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

When was younger in my profess
SION than am now, Dresden was my
favorite holiday resort. In the quiet
and slow flowing ife-ourrent of that
old void home Of the fine arts I fire.
quently sought aud found relaxation
from the strain of work a-day months
in London.
One January night found me seated
cold, travel.stained, and weary-in
the train ct Hamburg, en- route for my
old resort. Experience had taught me
that in Germany fellow traveller i'm.
Plies an instantaneous deprivation of
the quantum of the fresh mir necessary
to keep the lungs in play. So, calling
the guard, requested that I might be
secure from intrusion. Touching his
cap with q laconic ''gut" he pocketed
q doucer and locked me in. The train
started. For few moments we stop.
ped at . way station. consulted my
watch. How cold it grows as the day
draws his last shivering breath.
Strange at this hour the springs OF be-
ing are at their lowest in all that lives,
whilst, in mystic sympathy with the
dying day, the life is split out Of those
in whose cup are only its less. I wrap
my cloak around me.
Once more we were on the point of
starting, when the door I imagined se-
curely locked was gently and easily
opened. A Lady entered and seated
herself opposite me. Below my breath
I oonfountled the guard for q false
Deutcher, and reflected how extraorili.
nary it was that the intruder should be
q woman for abroad the fair sex have
special travelling compartments, where
no man dare put in an appearance, and
vice versa. In the .confusien of starting
shes had doubtless mistaken her car
mage, and now, perhaps, felt uncom
fortablet AS the GOLD each moment
increased, offeredher one of my warm
wraps, addressing a few conventional
words. to her on thetopic of the wealth
or. Thank you, she said, in quiet
q perfectly self possessed voice, =" but
indeed / do not feel the cold You: speak
Of" A story is often told in the tone
of q voice-and the tone of this one was
peculiar. Enthusiastically English, and
veN- bred !; but there was no ring il it,
only certain hopelessness sufficiently
pathetic. She had evidently noticed
spme 81 my smaller professional be-
longings in the netting above me, for
as I silently pOnderel what manner of
woman she was, she thus addressed me
!. M4ou y ais = aaz zertist !. r. e.
:.oould you paint q portrait from
memory ~
't>Most eertainly.n
She removed tho thick veil that con.
ceiled her face,- and laid aside horton'
net. The light from the lamp fell full
on her. She had lovely face, but il
was cold and white and still as chiseled
marble. She encountered tie bold,
steady gaze of masculine eyes, yet nc
tinge of color f1ickered on her cheek.
a mass Of ruddy-brown hair was coiled
around her shapely head; large brown
eyes, full Of the dumb, questioning
pain I have seen in the eyes of hunt.
ed deer at bay, looked ont from be.
tween dark lashes. .
Marring the stainless white of the
cheek, Z livid matk ran from the tenn.
pie into the neck-it almost looked az
If u stinging riding switch had been
drawn swift and sharp across the
face, burning its brand into the deli
cate flesh. Her dress was of BLACK
velvet, and around the throat ant
wrists were: fuffles of costly lace
Yours" I said, els not q face to b,
forgotten. I could any day paint you
portrait from memory"
Will you do so2"
.'Certsinly, if you desire it,"
~ do especially desire it."
i ] took out my note book and entered
0 memorandum "Promised to pain
the portrait of lady from memory
this Goth night of January, 49," Sh'
watched me make this entry, and re-
suming her bonnet and veil she fel
into silence.
As I sat opposite this beautiful
statuesquos woman, 2, strange sensation
stole over me-. Underneath that con
cealing veil thers was Z still, whit
face, with stricken eyes, that haunte'
me and sent d chill to my heart. Go
help her, I Thought, for life has bee
cruel TO- her. Then I mused on th
singular promise ! had come under
tor paint her portrait from memory.
! Would she come and claim the pic
tura9 Was 1 to send it to her Z AM
where I must come to some findin
before we part. Meantime, il the frs
gray dawn, the train stopped at Berlin
where we changed carriages: For
moment I turned TO gather togethe
my small impediments; when I re
sumed my position I was the sol
occupant of the compartment. Hopiu
ITO encounter my sometime companlo
in the crowded station, made haste t
get out. My efforts were in vain.
was locked IN. Presently the guar
came with his key, and let me ou,
"There is trickery here, }" said ], in M
heat. "a lady turned tho handle {
your locked door easily enough, an
has been my travelling companion sine
midnight.
Impossible - and the guar
shrugged his shoulders increduiousl,
The key had been in the pocket all til
time. ] shook my head, but there W.
no time for parloy, and without u,
other glimpse of the fair incognita
resumed my journey.
Once more in Dresden, and amid