The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-11-22
THE INVISIBLE HAND.

THE INVISIBLE HAND.
1t is now about seven years ago since
the announcement appeared in local
paper that Shufton villa, most desira-
BILE, excelenlly ventilated, and adyan-
tageously situated residence, was to be
let 1 had long been in search of suit
able house for myself and my family.
The preliminaries were arranged, and
in due time we were Installed in our ne W
home.
After about a weeks sojourn, however,
we learned for the first time since taking
our new residence that it bore the repu.
tation OF being haunted.
former proprietor--so ran the story
among the ignorant yillagers-had sur
prised his daughter one evening inditing
loving epistle to the son of his enemy;
had seized it over her shoulder, and, al
ter reading it, had compelled her TO
write another, appointing II meeting in
that room that very night. Providing
himself with u pistol the enraged father
himself met the young lover, and, after
bestowing upon him many hot words.
presented loaded revolver at the young
mans breast. This probably was done
only to intimidate the hero, but at that
very moment the door was flung open by
his daughter, who, taking in the terrible
situation at a glance, cast herself upon
the form of her lover
This seems to have turned the fathers
wavering purpose into fixed determin-
alton AT any rate, whether from acci-
dent or design, the pistol went off, and
before the wretched mans gaze the next
moment were the dying forms of his
daughter and his enemy's son. Casting
himself wildly before them in passionate
grief, the terror-stricken father besought
forgiveness. 1t was too late. No word
escaped their cold lips, aud ere be could
summon assistance he felt upon his brow
tho brand of Cain.
That night the master OF the house
disappeared, and some fishermen, row.
ing on the river the following morning,
discovered the body floating down with
the tide.
1 was sitting, at Ii 80 one night in the
latter part Of February, in the very room
in which the terrible deed was said to
have been enacted.
My Wr'ing-a philosophical treatise
that was preparing for quarterly re-
view-was spread out on the table before
NE, and had leaned back upon my
chair in futile endeavor to get again
into train of thought, my eyes mean
time being belt listlessly upon the pa
per. 1t was while gazing thus that. TO
my utter astonishment, 1 behel6 the
sheets slowly rise from the table and
move forward in the direction of my
shoulder rs if drawn there from behind
me by some invisible hand.
BY great effort of will pushed back
the chair aud rose from my seat, and the
paper as l did So fell silently upon the
table, drew my handkerchief from
my pocket and wiped my forehead and
to where the lamp burned to turn il up.
As did so my gaze dropped to the chair
| had just quilted, and behind it l saw,
with the utmost viyidness, the outline OF
human form.
The features, as looked, became
plainly visible and were those of the
picture on the wall. Transfixed to the
spot, my hand resting upon the lamp,
unable, to move it up, watched the
countenadce Of the figure and saw that
1t was convulsed with rage and surprise
For moment l thought fearful gaze
was fixed on me, when its hand slowly
rose and was shaken furiously at some
invisible Object, apparently in the seat l
had left. The expression next changed |
to one Of intense malice and anticipated |
revenge, and the forefnger pointed to
the paper on the table.
Suddenly. a frightful change passed |
over the distorted features, aud beheld |
written upon them as if it had been
stamped in legible letters the word |
"Mnrder." The figure wrung its hands
with a look of unspeakable agony, and |
to my horror was stealthily turning its
eyes full upon me. when the lamp, which
up to now had been burning low, sud
denly went out and left me in total
darkness.
In less than week our excellently |
situated and enyiabls residence had lost |
its tenants, and we were numbered |
among the pHnic.stricken occupiers of |
the past. Many times after our depar-
ture read that Shufton villa was to be .
let. Bat the last time the announce
ment was varied. Through the medium
of the same local paper, paragraph in
formed me that ShuCton villa was to be
pulled down and church erected on the .
site out of the bounty of lately de- |
ceased lord of the manor
"
nuNnIlTn mOO UHI1IVT