Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-07-14
The Curse Of the N0rs-
lands.
DY LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER IL ContInued)

sic bettcr than you 40. tolu you Ono
girl would say you nay!"
$50 you did, uncle" admitted Vance
with keen interest. "What can have
given YOU such clear insight into the
situation?"
"Simplv due attention to its facts, " re-
piled the uncle. "To begin with, was
not Jessie sunny, light-heartod girl
when you first met her, on the occasion
Of being called to treat her mothers
sprained ancle?"
"Yes, she was, uncle?"
"And since then the more she has
learned to think of you the more she has
grown prcOccuped and unhappy"
al must admit it," replied Vance.
"She has a secret, then, which renders
her averse to marriage! Does she love
you?" -,
BETTER than she loves her own life,
uncle.n replied Vance, with q lovers
ardor. "About this there can be no
Doubt"
"And yet she rejects you!"
THAT'S because of some secret, as you
have already hintcd."
"Do you propose to give her up, Vance,"
Just about as much as l propose to
give up living, uncle"
"Or lust about as much you would de-
sert patient who dismissed you in a
moment of raging dclirium?"
Exactly"
NJ. Wyevilie uttered an ejaculation
of the livelest contcntment.
al am glad to see you so sensible" he
suid. "The trouble with that girl, as
with her mother-I have been studying
them both-is that they are almost In
sanely morbid over some personal blem-
ish or dcformity, and this feeling has
been aggravated by the solitary lives
they've been living. They see nobody
and return no visits. In word, they
are in a most unhealthy and unnatural
state of mind, as the result OF some
chronic atfliction of the body, and the
business we now have in hand is to lind
out what alls them and apply the neces-
sary remedy. Are you their doctor,
Vance,"
"No. uncle. They have never said the
least word to me professionally outside
of that sprained ankle which first intro
duced me to them nearly a year ago."
"They've never even demanded the
usual tonics and powders of the interest
ing invalid?"
"Nothing of the sort, uncle"
"Nor any plasters or ointments?"
"No, uncle"
Vance mused minute or two, with a
thoroughly puzzled air, and then ADDED;
"Thev simply seem TO be worrying
themselves to death over some mysterl-
Gus fear or apprehension-heaven knows
what"
(Which fear or apprehension has been
intensified by your appearance on the
scene as a suitof for the girls hand?"
THAT'S about the situation, uncle, az
unfattering as 1t is for this deponent
"Let's comprehend just where We
stand, therefore. To begin with, the
girl has q secret?"
"Evidently - something awful. Bu
what is it, uncle? What can it be?"
81 think can tell you. You asked the
girl for her hand in marriage?"
ayes, uncle"
"Wel, she refused you because she ha'
no hand to give"
"No-no hand?" stammered Vance, be
wildered
THAT'S what's the trouble!" affirmed
Mr.. Wveville, with an air OF intens'
conviction. The poor girl refused yo'
for the simple reason that she has NJ
hand to give you'll Both mother an'
daughter were born without hands,"
Vance Wyeville started as II shot a
this enunciation of his uncle's.
"And you never even thought OF TINS
you medicus?" pursued Mr.. Wyevllle
"Never, my dear uncle"
"And have never so much as suspecte
ANYTHING of this kind?"
@Neyeri" returned Vance, with pre-
found preoccupation. "HOw-how wa
It possible for any such suspicion to occu
to me? | have never noticed, during a.
nv acquaintance with these ladies, tina
there is anything the matter with tnel
hands. To the contrary, l have see
them engaged in all sorts of femlnln
work. such as sewing and wedding now
ers. not to speak of rowing, writing, far
ming themselves, and almost any othe
use of hands you may De pleased 70 sus
gest or mention"
"All of which has its value, / admit,
commented Mr.. Wyeville, "but all whlc
is entirely inconclusive. Permit me
ask if YOU have never been struck Q
the persistency with which both MIR
Moreland and Jessie wear Gloves"
"Certainly, as who hasn't?"
DWELL what explanation have yo
given yourself in this matter?"
"To be candid, uncle" replied tt
Young physician, 81 have never given
great deal of thought to the pecullarll
in question. l happen to have lac
notio,t at this very moment who h;
worn cloves ever since l knew her, a
though she cuts off the fingers at II
last Joint. The trouble with this lady
simple erysipelaS, which leaves n
hands red and rough, scaly, even, and q
fes thus far all my attempts to eradica
It,"
"Well, Vance"
"WelI. uncle, concluded, at an ear
stage of my acquaintance with jessie al
Mrs. Moreland, that they had some SIN
lar afliction. and I had too much pr
fessional pride to be the first to refer
IT,"
@And so it has been left to me to gl
Won the solution of the enigma" e
claimed Mr.. Wyeville. "You must ce
tainlv be aware, as medical man, IN
many persons have been born into III
world without hands?"
~ have read of such cases" repli'
Vance, although never saw one"
"Then have the advantage Of you
this respect," pursued Mr. WyeyilI