The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-07-14


was told to get out. Some one took
my arm and led me up fight of steps,
then along hall, then up staircase
and finally along corridor. Judged
from the height and width of the stair
case, which was of stone or marble, and
the rich carpeting or the passage or cor
rluor. that was in a grand mansion.
''Sit down. M. Colin. 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 before five O'Clock tomorrow
morning. When You are ready TO 60
away You must rebandage your eyes.
then sound bell you viii find on the
table person will come and conduct
you TO your studio In ten or twelve
days will send for the picture: it must
be packed so that no one can see it, and
you must pack it yourself The person
VINO viii come for it will pay you the
second thousand francs. You will find
Refreshments on the table. Now leave
you. Do not forget the conditions YOU
have promised to keep
heard him. close the Anor. Then
eagerly tore the bandaoe from nv face.
The glare of a brilliantvH Sted room
oppressed my eyes for a onds. and
L could only distinguish he apart
ment was large and ma kentlv fur
nished- As my vision BL,sclearer /
saw that almost immediat 81. front of
me was very handsome d. de-. Standing
on u platform or dais covei+~.. With black
velvet. l had been prepared for some
thing strange, but the sudden SIGHT of
the coffin made me shudder. In 4 mo
ment or two, however, l gathered conr-
age 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 one up and looked
at it. The head was badly InauIeI Evil
IDENTIFY the coffin had been opened by some
Impractical hand. Where was its for
mer occupant? Instinctively | turned
toward the he'd. On it was lying the
body of woman. / looked at the face
| think it was the most beautiful ever
saw. The expression was so calm and
happy it was difficult to believe she was
not merely sleeping. / had only noticed
the face. As my eyes passed from that
to the figure a sight met thepe which
drew from me Il cry of horror aid Rage.
Her breast w;ts Dared, andthrough her
heart 4 jeweled-handled dagger was
buried TO the 'hiitl
felt i'll and faint / went tothe table
and took a long ,lraught ofbrandy. Then
came back to the bedside. Ii was not.
as had tried to persuade myself, a hor-
rid dream, phantasy. There was the
dagger. driven with uneFrlng aim and
deadly force. I noticed that SO skillfuliy
had the blow been given that only two
elots, of blood had escaped from the
wound. The bleeding must have been
wholly internal. Again glanced ut the
Sweet, peacefulface. There was nothing
init to indicate the agony which | had
been taught to look for in painful and
sudden death.
3 Where was L? Upon what frightful
tragedy had l lighted? Had this MUIR
dered woman been a faithless wife. or
was she some innocent girl who had been
enticed here TO meet ruin and death
What should | do2 What eoRld do?
My first impulse was to raise an alarm,
but moments reflection convinced me
of the useleSsness and danger of such
proceeding. It was evident that the per
son or persons who had committed this
crime would not hesitate at another To
secure safety. l had no idea in what
quarter of Paris 1 was, nor of how to
gain egress from the house. Beside. |
had heard the door locked behind me-
But why should any one desire to per-
Petuate that terrible sight? This was a
question | could not answer, though |
racEed my brain for a response. Then
| looked again at the body and the fright
ftl fascination of the subject began to
enthrall me. Its grim awfulness appealed /
to something in my artistic natureAand
urged me with irresistible force To- -.
work. l had always had-are
morbidness in my inspirations, II
never conceived such a combinatiyn of
the beautiful and the horrible. Yes,
whatever / might feel it my duty to do
on the morrow, / would work my best
that night.
An absorbing desire TO express not
only what saw but what felt took pos
session of me. Never before had |
painted so quickly so we'll. i obtained,
with few touches effects that I had be
fore vainly labored TO produce. 1t al
most seemed rs if were controlled by
some overwhelming force. The soul
and power of a great artist had temper
aiiIy passed into me, and my poor hands
and eyes were but the means through
which another was working.
The hours flew rapidly by, but / Ia
bored lnintermittingly. The figure grew ]
upon the canvas and began to look life
ike in its deathlike fidelity. At lastmy
aching hands and arms compelled me to
rest. L looked everywhere for some
mark or sign by which | could discover
N whose house was. Not the faintest |
,luerewarded my search-nothing bear
ng name, initial or monogram was to
De found Everything was of the most |
;osty and luxurious description. Money !
lad been lavishly spent in every direc- |
ion The coffin was almost work of 1
rti.its chased handles and bars were of /
liver and gold. but the name-plate had 4
lot been attached. | noticed every de-
ssif-yvit1 great miuIIteness, because de- 1
ermined that the maker of so unusually /
plendid a eetlin c0ald easily be sfoiind, |
md that Though shinla was the. elearest
md easiest way of bringing to justice
he perpetrators of this foul crime.
Then | went back to my painting and
gain thefeFer Of inspiredswork seized /
ne. | was scarcely sensible of til lapse {
4 time tiE Che clock Upon the fnantel- I
'iece warnedme that twas already FIVE I
After considerable trouble I managed to
Jack my sketch in a way that would
overit without injuring the moist colors.
collected my brushes and tubes, tied
he handkerchief over my eyes and rang
DC bell Almost immediately | heard
be door unlocked and the sad voice
those tones had become so thoroughly
on my memory asked:
How have you succeededP'7
''AlGil.E |
Il am vary glad win now take
'ou toyour studio. Come with me-
Heied me'throagh the passage, down
he staircase and to thecarriage. When |
had seated myself he took his place by.
ny side. The horses. were urged to a
Tery rapid pace, so fast, fndeed, that 4 |
wondered the police@did rer kssrfere.s
Ny companion did not utOri word. |
When the carriage stoppe helped |
ne to descend, took me as re the first |
taircase and saRl3 iii s seu'&flt ~ /
sstVhop Won r.aanb tho ~ ao1ipor