Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-16

more WOnueTlul tIldiI t'iht "HiIh uu"i'o We
through the ivory portal of dreams. There
are moments when peculiar retroverslve
vision is gwen to the soul when, amid
scenes which have never before met the
bodily eye, sudden consciousness of a
preexistence in which they were once faml-
lar comes over the spirit. Who has not ex-
perienced that instant insensibilily to mere
outward Impressions, while the soul was
looking back through the vista of memory
and beholdng there precisely the same OBJ
iects which were valnly addressing them
selves to the external senses! Who has
not paused in painful wonder at the discove-
nv that the material things which surrounded
him were but the tangible forms of some
sl,adowy Renaissance d? Who has not felt,
at some especial moment, that the present
was to him but renewal Of by-gone
scene, and that his mind was wandering in "A
vague past, where all was dim, dark and
lroublous to the spirit?
The speculations into which my subject
has unconsciously led me remind me Of a
singular instance Of hallucinalion, or per-
haps OF clairvoyance-according as one
chooses to determine-in the case of a per-
sonal friend, which occurred some years
since.
Mrs. l. was one of the most quiet,
gentle, womanlv creatures that have ever
known. Intelligent and well informed,
without being positively Intellectual in her
tastes, her varied accomplishments gave her
brlliancy in society, while her kindiness of
heart made her decided lavorite with all
who came near enough to share it. With
Just enough Imagination to adorn, but not
to outshine her other qualities, with suf-
ficent sentiment to give depth Of tone to
the lights and shades of her character, and
destitute of single strongly developed pas
sion, she alwas appeared to me peculiarly
happy in the possession of one of those
unexcitable tempers which ever secure con-
tent.
She was pensive more than melancholy,
And serious more Than pcnsve, and serene,
Ii may be, more than e!ther;'
and had | been called to designate one who
looked neither into the vague past or the
dim future, but found EMO, ment in the tram
quill present, should have pointed to my
pretty and agreeable friend.
An incident, trifling in itself, bat leading
to singular deveopement Of character.
showed me the folly of thus judging of an
others nature, especially when we have new
err been admitted to the intimacy Of friend
ship until after the door of the inner sanctu-
ary of the soul was closed against earthly
sympathies.
1t happened one morning that | accom-
panied Mrs. L. to the rooms of Gel
ebrated picture-dealer whom she wished to
consult respecting the framing of valuable
painting she had recently received from TIA
ly. The virtuoso was absent, but learning
that he was expected to be at home in "a
short time, we determined TO wait and in
the meantime to amuse ourselves with the
various articles of taste and fancy with
which his apartments were filled. | had
been for some time leaning over "a scaglola
table, absorbed in the study Of some eXquis-
lite canoes, when an exclamation from my
companion, who had been occupied with the
pictures, aroused me from my abstraction.
As looked up beheld her standing oppo-
site painting, but her close bonnet entirely
concealed her face from me, and CONJECTURE
ing that she bad discovered something of su-
pcrior merit stepped up behind her to OBJ
serve it also.
1t was only a portrait Of man in the
prime Of life; an old portrait, for the sur
face was in some places cracked and broken
while the unframed canvass showed on It's
edges the dscolorat;on as well as the rents
of time. But never did see face to which
the doubly significant word fascinating
could be so exactly applied. The broad
high forehead was bare, while the long ches-
nut curls which fell back from its expanse
were so melowed into the background OF
the picture that the outline of the head was
underlined and the charm of vagueness was
thus given; as if the face was looking out
from behind curtain, or rather from the in
distinct gloom of IA chamber. The eyes
were large, dark and dreamy, with that sad
but not sorrowful dropping of the delicaley
cut lids, that downward bend of the oute
corner, which ever denotes the world-satec
rather than the wounded spirit. But III,
mouth was the most peculiar feature, for the
upper lip was cured like bow At its utmos
tension, and rested with so slight pressure
upon the full softness of its fellow that on,
| dIHoSt tSptCltu 10 STE u tNDdHu Win SHllle
at the beholder's gaze. The rounded ant
beardless cheek was almost too massive il
I its downward sweep, and the chin, thougl
Napoleonesque in its outline, had that heavi
ness of finish which marks the influence o
the animal nature but the coloring of III,
facets pale, clear, yet not eflemnaIe hue
the dark, well defined brows arching owe
those superb eyes-the shadow flung upoI
the cheek by those fringed eyelids-lh
deep, rich color of the womanish mouth
tire softness Of the sh-tinls-and, allow
all the almost serpent-lke fascination of ex
preston which pervaded the whole counte
nance, all combined TO form most remark
able and beautiful physognomy. The cos
tune was that of the time of George IL
and diamond star on the breast of tn
gold-embroidered coat bore witness to III
rank of him whose pictured semblance wa
without name to designate its claims to ou
respect. Beautiful was that face in its cal.
immobility-how gloriously beautiful mu,
have been the Hastings Of the soul throug
such exquisite features, when that eye wa
lighted up with life and that lip was eloquer