Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-03

places at the table without difficulty, the mis-
tresS ana master Of the house at the top an
s oGt.om, tae lady In black and myself on eac
slue. Inc dinner passed much as is usual OF
sucn occasions. l, having to play the guest
directed my conversation principally, II not ex
cl1Slvely to my host ard hostess, and canno
can 10 mind that or any one else once al
dressed the lady opposite. Seeing this, and re
memoer1Dg something that looked like a Sigh
want OF attention to her on coming into Lh'
oinlng- room. at once concluded that she wa
n .ne goverhess; observed, however that shs
mace an excellent dinner; she seemed to ap
pfec1ate both the beef and the tart, as well as
grass OF claret afterward; probably she had nc
luncneon, or the journey had given her an ap
petite,
The dinner ended the ladies retired, aud after
The usual port, Mr.. kirkbecA and joined then
In the drawing room. By this time, however
hluch larger party had assembled. Brother;
anu SlSterS-1n-laW had come in from their resi-
9ehceS In the neighborhOod, and several Chit
ofen, with Mss Hardwick, their governesS, werf
also introduced to me. saw at once that my
SuppoSitfOD as to the lady in black being the
goVerneSS was incorrect. After passing the
tine necessarily occupied III complimentary tbs
children. and saying something to the different
persons to whom was introduced found INV.
EEL again engaged In conversation with the
lady II the railway carriage, and as the topic
OF he evening had referred principally to Dor
trait painting, she continued the subject.
-, 10 you think you could paint my portrait?'
nifty" OffO''"
'Now, look at my face well; do you think
You should recOllect my features?"
features
"Ct course might have expected you to say
that; but do you think you could do me from
well, if it be necessary, Twill try; but can't
you give me any sittings?'
''No. quite impossible; it could not be. 1t is
sad that the print to you before din
Not MUCH" replied; at has not your ex-
preston. If you can give me only one sitting,
1t would be better than none"
''No; l don't see how 1t could be-"
The evening being by this time rather fur ad-
vanced, and the chamber candles being brought
In, on the plea Of being rather tired, she shook
me heartily by the hand, and wished me good
night. My mysterious acquaintance caused me
no small bordering during the night. l had
never been introduced to her, had not seen
her speak to any one during the entire evening
not even to wish them gOOd-night-how she
got across the country was an tnexpllcaole
mystery. Then, why did she wish me to paint
her from memory, and why could she not give
me even one sitting? Finding the difficulties
Of solution to these questions rather increased
upon me, made up my mind to defer further
consideration Of them till breakfast time, when
supposed the matter would receive some elu-
The breakfast now came, but with 1t no lady
In black. The breakfast over we Weat 10
church, came home to luncheon, and SO on
reference to her. then concluded that she
must be some relative, who had gone away
early in the morning to visit another member
of the family living close by. Twas much pu2-
zled, however, by no reference whatever being
made to her, and finding no opportunity 4
leading any part of my conversation with the
family toward the subject, went to bed the
second night more puzzled than ever. On TIE
servant coming in In the morning, ventuTed
to ask him the name of the lady who ned at
the table on Saturday evening, to which he an
swered:-
ga lady, sir? No lady, only Mrs. Klrkbeck,
Eyes, the lady that sat opposite me dressed
perhaps, Miss Hardwick. the governess,
sir"
"No, not Miss Hardwick; she came down
:.No lady as see, sir7"
sob, dear me, yes, the lady dressed In black
that was In the drawing-room when arrived,
before MI. K1rkbeck came homer"
The man looked at me with surprise as IL he
doubted my sanity, and only answered, Il
never saw any lady. sir" and then left
The mystery now appeared more 1mpenetra-
Bile than ever. thought it over in every posi-
bic aspect, but could come to no conclusion
upon It. Breakfast was early that morning, in
order to allow OF my catching the morning train
to London The same cause also slightly hur-
beyond that having direct reference = to 'i the
business that brought me there; so, after ar
ranging to return to paint the portraits on that
day three weeks, made my adieus, and took
my departure for town.
ond visit to that house, in order to state that /
was assured most positively, both by Mr.. and
Mrs. Kirkbeck, that no fourth person dined at
the table on the SATURDAY evening In question
they had debated whether they should ask Miss
Hardwtck, the governe5S, to take the vacant
seat, but had decided not to do so; neither
could they recall to mind any such person as
described I'm the whole circle of their acOuain.
lance.
Some weeks passed It was close upon
was drawing to q close, and I was seated at my
table, writing letters for the evening post. My
back was toward the folding doors leading into
the room In which my visitors usually waited.
when, without hearing or seeing anything, 1
became aware that person had come through
the folding doors, and was then standing be-
side me. 1 turned, and beheld the lady OF the
railway carriage. suppose that my manner
indicated that was somewhat startled. as the
lady, after the usual salutation, said, "Pardon
me for disturbing you. You did not hear me
quiet and subdued than had known it before,
was hardly to be termed grave, still less sor-
r0wful. There was change. but it was that
kind Of change only which may often 7. be OBJ
tslligent young lady, to the composure and self
possession OF that same young lady when she
Is either betrothed or has recently became a
mhIIUus SuO d6hCu 1uO WuCtuCI ua1 uud0c
any attempt at likeness OF her. was obliged
to confess that had not. She regretted it
much as she wished one for her father. She
had brought an engraving "a portrait of Lady
M. Az with her that she thought would assist
me. 1t was like the one she had asked my
opinion upon at the house in Lincolnshire. 1t
had always been considered very like her, and
she would leave it with me. Then quitting her
hand 1mpreSsively on my arm) she added, ''She
really would be most thankful and grateful to
me If would do 1t" (and II ] recollect rightly,
she added,) as much depended on it," Seeing she
was so much In earnest, / took up my sketch
book, and, by the dim light that was still re-
naming, began to make rapid pencil sketch
OF her. On observing my doing so, however,
instead Of giving me what assistance she was
able, she turned away, under pretenSe OF look
Ing at the pictures around the room, OCCASION
ally passing from one to another SO as to ena-
BILE me to catch momentary glimpse of her
features. In this manner made two hurried
but rather expressive sketches of her. which
being all that the declining light would allow
me TO do, shut my book, and she prepared to
leave. This time, instead of the usual "GoOd-
morning." she wished me an impressively pro-
nounced "Good by" firmly holding rather than
shaking my hand while she said It. l accom-
seemed rather to fade into the darkness than
to pass through 1t. But referred this impress
sion to my own fancy.
Immediately inquired of the servant why
she had not announced the visitor to me. She
stated that she was not aware there had been
one, and that any one who had entered must
have done so when she had left the street-door
open about half an hour previously, while she
went across the road for q moment