Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-16
THE MYSTERIOUS HAND.

Do not think for a moment that could
ever have seen anything super-human
in the occurrence. do not believe in
any but normal causes. If, however,
instead of using the word "supernatu-
raj" to express what we do not under
stand, we should use "ineXplcable, it
would be much more exact. In the al
fair am about to relate it was, above
all, the preceding and attending cir
cumstances that impressed me. L Will
give you the facts.
| was examining magistrate at the
time at Ajaccio, little white city lying
on the edge of beautiful bay which is
surrounded on all sides by high noun
tains. The cases with which had
chiefly to do were those of vendetta.
had some fierce, heroic instances, the
most superbly dramatic possible. Among
those people were found the most glo-
rious causes for revenge that men could
dream of; secular hatreds, appeased for
a moment, but never extinguished,
traitorous ruses, assassinations, devel-
oped into massacres, and almost glorious
in their horror. For two years L had
heard of nothing but the price OF blood,
that terrible Corsican prejudice which
binds man to avenge every injury on
the person who wrought It, his descend
ants and kinsmen. / have seen old men
murdered and children, and my head
was full of such stories.
learned one day that an Englishman
had just leased for lumber of years a
little villa at the foot of the bay. He
had brought with him French body
servant, engaged at MarseilleS as lie
passed. Everybody was soon busy with
this strange parsonage, who lived alone,
and left his dwelling only to hunt or
fish. He spoke to nobody, never came
to the city, and every morning prac-
ticed shooting for an hour or two with
his pistol or rifle.
There were many stories about him.
One man held that he was of princely
rank, and had fled his country for polit-
ical reasons; another affirmed that he
was lying in concealment after having
committed fearful crime, and even re-
lated particulars OF an especially horri-
BILE nature.
I wished, in my capacity of examin-
ing magistrate, to obtain some definite
information in regard TO this man but
| could learn nothing. He gave his
name as Sir John Rowell. took satis-
faction in watching him near at band,
but no one could point out to me any
thing really suspicious about him.
Since, however, the rumors concern
ing him continued, increased, and be-
came more general, resolved to make
an attempt to see the stranger myself,
and l began to hunt regularly in the
1eighborhood of his estate.
waited long for my opportunity. 1t
came finally in the shape of partridge
which shot and killed in the English
mans face. Ny dog brought it to me,
but taking the game in my hand L went
to excuse my lack of good manners and
beg Sir JOAN Rowell to accept the bird.
He was a large man, with red hair
and beard, very tall and robust, sort
of placid and polished Hercules. He
had nothing of the so-called British
stiffness, and thanked me cordially,
speaking with strong English accent,
for my scrupulousness. At the end of a
month we had talked five or six times
together.
One evening as l was passing his door
/ saw him in his garden smoking his
pipe, astride of chair. saluted him,
and he invited me in to take glass Of
beer with him. did not wait to be
| asked twice.