Smyrna times., 1862-02-27

served the artist.
What young friend % inquired the lord OF
the man.
"The young lady who dined here last night
returned Mr.. Fl.
" can't imagine to what you reter." replied
the gentleman, very greatly surprised
" Did not a young lady dine and spend the
evening here yesterday !" persisted Mr.. FL,
who in his turn, was beginning to wonder.
No." replied his host; " most certainly not.
There was no one at the table, but yourself,
my lady, and -
Ihs subject was never reverted to after this
occasion, yet our artist could not bring him
self to believe that he was laboring under de-
lusion.
If the whole were dream, it was dream
IN two parts. As surely as the young lady had
been his companion in that railway carriage,
go surely she had sat beside him at the dinner
table. Yet she did not come again; aud every.
body in the house, except himself, appeared 10
be Ignorant other existence.
He finished the portrait on which he was en-.
gagged, and returned to London.
For two whole years he followed up his pro-
teSsIon; growieg in reputation, and working
hard. Yet he never all the while forgot
single lIneament in the fair young traveller.
tie had no clue by which to discover where she
thought of her, but spoke To no one about her
There was mystery about the matter which
imposed silence on hint was Wild strange,
utterly unaccouniabe
Mr.. y. was called by business to Canterbury.
An old trend of his, whom will call Wyde,
resided there. H., being anxious to see him,
and having only few hours at his disposal
wrote as soon a he reached the hotel, becriuc
Mr. Wylde to call upon him there.
| AT the time appointed the door of his room
| opened, and Mr. Wylde was announced. lie
was complete stranger TO the artist, and the
meeting between the two was a little awkward
1t appeared, on explanation, thet MIR. HIS
friend had et. Canterbury some time, that the
gentlemln now face to face with the artist was
another Wyde; that the note intended for the
absentee had been given to him; aud that he
had ebeyed the summons, supposing some busl.
ness matter 10 be the cause of it.
The first coldness and surprise dispeled, the
two gentlemen entered into a more friendly
conversation, for Mr.. ii. had mentioned his
name and 1t was not strange one to his visi-
tor. When they had conversed a lltlle while
Wylde asked Mr.. H. whether he had ever
painted, or could undertake to paint portrait
from mere description.
Mr. H. replied never.
T.
Wylde, "because, about two years ago, lost
dear daughter. She was my only child, and
loved her very dearly. Her loss was heavy
aitilcti0n to me, and my regrets are the deeper
that have no likeness of her. You ire ma n
OF unusual genius. If you could pain me q
portrait OF my child | should be very grateful
10 you"
Mr.. Wylde then described the features and
appearance of his daughter, and the color OF
her eyes and hair, and tried to give an idea OF
the expression of her face. Mr.. II. listened
a tent'vely. and feeling great sympathy with
his grief and made a sketch. He had nc
thought of it being like her, but hoped the be-
reaved father might think SO.
But the father shook his head on seeing the
sketch, and said:
"No, 1t is not at all alike
Again the artist tried, aud again he failed
The features were pretty WELL but the expires
sion was not there and the father turned away
from it, thanking Mr.. II. for his kind endeavors
but quite hopeless of any successful result
Suddenly thought struck the painter; he tool
another sheet OF paper, made a apd and Wig
orous sketch, and handed it TO his compa Aion
Instantly bright look of recognition aud plea
sure lighted up the fathers face, and he ex
J claimed:
"That is her You must have seen tha
child or you never could have made so perfec
liGeness -
when did you daughter die I" inquired th
7 painter, with agitation.
About two years ago-on the 18th of Sep
tember. She died in the afternoon, after few
days Illness
MIR. II. pondered, but said nothing. Th
: image Of that fair young face was engraved o.
his memory as with diamond point, and he
strangely prophetic words were now fulfilled
} A few weeks after, having mpleted beau
tifu full length portrait of The youag lady, h
sentit to her father, and the likeness was dc
: clared by all who had ever seen her 10 be pei
8 feet