Morris tribune., 1882-08-24


missionof electricity aseyery one knows.
The figures of Lord Fergus executed
then, in the eperfumed tresses where
they were buried, aserious passes ex-
quistely delicate. 1t was, in fact, the
decisive moment of the operation, for
the cure entirely depended upon the
perfect correspondence between the ful,-
ness of the rachidian bulb, situated nit
the base of the brain, and the depletion
of the nervous ganglions of the zygomat-
ic arch, whose plethora occasioned the
neuralgia in question. This finished, he
undertook the third and last part of the
operation. by far the most beautiful OF
all. His face expressed an inspiration
truly august. AS his hands futtered
over the surface of this almost divine
face, he resembled an artist designing an
angels face, or sculptor modelling the
head of a goddess. He, with be ,ting
heart, and cheeks red with enthusiasm,
seemed like Pygmalion animating his
statue. At last, ia 4 transport of power
and triumph, placing the index finger
of his right hand between the eyebrows
of the princess, he said, with the air of a
conqueror.
( The lady, lifting her = magnificent ewes
to his face, and taking his hand, replied
in her melodiousyoice: ..-~.4. rr
8 aItis true.} Il thank youss J Z lis u
And rising, she went to the stairway
leaning upon the arm of the lord. He
conducted her in perfect silence to her
carriage. The postilion WAS already in
the saddle. She stepped into the post
chaise, offered her hand to Lord Fergus,
who kissedsit respectfully, end said: Il
E"lriye on ] @s~t q f,E.fStE1
"PrincesS,n observed Lord Fergus,
''the hand that has rested on your face
shall never touch anything else. | ded-
ieate it teyou..h And before she could
reply hennade the sgnal}of departure to
the pos6lhon, and bowed deeply; after
/ which hes reSen tered the inn, and re-
manned dreaming before the fire until
late hour of the night.
~. Eight days later the Princess ;Gelsom-
ina was established in q little secluded
VILLAGE ofTvrol. A man Oh horseback
who claimed to have come from Berne
by easy journeys, was inquring for her
Riding up to the door Of the inn, he
leaned from his saddle, called for the
| inii.keeper, andAasked:
SIS the Princess Gelsomina here?" .
"She isl
us she in her room?" q
~. r4eS.f - :
He dismeunted, went up stairs, was
introduced, and drawing a small case OF
white wood from a game-bag which
he carried, presented it to the amazed
lady, saving:
h This is from Lord Fergus Mac Fortar.'
Giving her ITO time to ask any partic-
,!l6fs, he hastily descended the stairs,
leaped upon his horse, and set. off al 4
11SNSN Nhn Ivy ytDfn
ordered her servant to open TIE Box.
Having taken off the cover with many
precautions, he informed her
That. i it. contained package.
The princessimmediately dismissed him.
As soon us she found herself alone she
feverishly lifted from the case an object
enveloped in white cambria. The cam
brio removed displayed an envelope of
violet satin, with the arms of the prin-
cess and another person embroi Tered in
silver upon it. Under the folds of satin
something hard and angllarSWas1 define
ated.-uThe ladyaanfolde thessatin, and
L silver box eNQuisitely chased, shaped
like m Egyptian sarcophagus, appeared
before her eyes. A tiny golden key
hung from one of its feet The princess
took it off, inserted it in the lock, and
opened it.
Upon crimson velvet cushion bor-
dered with a fringe of fine pearls, lay Il
human hand. The hand bore upon the
little finger a ring, whose setting was a
magnificent bezoar stone. The princess
gazed moment spell-bound, then care
fully reclosing the sarcopha9us, and
concealing the key in her bosom, she
shrieked aloud. After which she threw
herself upon Il couch, arranged the
IL 50 g., l.
tainted. That hand was the right hand
of Lord Fergus; that bezoar, was the
ring of Lord Fergus In two hours she
left the village, and was never seen
there more
We will not attempt to depict the state
of maddening love in which this fantas-
ticand surgical gift had plunged the lin-
fortunate 'Gelsomina' Cordileone. Never
before did horror, establishment, graft
tude, and pity SO blend in a, Woman g
heart. Many a man had, offered {. his
hand, but to have it ampntated and pre-
sent 1t to her upon a velvet cushion
fringed with pearls, was indeed novel
Ifty. In regarding herselfjin her mirror,
she could truly say. that no other wo-
lnanin the world htd' ever been the OBJ
,iect ofsuch. alteration. And then, as the
hand was perfectly embalmed, she must
needs take itoften from its concealment
and caress it, fancying this the best way
to fulfl:the wishes of the testator who
had willed to her -;a. ia3s t>.gn,
Many months rolled away. The prin-
cess, overcome more and more with pas
sionate regret, reproached herself for
every imaginable wrong. She, had mas
ses said for the repose of the hand of
Lord Fergus--prayers that it might grow
again. At last she. became franti ,.
Every effort she made to find Lord Fer
gus was of no avail; the detectives of
Europe, America, and Australia could
net discover his retreat.~~-------,------ r.
In the meantime what was the eccen-
trio Lord doing? He had bribed all the
attendants of the princess; Just as soon
as she arrived at hotel he controlled
that house; and during all this time he
cea1ed night and day in some one of her
rooms. From such secret observatories
he watched the pro.Tess of the maladv
which he had sow1f in that poor heart,
until one day, deeming the time at last
propitious, he stole from his hiding
place during his beloved's absence
Upon her return, the innkeeper an
nounced to her with exceeding candor
the arrival of an unknown gentleman.
She had presentiment as to his ident-
ity, as may be imagined Hurrying to
her dresslng-roOm, she arrayed herself
in the deepest mourning, after which
she descended toTthe salon opeged the
door, and perceiyingH Lord Fergus, ad-
mnced & few steps toward him He
With great nonchalanee pointed with his
left hand to his right sleeve, which hung
flat and empty at the end. The princess
opened her arms.
But when Lord Fergus sprang forward
in a transport of love easy to imagine,
she recoiled, and with cry of horror hid
her face in her hands.
IT can not"' sobbed she. 1T will ne "
er be able to-"
Then falling upon Sher Knees before
the dismayed lord, she explained to him
with tears that her gratitude toward him
was boundless; that she had passed
days and nights thinking only Of him;
was distracted for being the cause of his
multilation. Since that fatal day She
had suffered the tormenfs Of the Loot