadily to her
cheek, and beheld. pickering with the
blaze of the wood FIRE, the spectral hand
that had written mortality where be would
/ fain have worShiped. Georgiana soon
learned to shudder at his gaze. Itneeded
but a glance with the peculiar expression
that his face often Wore to change the
roses Of her cheek into a deatLllhe pale
ness, amid which the crimson hand was
brought out, like a bas.reliet Of ruby on
the purest marble.
Late one night, VIXEN the lights were
growing dim so as hardly to betray the
stain on the poor wife,s cheek. she her
self, for the frs time, voluntarily took up
the subject.
DO you remember, my dear Aylmer,"
said she, with feeble attempt at a smile.
have you any recollection Of dream
last night about this odious Land:
None, none, whatever replied Ayl-
mer starting; but, then, he added, in a
cold, dry tone, affected for the sake Of
concealing the real depth Of his emotion.
Il might well dream Of il; for, before
fell asleep, it had taken g pretty firm hold
OF my fancy
and you did dream ot il, continued
Gaorgiana, hastily: for she dreaded lest a
had 10 say. "a terrible dream. l wonder
tia. you can forget it. Ii is possible to
forget this one exp-ess:o1:-'I5 it in her
heart now: We must have i. out" Reflect,
my husband; for by all means | would
have you recall that dream.
Tie mind is in sad state when Sleep.
the all-inyolving, can not c9ntine her
spec:res within the dim region of her
sway. but suffers them to breal, forth, at
Fighting this actual life with secrets that
perchance belong 20 deeper one. Ayl-
mer now remembered his dream. He had
tancied himself with his servant Amina-
peb attempting an operation for the re-
moval Of his birtbmark; but the deeper
went the hand until its tiny grasp ap-
peared 70 have caught hold Of Georgianas
heart; whence, however, her husband was
inezorably resolved to cut or wrench it
away.
When the dream had shaped itself per-
fectly in his memory, !iylmer sat in his
wife's presence with guilty feeling.
Truth often finds its way to the mind
close muffied in the robes Of sleep, and
then speaks with uncompromising direct
ness Of matters in regard to which We
practice an unconscious self-deception
during our waking moments. Until now
be had not been aware of the tyrannizing |
influence acquired By one idea over his |
mind, and Of the lengths which he might |
ind in his heart to 80 for the sake Of Civ
ng himself peace.
.'Aylmer," resumed Georgiara, sol |
emuly, II know not what may be the cost |
o both of as to rid me Of this fatal birth |
mark. Perhaps its removal may cause |
,ureless deformity, or it nay be the stain
,oes as deep as lite itself. Again do We
NOW that there is a possibility, on any
erms, Of upclasping the firm grippe of |
his little hand which was laid upon me
before | came into the world
Dearest Georgiana,' l have spent
much thought upon the subject" hastily
Interrupted Aylmer. i am convinced of
he perfect practieabiiity Of its removal.
III there be the remotest possibility Of
t, continued Georgiana, ''let the attempt
,e made at whatever risk. Danger is
lothirg to me; Tor while this hateful
mark makes me the object of your horror
nd disgust-life is a burden which l
you'd fling down with JOY. Either re-
aove this dreadful hand, or take my
7retched life! You have deep science. All