Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-11-23
q Selrttsa Shiny.
A MYSTERIOUS SKETCH.

Nearly opposite the church OF st. Sebald
in Nuremberg, stands an ancient inn, mar
row and lofty, with an indeDted gable, small
dusty easements, and the roof surmounted
by plaster image of the Virgin. Many
years ago, when beginning the world as
young artist, took up my abode in this
quaint hosselry. Ihsd come to Nuremberg
in order to study the works of the old mas
tsrs; hut, my funds running short, 1 was
obliged to take portraits-aud such por-
traits! Stout old ladies', each with her cat
on her lap !; rosy burgomasters, wigged and
cooked hated, all pleutifully and partially
illuminated with ochre and vermillion.
At length this resource began to fail ; and
mine host, who at first had been all civility,
began to importune me in somewhat inso'
lent manner for the amount of my bin
One evening as was passing up stairs to
my attic, Master Rapp called after me I:
"Hallo youngster, when are you going to
paw me2 Your bill now amounts to one
hundred and sixty forms, ten kreutzers.-
Pray, when am likely to see the color of
your money p
muttered some sort of indistinct reply,
and fastening to my room, looked the door,
and threw myself, dressed as I was, on my
bed. Revolving my miserable position in
my mind, all the genuine feeling for art, all
the high aspirations after excellence which
had hitherto buoyed me up, seemed to for.
sake NE, and sordid, hungry craving for
money took their place. At length my
eyes grew heavy, and my thoughts confused
and 1 slept profoundly for some hours
About two o'clock I awoke in strange sort
of excitement. Having lighted my candle
I>seized piece of paper and crayon, and
drew a rapid sketch, in the Dutch style,
feeling all the time as if the composition
was not mine, but as if each stroke was
suggested by some one, who merely. used
my hand and pencil ss unconscious and un'
resisting instruments. The sketch thus
traced represented gloomy court, surround
ed by lofty but crumbling walls, which were
furnished with large hooks at the height Of
seven or eight feet from the ground. On
the left was trellis of laths, through which
one saw an OK cut in quarters, suspended
by strong pulleys from the roof of shed,
streams of blood flowed across the pavement
and met in trench filled with refuse and
rubbish At one end of the court was cart
house, through the open door of which were
seen pile of wood, and some bundles of
straw. Pieces of ragged rope, an old hen.
coop, and broken rabbit-hutch Uttered the
foreground. On the right, one corner of
the sketch remaining blank, Ibesitated what
to put there; something seemed to move, to
hover around it. Suddenly foot turned
up, and detached from the ground appeared
to my minds eye. Following the inspira'
ton, I sketched on rapidly, and beneath my
crayon grew leg joined to the foot, then a
floating garment, at length the entire figure
of an old woman, pale, emaciated, with dis
heyelled hair, thrown down against the low
parapet of we'll, and struggling against
hand which clutched her throat.
was draSipg the scene of a murder; the
crayop fell from my hand, Ishuddered as
looked at the woman's face, contracted BY
terror, while both her hands convulsively
grasped the arm of her murderer. But h''
face, saw it not, it was hidden from me
as if by some yelling shadow could moi
finish the sketch
81 am fatigued," said, passing my hand
over my damp forehead; "to-morrow l will
finish the design there remains but that
one figure to put in."
Hastily undressing, l went to bed, and
before FIVE minutes elapsed l was sunk in s
.nrofound slumber When 1 awoke it wa
broad dsylight. l fastened to dress, ane
rss preparing to resume my task, when
heard two knocks at the door
uCome in ~
The door opened, and tall old man
dressed in black, stood at the threshold.
aHerr Heinrich Kapf, the painter I
said be.
CAT your service, sir."
He bowed his head, and said, introducln
himself; Baron Frederick Won Sprechdahi.
That the rich amateur Von SpreehdahI
who was also judge of the Criminal Trlbu
rIS ...JasoaD1 IN p;oif mn noor attic