Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-01-12
Gales a,1o Sketfbes.
nR. HEAPaEY,s eHosr.
Confined from Ye.terdsy.l


stances Of this strange acquaintance would
recur to him. but he never cared to dwell
upon them in his own mind. Still less did
be dream Of communicating them to any
ono else. He could not regard them as
purely delusion Of his own Imagination,
Tor there in his despatch box was the en-
craving from Heath's Book of Beauty
there was the half-finished sketch of fare
which had imprinted itself with an almost
terrible distinctness upon his memory
and vet he felt that to hint at any of the
circumstances Of bis unapparalled adven-
lures would expose him in the minds OF
other people to suspicious which, but for
the material evidence there before him, he
would be very apt to entertain Of himself
80 the time passed on. Once or twice
taking the sketch up. Mr.. Heaphey had
worked upon it until it was advanced to
completion. He never took it up except
ing under a stress of feeling which he
could neither define or resist: he never
laid it away again except with sense Of
relief and satisfaction. Early in the en-
suing winter Mr.. Heaphey was called to
the West Of England to keep an engage
ment made long before with a friend who
resided, think. somewhere in the Marches
Of Wales. He stai cd upon this journey
from 30 ne poin the name Of which
cannot no recall. for its many years since
Mrs. Murray told me this story-in the
Eastern or Midland counties. At all
events, he left this point on Saturday.
and his route led through the ancient little
cathedral city of Litchueld. On reaching
Litchfeld great was Mr.. Heaphey's dis
grst TO find that he could make 10 con
nection westward until Monday morning.
This condemned him to pass Sunday at
Litchfeld. q prospect which he was not
enough Of q philosopher to accept with
satisfaction, tor there really is not much
In Lithfield to interest the traveller except
the cathedral. within sight of whose walls
Lord Brooke was shot in the Civil War
and it Is very fine catbedral-and the
little square in which the stalwart statute
Of Dr. johnson stands, bearing witness
to the eminence and to the oddities of
that illustrious leviathan. There are two
or three very decent inns in Litchfeld.
however, and in one OF these-l
think the Swan-Mr. Heaphey made
himself as comfortable IA circumstances
would permit He ordered the usual Brit
ish dinner. with the usual soup. the usuel
fish and the usual joint enlivened it with q
pint of dry champagne. picked up the
county history, and settled himself for a
quiet evening and q sedative smoke. He
had hardly got through with his dinner
when the waiter,to his astonishment. came
in with card on salver. Taking up
this card. Mr.. Heaphey read on it the
name Of gentleman who many years be-
fore had been 1f his schOol-fellows. but of
whom he had seen and heard nothing since
b, came to years of manhood. He had
forgotten, in fact, the very existence ofthe
man, and he was entirely at n loss to i'm
agine in what possible way his arrival and
his presence in this quiet little inn could
have come to the ears OF his quOndam
boyish companion. lie babe the waiter.
however. show him up at once. When
the door opened he welcomed-not man
Of his own years, but a quiet and rather
serious looking, very courteous young
gentleman of 25 or 26. who promptly ex-
planned that he was the son and namesake
Of MIR. Heaphey's old school-fellow; that
he had been sent by his faiher with a ear
riage to find Mr.. Heaphey at the inn, his
father being confined to his roo n with an
illness. and that his father insisted on Mr..
Heaphey's leaving the inn and coming to
pass his Sunday in Lichfield ut their house.
Mr.. Heaphey. overwhelmed with this
civility, coIld not resist expressing his
surprise 81 d asking the yorng man how
in the world his father came to know of
his entirely accidental visit to Lichfield.
"'That can't tell you, said the young
man, 'bnt he has been expecting you all
day. and has several times asked me this
afternoon whether the train had yet got in
'''Well. this passes all comprehension
said MIR. Heaphey. And should be very
glad to find out how it came to pass He
endeavorcd, however, to excuse himself
or accepting the hospitality thus unex-
pectedly profered him. but in vain. The
young man insisted that he could not think
Of such thing as going back without Mr..
Heaphey and after a little the artist yield
ed. His portmanteau and despatch-box
were brought down. put into neat little
private carriage. which stood at the inn
door. and MIR. Heaphey drove to the house
of his old acquaintance.
81 will go up stairs" said the young
man. and let my father know you are
here. He is so anxious to see you and
has been so nervous and restless of late
that l ought to see him for few mo-
ments before you go up;' and with this
NO iSN Viis AcopuN iutt u utuWiu2-ivVut.
where he presented him to young lady
dressed in mourning rs sister. This
young lady greeted Mr.. Heaplev very
cordially. and appeared TO have been quite
as well aware as her father of his coming
to Litchfeld, and quite as much interested
a. her brother in securing his presence in
their house.
"'My father said the the young lady,
has been hoping TO see you here for
months; but il was only to-day that he
felt sure of your coming
"Yes?' said MIR. Heaphey. And how
in the world did he feel sure of my COM
ing to dsy?"
THAT can't tell you.' said the Young
woman. tor | don't know. but suppose
It is because he had heard from YOU
".Heard from me 4! said Mr.. Heaphey
MY dear young lady. have had no com
munication with your father for years. |
am sorry to say that didn't even remem-
Der that he was living here in Litchfield.
"The young lady looked at him incred-
ulously and said:
".How can this be when you have been
painting my sisters portrait?'
'' Painting your sisters portraitr said
Mr.. Heaphey. Pray. what is your sister,
name ?"
".Her nameP said the lady, repeating