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 life.current of that
old void home Of the fine arts I fire.
quently sought and 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 at 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 air necessary
to keep the lungs in play. So, calling
the guard, I requested that might be
secure from intrusion. Touching his
cap with laconic "gut" he pocketed
a doucer and locked me in. The train
started. For few moments we stop.
ped ut q 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 thnt lives,
whilst, in mystic sympathy with the
dying day, the life is split out of those
in whose cup are only its less. wrap
my cloak around me.
Once more we were on the point of
starting, when the door I imagined Sc
curely locked was gently and easily
opened. A lady entered and seated
herself opposite me. Below my breath
l COMPOUNDED the guard for a false
Deutcher, and reflected how estraordi-
nary it was that the intruder should be
u woman for abroad the fair sex have
special travelling compartments, where
no man dare put in an appearance, and
vice versa. In the confusion of starting
she had doubtless mistaken her car
rage, and now, perhaps, felt uncom
Portable. :: As the cold each moment
increased, I offered her one of my warm
wraps, addressing few conventional
words to her on thetopic of the wealth
or. Thank you" she said, in quiet
a perfectly self-possessed voice, IS but
indeed do not feel the cold you speak
Of" A story is often told in the tone
of a voice-and the tone OF this one was
peculiar. Enthusiastically English, and
we'll bred but there was no ring in it,
only certain hopclessness sufficiently
pathetic. She had evidently noticed
some Of my smaller professional be-
longings in the netting above me, for
as silently ponderel what manner Of
woman she was, she thus addressed me :
"You are On artists'
II am."
"Could you paint q portrait from
memoryW
"Most certainly"
She removed the thick veil that con-
ceiled her face, and laid aside her Ion
net. The light from the lamp fell full
on her. She had lovely face, but it
was cold and white and still as chiseled
marble. She encountered tie bold,
steady gaze of masculine eyes, yet no
tinge Of color hickered on her cheek.
A mass of ruddy-brown hair was coilet(
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 out from be-
tween dark lashes.
Marring the stainless white of the
cheek, livid mark ran from the tenn
pie into tho neck-it almost looked us
if singing riding switch had been
drawn swift and sharp across tho
face, burning its brand into the deli
cate flesh. Her dress was of black
velvet, and around tho throat and
wrists were rufflcs of costly lace
Yours" I said, els not face to bt
forgotten. I could any day paint YOU
portrait from memory"
Will you do soS"
"Certainly, if you desire it,
~ do especially desire it,"
took out my note book and entered
q memorandum :'Promiscd to pai,,
the portrait of lady from memory
this Goth night Of January, 49," Sh
watched me make this entry, and re
summing her bonnet and veil she fel
into silence.
AS I sat opposite this beautiful
statuesque woman, . strange sensation
stole over me. Underneath that CO..,
cealing veil there was still, whit
face, with stricken eyes, that haunte
me and sent chill to my heart. Go
help her, I Thought, for life has bee
cruel to her. Then I unused on tn
singular promise I had come under
TO- paint her portrait from memory.
Would she come and claim the pic
t1lra Was to send it to her { An
where? l must come to come findin
before we part. Meantime, ia the lirs
gray dawn, the train stopped vt Berli,
. where we changed carriages. For
moment | turned to gather togethe
my small impcdiments when I re
sumcd my position 1 was the sol
occupant Of the compartment. Hopiu
, to encounter my sometime co,npanlo
in the crowded station, made haste t
, get out. My efforts were in vain.
, was locked III. Presently the guar
, came with his key, and let me Gu
; "There is trickery here" said J, in n,
heat. "A lady turned tho handle
yolr locked door easily enough, all
has been my travelling companion sine
midnight.
"Impossible !" and the qua,
shrugged his shoulders incrcdulolsl
:. The key had been in the pocket all ii
time. ! shook my head, hut there W
= no time for parioy, and without ~
other glimpse of the fair incognita
resumed my journey.
Once more in Dresden, and amid