The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-03-15


= ey vss called 70 the west of England
keep an engagement made long beiors
/ lie reached the little cathedral city Z
LiehGeld late Saturday night, and va
DO, litiis d,sgustei TO fnd that he mus
} remain there over Sunday before he coul
continue bis journey. He found Accom
modsiions Al an inn. whore he had hardi
flashed bis dinner. when, 10 his astonisli
ment, . walter came 10 with a card on
sslyer. Taking up this card Mr. Hoaphe.
read on il the name OF a gentleman who
many years before. had been one OF hi
schoolmAtes, but Of whom he had seen an'
heard nothing since he came to manhood
aud whose very existence in fact he bas
forgotten. He badc the waiter. however
show him up at once When the door op
ened he welcomed--not man OF his owl
years. but quiet and rather serious look
ing, very courteous young gentleman Q
twenty Ave or tventy-six, who promptly
explained that he was the son and name
sake OF Mr.. Heaphey's old schoolfellow
that he had been sent with carriage 4
find Mr.. Heaphey at the inn, his fathe'
being confined to his room with an Illness
aud that his father insisted on his leaving
the inn, aud coming TO pass his Sunday II
Litchfield at their house. Mr.. Heaphey
overwhelmed with this civility, could moi
resist expressing his surprise and asking
the young man how in the world his faith
or came TO know Of his entirely accidental
visit to Litcbfield.
THAT cant tell you, said the young
man; "but he has been expecting You al
day, and has asked me several times this
afternoon II the train had got in"
"Well, this passes all comprehension,
said Mr.. Heaphey, and should be glad
70 find how it came to pass.
| He decided after some demur to accept
the hospitality so unexpectedly proffered
him, and was driven to the house Of bis
old acquaintance, where the young man
presented to him young lady, dressed III
mourning as his sister. This young lady
greeted Mr.. Heaphey very cordially, and
appeared to have been quite as well aware
as her father Of his coming to Litchiield,
and quite as much interested as her broth
er in securing his presence at their resi-
dence.
my father" said the young lady has
heen hoping to see you here for months,
but it was only today that he felt sure Of
your coming"
"Yesf" said Mr.. Heaphey. "And how
in the world did be feel sure Of my coming
today?"
"fhat can't tell you" said the youns
woman, ''for don't know, but / suppose
1t is because he had heard from you"
Heard from mel" said Mr.. Heaphey.
my dear young lady, l have had no com
munication with your father for years.
am sorry to cay l lian't even remember
that he was.living hcro in LitchHeId,
The young lady locked at him increiu.
lously and said:
Chow can this be when you have been
painting my sisters portrait?'
painting your sisters portrait?' said
Mr.. Hesphey. Either / am dreaming,
or you are. Your sister never sat to me
for her portrait. / never heard OF il till
this moment"
"You must not say this to my father,
said the Young lady. 1T will kill him.
He has been counting on II. and convinced
OF it, and there must be some strange mis-
take"
'Certainly there is some strange mis-
take" said Mr.. Heaphey, but cant un'
derstand how / am in any way accountable
for it. assure you have no recollection
OF your sisters name-no recollection
When did she sit to me9'
"That don't know said the young
lady. 1T must have been some time be
fore she died.
| DUO 10 Nv aoh6ci bViub thShs
''No, and it is since her death that my
father has been SO urgent and so eager tc
secure the portrait OF her. cant under
stand how you didn't know her name. bu
you will surely recall her face at once. fo
you have the engraving OF the portrait o
Lady --, which was taken out OF oul
Book OF Beauty and sent to you because
OF its strange resemblance 10 her," an(
with this the youg lady rose anil handed
him copy Of Heath's "Book Of Beauty,
opened at the page from which the en-
gravel portrait, so long and 50 mysteri
ously in his possession, had been taken.
The effect Of this disclosure on Mr.
Heapbey may DO better imagined than dc
scribed His coutenance changed, ant
after pansing moment he said:
"This is entirely inexplicable. Wher
did your sister die?"
i The,date was named-a date not Ions
preceding the time at which his mysteri
ous visitor had FIRST entered his studio.
j Il have picture Of that young lady il
my despatch box he said. "and / viii
bring it down stairs to you"
i Going up stairs he opened the despatch
box. and returned 10 the drawing room
with the nearly completed sketch and tn
engraved portrait. both Of which the yonnl
lady received with expressions OF tn
I most intense delight. She carried then
} up stairs to her father, and after littl
time Mr.. Heaphey was introduced TO hi
old schoolmate. whom he found in stat
, o. ineIpressible happiness at the possession
, OF the portrait, and apparently not in th
9 least disturbed or concerned as 10 how ,
. had been painted or as TO any Of the Gil
, cumstances connected with IL. Mr.. Heaph
: ey said a. little as possible 10 the father 0