Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-10
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THE YELLED PORTRAIT.

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an old physician, and Of my most esteemed
ancestor, | came across the following singular
story. The manuscript was quite yellow, and
my imagination had often to supply a part of
a sentence; but | will give it as it was origi-
naly written, as nearly as possible.
august l2th, l74S.-Last night l was called
to the death-bed Of one of my first patrons, and
the visit with its strange, closing scene, has
called up host Of recOllectiOns. | can scarce
ly write, my mind is so impressed with won
der and awe. Death, the great rcvealer, has
passed within my sight, and opened strange
history to my view,
Fifteen years ago, just graduated from my
medical studies, | removed to the country |
was an entire stranger i'll the place, but by
my natural trankness of manner | trusted to
gain friends, and by my attentions and skill
hoped to give satisfaction to my patrons.
took a room in the house of widow lady who
had several other boarders. These were most
ly young men like myself and made me a
most cOngenal circle of acquaintance.
had been there six weeks, when one day.
as was going down to the supper table, a
door in the corridor, near the staircase, sud
denly opened, and the landlady beckoned to
me. Wondering what she could wish, turn
ed and entered the chamber.
''Nliss Ross is unwell, tonight, and l have
persuaded her tocall you" said my landlady ;
to a sofa at the end Of the room, on which
lady was reclining, wrapped in a black velvet
shawl. l was much surprised ; for, though
had staid in the house, waiting for business,
ever since my arrival, | was ignorant until
now that the widow had lady boarder.
took chair by her, and, while questioning her
as to her symptoms, scrutinized, with much
curiosity, her personal appearance.
She was a tall, pale woman of about forty,
4. L I I ~
youth, been very beautiful. Though thin and
faded her complexion was of pure marble
wilderness, and her features were fine and reg
ular. Her eyes were black and piercing with
slightly disagreeable expression, so that did
not like to meet them. They indicated pas
sionate temperament, while her full, firm lips,
indicated an equally strong will and ungovern-
able pride. She wore mourning garments, but
they were very rich, and the single ring which
glittered on her hand was a valuable diamond.
The room, too, was elegantly furnished and
the walls were hung with paintings.
discovered that Miss Ross, as my landlady
called her, was threatened with fever, and l
gave her a portion, which l had confidence in
as a speedy relief. / sat a few moments by
her one evening; for her manner of naughty
reserve did not invite to sociabty. As /
turned to leave the room, she called me back.
You will make no mention of this visit,
either in this house or elsewhere" she said, in
a tone less of request than Of command, and
fancied that something like flush rose to her
cheek as she fixed her piercing eyes on me.
Certainly not if such is your wish, p [ re-
piled, and paused a moment half expecting to
hear an explanation Of this unusual request.
" will trust you, DR.. Ware. Come again,
tomorrow" she said and with motion of
her hand she babe me goodnight
This brief visit and the parting Injunction
of my patient strangely haunted my magma
ton; and when l sat down to the table with
my fellow boarders, | longed to ask if any Of
them had seen the mysterious lady But my
promise restrained me though even when |
went to call on sweet Alice Hudson, as was
my custom of an evening, that pale proud
face would fit before my fancy. Alice no
ticed my moodiness, and played her gayest
songs for my amusement; but even with her
! could not wholly forget the strange inhu-
ence.
The next day, l went at the same hour to
visit my patient. l tapped at the door, and
she babe me enter She was sitting up in her
easy-chair the velvet shawl, thrown careless
ly back, revealed a noble form. She motoned
me to a seat beside her.
" Your medicine has cured me-" she said,
slightly smiling. " ! must compliment you as
skiltul for one so young"
"The case was not a severe one" l remark
cd, with little diffidence. "Yet fear, mad
am, you would have had fever to-day, if you
had not taken preventive"
81 feel should" she replied. "And what
/ like in you is that you do not, as some of
your profession do, help on my fever for the
sake of more fees You might have done it.
Why didn't you 2"
I" Miss Ross !" | exclaimed, with a flush of
indignation, "you have a strange opinion Of
physicians"
:" have seen more of the world than YOU"
was her quiet answer " But do not be angry
feel under deep obligations to you"
! rose to go, but she detained me. Sit
awhile with me this evening" she said. "You
have been to tea, have you not!'
'fYes," replied, "an hour ago But Why
was on the point Of asking why had never
seen her at the table, but remembered the
shortness Of my acquaintance, and checked
myself She, however, understood my hesita-
ton.
"You were going to ask why l do not go to
the table, and mingle with the family" she
said 81 am out Of the world. Imingle neither
in its hustle nor pleasure, nor in its customs
They have no charm for me, and have had
none for many years. No one knows me, and
wish to make no friends. You can afford to
be sociable with me for an hour, for | shall not
trouble you again
! asked no more questions, for / perceived
she had told me all she would Of herself; bu, |
obeyed her wish, and was social with her. !
examined her books, of which she had many.
They indicated a highly cultivated taste.
Most of them were German, few in Latin. a
few old English and Spanish authors. Ganc-
ing over the pages, ! observed the initials E..
II. 4 suspicion flashed across my mind that
Ross was an assumed name, and her manner
Of reserve and mystery tended to deepen it.
/ resolved to remember these initials at some
future time they might throw some light on
her history. longed, but dared not question
her of the past.
From her books | turned to her pictures, but
no sooner had ! observed them than my eye
was struck by a large painting in richly gilt
frame, which hung in one corner Of the room
and which was covered by curtain of black
silk. She saw my glance Of surprise and Gu
riosity.
"You would like to see that portrait" she
said. 81 think | can promise you that if you
live longer than do you can see it,"
spent more than an hour with her, anC
then babe her good evening with feeling o
relief 1t was like going out of u haunted
chamber. As ! left the room, she slipped {
gold piece into my hand, for my fee, and agar
thanked me for my services.
lived in that house a year longer but die
not see her face again. She never came to the
table or the parlor where the other boarder
assembled. She never left her room in the
day time Sometimes, when returning from {
night case, in the dim gray of the morning
/ recognized her tall firm in its dark uar