Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-14
THE EVENING STAR.
THE STORY OF THE EYES.
A Dead Wsnanss Picture.

THE STORY OF THE EYES. -
Dead Wsmanss Picture.
All that is here written happened N sny years,
ago, bat still remember every incident Of the
scene as though 1t had occurred but yesterday.
frcm death q poor, wretched, and desneratee
woman, who, sick OF life, and 10 king strength
any longer to battle with its missries, ad Wild
parapef OF the bridge above down into the muir
black and client
Another woman passing at the time had seen
the mad act OF this outcast and her piercing
shrH +, aud the loud splash In the waters below,
apprised me OF tho nature Of the occurrence,
although had not seen the deed committed:
body had fallen, plunged into the river aud
swan out TO the spot, happily in time to save
her.
the deserted quays Of the Thames bank, close
to the foot Of the bridge. often wandered
about alone, and usually choose lonely and
deserted srots, such as these. It is my fancy,
and indulge it without fear Of opposition, for
] am q friendless bachelor, and there wa NO
one In The wide world likely TO trouble their
heads about my conings and goings, until 60
women at my chamber dght and scramble over
the contents Of my lockers.
Upon this particular night, CHANGING to be at
hand when she made the rash attempt, was
able to save this woman's life, an act for which,
with her first returning breath, she cursed me
heartily, and was able to make the acouain.
anee OF the strange being who is the hero Of
this strange story.
see nothing much to admire In my conSiuc.
upon the occasion. did, it appears to me,
only what any other man, who was not q heart-
hess brute, and who happened to be q good
swimmer, would have done under like clrcum.
stances: bnt the person of whom speak was
50 prolnse In ms praises, and hung about and
fomplimented me go persaveringly, that I
thought he wanted to pick my pockets. There
was something odd, too, in his manners. He
was well dressed, but he wore his hair long,
and looked wild. thought he was either
cracked or tpsy. When had helped to carry
the half-drcwned woman to the nearest public
house, and was standing warming myself be-
lord had lent me, the stranger and got into
conversation.
"That wouldn't make q bad picture" said 1,
pointing out the group clustered around the
table, on which the woman was lying wrapped
mp in blankets, with the yellow light upon
their terrified faces.
The stranger had been acting as the Doctors
assistant, ana wns, with myself, one OF the
privileged few allowed TO be in the room.
care yeu an artist" he asked suddenly
Yes; . bit Of one should be, if could live
"Do you take portraitsi"
"That is my line"
"Then will you,'' he inquired, with appear
you take one for me ="
flake yours % said /.
mo, not mine," he replied, in some confu-
You charger
"That depends upon the nature Of the work.
"Eo; that would be too long process. You
would require more than one sitting"
Eyes. ought tohave several to do it we'll"
THAT would not do, then. lwonld rather
have q slight sketch. Could you do it in chalk
or erayons - he inquired.
SYes."
AT one sittingl'
al will try"
I'VE will conclude q bargain, then. What
are your terms! Win five guineas be sufh-
"Then will give ten willingly, if you viii
agree TO do what desire"
~ WIN take the lady's portrait, if that is
ayes, bnt you do not know all. You are
man Of nerve. i know that well enough from
what have seen you do tonight, / will tell
you then at once-she Is dead %
was somewhat startled by this announce.
ment. suppose, though, that did not look
much terrified, because he squeezed my hand
.se s son S Wii do it. Do you promse
was so hard up at the time that would
willingly have done what he required for
tenth part OF the amount.
"When shall do it % asked snow ~
mo; must make some preparations first.
! will provide the materials. Besides, you
cannot see her Tonight"
.To-morrow morning, thenp'
nNo; it must be at night when it is DONE"
Every well; give me your address, and
mo, no. You cannot call, and can give
you NO address. 1 must call on you and fetch
you. 1or don't know where she will ber'
"Whatn' / exclaimed involuntary. "You
know where she is now, don't you p
Eyes; but you cannot see her there"
when shall see you, then p asked,
when had given him my address.
..In three days time"
but" said t, doubtingly, "won't she-won't
you..when is she going to be buried ="
1.-THE day after tomorrow"
"Eut you said in three days
aYes. You must paint her after that-after
she has been in her grave"
WHO THE WOMAN WAS.
must own that the three days passed in
some excitement, feyerishly wishing for the
time to come, and wondering over and over
again whether the strange man would really
keep his word and call upon me.
Upon the night he had appointed, sat wait
ing for him In my solitary room In Lyons inn,
and when heard neighboriug clock strike
three quarters past nine, had quite given him
up. although the time he had fixed had not vet
arrived.
think the matter over, that my friend was un.
doubtedly q mailman; that he had been raving
at the time, and the deceased lady was bat q
freak OF his disordered brain.
He had given me neither name nor address
as a security for his Temperance, and the
more thought of the affair, the more unlikely
did it appear to me thatI should ever clap eyes
on him again.
The most improbable part Of the business was,
that she should have to be buried and taken
out Of the grave again before I could see her.
This happened in the days Of body -snatching,
and if he had desired to rob q grave, or required
help. it was very easy procurable. knew that
well enough. But then why should he wish to
do sol Why need the woman be buried be-
fore he could show her to me! Who was she
What was she 10 him
For the life of me / could not solve the mys.
terry, and while I was puZzling my head for the
fftieth time upon the same subject, the clock
struck ten. simultaneously with the last
stroke, q single blow fell suddenly upon my
door.
sprang from my seat and ran forward to
admit my visitor.
He wore kind Of cloak or cape, and large
wrapper round his neck, rs though he would
have concealed his face to some extent What
] saw Of it was very pale. He talked rational
~ enough, and his eyes did not look at all wild.
Once j fancied caught glimpse OF something
shining la his breast pocket, which took TO DO
a dagger knife.
hardly liked the job, butI was hard mp.
Are you ready % he asked.
Eyes"
aCome, then"
We descended the stairs without further con-
yersation, crossed the court yard, and got into