River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-21


ture Was | to send it to her And
wheres must come to some finding
before we part. Meantime, in the first
gray dawn, the train stopped at Berlin,
where we changed carriages. For a
moment / turned to gather together
my small impediments when | re-
sumed my position ! was the sole
| occupant of the compartment. Hoping
TO encounter my sometime companion
in the crowded station, | made haste TO
get out My efforts were in vain.
vas locked In. Presently the guard
came with his key, and let me out.
"There Is triekery here, said ], in my
heat. "a lady turned the handle OF
your locked door easily enough, and
has been my travelling companion since
midnight"
Impossible " and the guard
shrugged his shoulders incredulously.
The key had been in the pocket all the
time. ] shook my head, but there was
no time for parlev, anu without an
other glimpse of the fair incognita i
resumed my journey.
Once more in Dresden, and amidst
the realism of the old familiar life, the
midnight episode Of my journey began
to fade into a trick of feveTed and
over wearied brain. And as | glanced
A-RS the entry in my notebook / re.
tlected how completely disordered
imagination may fool man. At the
same time | resolved some leisure day
to sTace out my dream on canvas, but
absorbed in. immediate study i then
postponed my intention. Weeks rolled
on, and | went TO Berlin to look up a
college chum who was temporarily To-
Gated in that city When | got 10 his
quarters, Inter den Linden, l found
that some weeks previously he had
been hastily recalled 90 England, and
another Englishman reigned in his
stead. As | turned from the door,
chagrlned, | encountered the tenant OF
Locksley's rooms, evidently returning
from STROLL
A fine old man of the genuine type
of courtly English gentlemen, now
rare to be mot Sc politely Dcosted
me, and nra few words I told him of
my disappointment. "Do confer a
kindness on me- he said, "and stop
and dine. | am quite alone, and it is
pleasant to hear ones mother tongue
IN this land OF strangers. 81
We exchanged cards, and / accepted
his invitation as cordially as it was of
fered. BY degrees we fell into the most
amicable relations with one another
and presently he told me with tears in
his eyes that within the last few weeks
he had been bereft of a wife and
daughter all he had of best aud love
hest, and was quite alone. -Er
Then strove to turn his sad
thoughts into another channel, and by
and by we fell into art talk
could you. Mr.. Stanley" said my
host, paint portrait from minute
verbal description feared not, but
would try. On what mot at the
other end of the room | found paper
and colors, and | brought my materials
to the table where we sat over our
wine. "Now, Mr. st. John, describe
aud viii draw. In a hushed voice
he minutely detailed the items of a
face. made my sketch. No, it was
rejected as unlike Another-alike un-
successful. A verbal description failed
to give my pencil the power of catching
the expression of the dear familiar face.
. They tell me- said the old man,
IN low moody tone, as if he uncOn-
sciously thought aloud, they tell me
that al last she bore the mark of a
cruel blow GU her cheek. She, my
tender, one eve lamb, that | was fam
to shelter In my bosom from every
wind that blew
Overwhelmed by bitter tide of
recollection, the old man covered his
face with his hands and sank into
silence. these few anguished words,
dropping like blood from wounded
heart, at once recalled the face of the
unknown travelling companion of my
midnight Journey. Once more | saw
before me the pale, perfect face, with
sOrrowful eyes and livid mark on the
left cheek AT last fulfilled my neg
lected promise, and taking my pencil
| rapidly sketched her portrait from
memory. Silently | placed my work
before Mr.. st. John. lit is she Ii
is Emmir- my darling, my darling,
my darlingln he cried, and again and
again he kissed the senseless paper on
which was traced the lineaments of one
who was very dear. You have seen
her, then, for no such powerful likeness
could otherwise be produced. You
have caught the very trick OF the half
dropped eyelids,"
Yes" said, slowly, :" | have seen
her. Aud what is more, on the Doth
night OF January .last, ] promised, at
her request, to take her portrait from
memory" Good God il is impos-
siblc. On the 10th night of January
she died. | felt like man in q
dream. With slight shiver | recall
ed the pallpr, the chill, the Wilderness
Of the face of my travelling companion.
Was this faithful sketch the vivid re.
membrance OF u dead face | took
out my notebook and showed Mr.. st.
John the entry promised to paint
the portrait OF a lady from memory,
this 10Th night of January, is" A
deep silence bropdcd over us. As soon
as possible 7 made my adieu. ! re-
turned 20 Dresden. and, once more
in my studio, | FASTENED to
pant a full length portrait of the
mysterious presence that haunted me
day and night should get rid Of il
l., tbat 49,, Al iha rapil ral., \ Vfarl