The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-08-27

lra,ing Ia his department had hc en- aban-
doncd, as hc had boublc-lock the door,
and it mnst have been very difficult to
open it, when, CHANGING involutarily to
cast his eyes down, he perceived by the
Hight of the moon, which shone brightly
through the window pains,a hand gliding
into the the space between the floor and
the room door and striving to lift the
latter off its hinges He raised his wca-
pom above his head. and, letting it fall
with all his strength. brought il down up
ON the hand Just az it was about to dis
appear. y Stificd cry was heard, then n
fearful blasphcmy, half-articulatcd, and,
lastly a light sound. as of some one re
firing, and which gradually melted in
the silence of the night Two bleeding
fingers remained on the threshold.
The young man ran to the fireplace,
where a few ambcrs yet burned his can
die lighted. he could not contemplate the
hidcous trophy of his victory. After the
first moment of surprise, he picked up the
two fingers, washed them carefully and
stgmched the blood with his handker-
chief.
1T must he confessed, said he to him
self, that | was lucky to have thought of
my sword, Then, attentivcly examining
the fingers he added. Rather white
hand lor q thief-and the nails tolerable
cloan!'
SO SAYING, he wrapped the two fingers
up in handkerchief,and returned to the
bed with the utmost coolness, as if moth
ing extraordinary had hppend. Another
quarter Of an hour and he was sleeping
suunily.
It was not yet daylight when the land
lord came to watcn the young man, who
WAs set forth at 6 o'clock When the
latter having first glanced at Ebrards
hands. related to him. half jocularly, the
event of the night and showed the blood
which had stained the threshold of the
door, the honest inn keeper turned pale
and trcmbled; but speedily recovering
himself his first movement was to repair
TO the apartments of the stranger who
had arrived last to see if it were tenanted.
lie found the door open, entered, drew
the bed curtains. but saw no one Some
traces Of blood guided him to the window
which he found also opcn he looked
out and in the garden hehcld the heavy
'oo' 100. marks OF some one escaping III the
direction Of the highway: so that NJ.
h"afd' no,Wltnstandmg the confusion
that rrigncd in his poor brain, had still
presence Of mind sufficient to enable him
to draw the reasonable interference, and
admit the profound conviction. the mutt
la''I r"hpvr was no other than the pre-
u'''''c'' ''".c'cr WHohi he had harpored
'he preceding ni&hl.
1t would he difficult to paint the truly
iamcntahle condition of poor Elnard af-
ter the fatal discovery. We need only
say he regaincd his self possession suf
tirltntly to repair to the Commissioner of
police to make his deposition and relate
ON his way to all his acqualntances, and
with an mir of the utmost bewildermcnt,
the fearful tragedy OF which his house
had been the theatre.
The young traveller arrived at his pa
ternal mansion about noon, and. as he
was quite unexpected, he was welcomed
bv an explosion of iov and tender cxcla-
nations His mother bestowed Il few soft
tears on him.while his sisters threw their
arms around his neck, caressing him and
concentrating him with ioy and salts
faction.
But where is my father! said he. at
length extracting himself from the
stringent embrace of his Youngest
sister
You arc aware said the mother, that
he is accustomed to be often absent from
home. lie left here three davs ago for 4
little town in the ncighborhood, but W,
are expecting him to-day
And is my good father still a,
tacitmn and gloomy as ever he asked
Alas! YES. thev replied You would
imagine him inccssantly pursuaded by
some dread fatality; but your arrival, Sc
| unlocked for as it is, cannot fail to glad
den and cheer him.
KS soon as the young man was seateC
questions of all sorts assaled him. 5,
| greatly was the curiosity of his famil,
| excited to learn every particular of hi
life since hc had quilted the paterna
roof.
And met with noaccidcnt on you
journey asked his mother
no, not exactly an accident, he re
piled: .bu, somewhat a singular even
toccmrrd to ne last night as you shall
hear.
He then related his night of agitation
and bloodand they listened, horror-strucl
for the tone IN whichhe spoke convinced
them of the truth of his recital
Oh! had nearly forgotten, said he
| the termination OF his tale, TO mentio
that l brought away irrefragable proof
of my victory.
As he spoke he put his hand into hi
pocket, and drew from it n handerchic
in which something seemed to be car,
fully wrapped up. At the same momer
the door of the apartment opened, and
man, with pale and disordered count
nance, with travel-Stained garments an
lettering wait, entered