Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-16

silence. These few anguished words,
dropping like blood from a wounded
heart, at once recalled the face of the
unknown travelling companion of my
midnight journey. Once more I saw
before me the pale, perfect face, with
sorrowful eyes and livid mark on the
left cheek. At last I fulfilled my neg
lected promise, and taking my pencil
I rapidly sketched her portrait from
memory: Silently I placed my work
before Mr.. st. John. s'It is she I It
is Emmie-my darling. my darling,
my darling!"h 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
drooped eyelids."
eyes, I said, slowly, /" have seen
ber. And what is more, on the Goth
night of January last, I promised, at
her request to take her portrait from
memory" "Good God it is impos-
sible. On the 10th night of January
she died." I felt like q man in, q
dream. With a slight shiver I recall
ed the pallor, the chill, the whiteness
of the face Of my travelling companion.
Was this faithful sketch the vivid re-
membrance of q dead facet I took
out my notebook and showed Mr.. St.
John the entry-':Promised to paint
the portrait OF lady from memory,
this Goth night of January, 18-." a
deep silence brooded over us. As soon
as possible I made my adieu. I re-
turned to Dresden, and, once more
in my studio, hastened to
pant q full length portrait of the
mysterious presence that haunted me
day and night. Ishould get rid of it
in that way. AT the rapid rate I work.
ed, the picture was soon completed.
/ threw all the cunning Of hand and
brain into the task, and my knowledge
of art told. me my labor had not been
in vain. In each detail I painted the
picture as I had last seen my mysteri-
otls sitter, save that, in this portrait,
no unlovely scar .marled the delicate
oval of the cheek. Anxious to see it
placed in Mr.. st. Johns possession, I
had it carefully packed, and / myself
took it. TO Berlin. I was fortunate to
find the old man at home, and as beg
ged his acceptance Of the work of my
pencil, his cordial satisfaction mere
than repaid me for the toll of the last
few weeks.
II think il is dne to You, Mr.. Stan.
ley," he said; "that you should know
something of the history of the lady
whose portrait you have so admirably
painted, and under circumstances 60
peculiar. It cost him IN evident effort
to say these words, and / begged him
him to spare himself q recital that !
felt must be painful, but he persisted
in giving me the following rapid.life
sketch:
Emmie was our only child, and the
fondest love of our hearts trained
about her. During an autumn's wan.
dering on the continent we met Baron
WOlstein-gay, yonng, handsome, and
knowing we'll how best to vile away 6
woman's heart he won our Emmie's
love. Aud we who loved her better
than we loved ourselves, gave her up
although we knew that in the very act
we tore down our lite's joy with ou1
own hands. Well, her lover was o.
good birth, rich, of excellent reputa
tion, and as devoted to Emmie as sh
was to him. And for her sake, w
plucked our own, sweet English rose
from the parent stem, and Wolfstei1
bore her off in triumph to his chateau
in the Black Forest. The world callei
hers a brilliant parti but there
was no brilliancy left for the mothe,
and me. Without her, house and heart,
were dark and chill. The events of ou
days were her letters-at first the,
were all sunshine and full of her hus
bands praises. After while we fanclet
they drooped little in their cheer.
tone, her husbands name was NOR
> rarely mentioned. and at last he wa
quite ignored. Line after time it wa
arranged that she should come to us
and time after time the visit was de
layed on some paltry excuse. We ha'
not seen the face of our darling for
year. We could bear the separation n
longer. We should go to her. Whe1
SO fur as Berlin, my wife was selzet
7 violently i'll. I wrote to Wolfstein IN,
Emmie of our. distress-no rcspohs
came tony cry for succor.
On the morning of the 21st of Janu
ary bent over my wife to moisten he
fevered lips with a little wine. Ed
ward," she said, taking my hand i
hers, "Emm;e was with me in tn
,. night" "Darling, you were dreaming,
, l said soothingly. " It was no dream
husband she stood where You stan
now. Her dress was of black velvet
with lace about the throat and wrists
She looked sad, and oh F! so cold, on
down one cheek there was 1 horri
Q mark. Mother, she said, you hav
y NO portrait, not even photograph, t
: remind you Of poor Emmie. 1 slla
send You one.' And before I coul
speak, or lay my hands in hers, 81,
t was gone"