The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1870-12-19
Van Dyck's Madonna; Or the
Sleep-Walker.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL STORY.

THE following is not only very
good story, but it has basis of scien-
tifc truth, and may be made text for
any amount Of speculation upon the
mysterious operations OF the mind dur
ing the sleep of the body. 1t tsuggests
questions which it would take volumes
to answer in a satisfactory manner.
In one Of the splenddly deco
rated saloons of St. James was
assembled a group Of young and
lovely girls, whose delicate fin
gers were busily employed III diff
terent kinds OF ornamental needle
work which under their skilful ar
rangement, formed bouquets which
rivaled nature in the brill ,ncy of
their colors and accuracy of shades.
They were the Queens maids of
honor, and between their gay chat
tering and busy fingers employed
the time while waiting for her
rising. The only grave person
in the assembly was the Dowager
Duchess d'Alby, the chief of the
ladies of honor.
Among the blooming group, the
youngest was remarkable for the
simplicity Of dress and the quiet
modesty Of her whole appearance.
Her attire was a dress of black vel
vet, closed to the throat, but of.
which the skirt, open in front,
disclosed an under-dress of white
satin; the sleeves came just below
the elbow, and coquettishly dis.
closed an arm and hand of the
most dazzling whiteness. Aplaited
tucker encircled her graceiulneck,
on which hung chain, to which
was attached a large cross, and
luxuriant hair, simply parted on
the forehead, and confined behind
by lace scarf, completed her cos
tune. This was the daughter of
one Of the most illustrious families
|'of Scotland: her father, Lord
Ruthven, united to princely for
tune a pedigree OF which he was
more proud than Of mis- wealth.
Lucy, his daughter, had secretly
arrived at the English Court, on
her appointment to post in the
Queen Observation-Disclosures TO com
plete the education which had
been carefully guided by her father.
Retired and SIMPLE in her tastes,
her mind instinctively sought the
sublime in the works of nature and
art. She excelled in painting, and
her genius had created a world Of
her own, in the daily contempla-
tons of the production Of the best
masters, which adorned the gal
leries of her father. Paul Veronese,
Guido, RubenS were of the num-
Der Other friends, and she vowed
them eternal gratitude, for the
light their talents had shed on her
solitude.
The habits and manners Of Lucy
contrasted strongly with those of
her companions, who had been
hahituated to more independence
and liberty. Gentle and timid to
excess, she scarcely attempted to
answer the sportive and often
misohievous sallies Of her COM
panions. The large clock in the
saloon chimed the hour of ten; All
eyes were directed To it, and sew
eral voices exclaimed, "He's very
late ~ just as a domestic announced
the painter, Van Dyck. The an
nouncement caused a general agi-
tation among the smiling group.
Each one changed her position ON
her velvet seat, rearrangcd her
dress, and, composing her counte-
nance, sought to give additional
grace to her aspect. The young
pupil Of Rubens, albeit accustomed
to tho sight of beauty, could not
suppress a murmur of admiration
at finding himself in the midst of
this brilliant circle.
The old Duchess, supposing the
young painters embarrassment to