The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-09
81 will give you a receipt"


at is not necessary. Now gather
your materials and select the largest
canvass you have here"
i got together what was needed.
II am ready, monsieur"
''Then you must allow me to
blindfold you. Give me your hand
kerchief. There. Does that hurt
you?"
NO"
Nv hat was fortunately u soft one.
He turned the brim down so as to
conceal the fact that my eyes were
covered.
Now follow me to the carriage,
and remember, NJ. Godin. | trust to
your honor as gentleman to fulfill
all the conditions imposed"
, 1t was with no little difficulty
that managed TO descend the stairs
with my load. At the landings the
stranger took hold of an elbow and
gently guided me. As we passed
into the street my companion spoke
in a whisper to some one who was
evidently waiting for him.
/ | was then put into carriage and
driven rapidly away, but so many
turns were made that | could not de-
termine in what direction we were
going. Some one was sitting by my
side. / presumed it was my visitor,
but he did not seem inclined to
speak, and ! had plenty to occupy
my thoughts. Where was | being
taken, and for what purpose? The
mora i pondered the more uneasy |
became. Ny only comfort lay in
the certainty that | had a thousand
francs in my pocket.
After a while the carriage stopped
and | was told to get out. Some
one took my arm and led me up a
flight of steps, then along hall,
then up staircase and finally along
corridor | Judged from the height
and width of the staircase, which
was of stone or marble, and the rich
carpeting of the passage or corridor,
that | was in a grand mansion.
sid down, NJ. Godin. There is a
chair immediately behind you.
When you hear me close the door of
this room you may uncover your
eyes and begin. You are to paint
precisely as it is the-what is lying
on that bed. You must finish be-
fore , o'clock tomorrow morning.
When You are ready to go away you
must rebandage your eyes, then
SOUND bell you will find on the
table \ person will come and coh-
duct you to your studio. In ten or
twelve days | will send for the pic
ture; it must be packed so that no
one can see it. and you must pack it
yourself. The person who will come
for it will pay you the second thou
sand francs. You will find refresh
ments on the table. Now | leave
you. Do not forget the conditions
you have promised to keep"
I heard him close the door. Then
| eagerly tore the bandage from my
face. The glare of a brilliantly light
ed room oppressed my eyes for a
few seconds, and | could only dis
tinguish that the apartment was
large and magniiicently furnished.
As my vision grew clearer | saw that
almost Immediately in front of me
was very handsome coffin stand
ing on platform or dais covered
with black velvet. | had been pre-
pared for something strange, but the
sudden sight of the coffin made me
shudd ar. In moment or two,
however, | gathered courage enough
to walk toward it. 1t was empty.
The lid stood by the side, and some
of the silver screws had fallen on
the floor. | picked up one and
looked at it. The head was badly
manled. Evidently the coffin had
been opened by some unpracticed
hand. Where was its former occu-
pant? Instinctively | turned to-
ward the bed. On it was lying the
body of woman. | looked at the
face. | think it was the most beau
tiful / ever saw. The expression
was SO calm and happy it was diff
iicult to believe she was not merely
sleeping. ! had only noticed the
face. As my eyes passed from that
to the figure "a sight met them which
drew from me a cry OF horror and
rage.
Her breast was barred, and through
her heart a ieweled-hanGled dagger
was buried to the hilt,
| felt Ill and faint. | went to the
table and took a long draught OF
brandy. Then | came back to the
bedside. 1t was not, rs | had tried
TO persuade myself, a horrid dream,
phantasy. There was the dagger.
driven with unerring aim and dead
ly force. | noticed that SO skill
fully had the blow been given that
only TWO clots of blood had escaped
from the wound. The bleeding must
have been wholly internal. Again
/ glanced at the sweet, peaceful face.
There was nothing in it to indicate
the agony which | had been taught
to look for in painful and sudden
death.
Where was l? Upon what fright
ful tragedy had | lighted? Had
this murdered woman been faith
less wife, or was she some innocent
girl who had been enticed here to
meet ruin and death? What should
| do? What could | do?
Ny first impulse was TO raise an
alarm, but a moments reflection
convinced me of the uselessness and
danger of such proceeding. 1t
was evident that the person or per-
SONS who had committed this crime
would not hesitate at another to Sc
cure safety. | had no idea in what
at.arter of Paris | was, nor of how
to gain egress from the house. Be-
side, had heard the door locked
behind me.
But why should any one desire to
perpetuate that terrible sight? This
was question | could not answer,
though / racked my brain for re-
spouse. Then l looked again at the
body and the frightful fascination of
the subject began to enthrall me-
Its grim awfulness appealed to