The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-03-28
A STRANGE STORY.

4
The following story Charles Dickens
declared to be the most wonderful tale
of which he had ever heard. The great
novelist left among his papers his own
version which has been published in
London. The following narrative il by
a gentleman, now living in New York. +
who knew Mr.. Heaphey and his family
WELL
"Mr. Thomas Heaphey was distin-
puished and very accomplished man, an
artist by inheritance AZ well as by train
ing. He was one Of the best OF the
many water-color painters to whom
England owes her pre-emincnce in that
department Of art, and was for some
time President of the Royal Society OF
Water-Color Painters, as ! think his
father, who died nearly fifty years ago, |
had been before him. IL was from his
sister, whom ! knew very we'll and of
whose death at an advanced age | have
lust received the news, that ! heard the
story originally. This lady, Mrs. Eliza
beth Murray, was well known in New
York some years ago She resided here
for some time her husband, Henry John
Murray, being then British Consul at
Portland, Maine He was aftcrward
transferred to post in South America.
He was q brother, by the way, of Green
willie Murray, Of whom you must have
hoard, and who died only year or two
ago, after strange and troubled ca
rccr as diplomatist first and then AZ
journalist of rare yigor and original
ity.
Mrs Murray was woman Of con
siderable ability and very clever ar
fist. She wrote an entertaining and
valuable book on the Canary Islands,
where her husband was Consul for a
number of years Here is the book,
which, as you see, IL illustrated with en-
cravings from drawings made by Mrs.
Murray herself She gave lessons in
water-color paintings IN this city during
one winter at the request OF number
Of ladies of her acquaintance, and yon-
der on the walls hangs protrait painted
BY her in this very room In which you
now sit.
"The strangcst feature of the strange
story am now about to tell you, is the
combination in it of unearthly and inn
probable with ordinary and every day
incidents. The seen and the unseen
world--if indeed there be world un-
seen--are mingled and almost confound-
cd in it, 50 that the action of tho story
passes from one world into the other and
back again, as man walks out Of one
room into the next. Mrs. Murray firmly
believed in the truth Of the narrative as
she gave it 20 me- have heard it since
more than once related with variations
none Of them affecting, however, the
substantial framework of the tale, by
persons of character and consideration
in England, whose belief in it was u;
positive as hers. Thomas Heaphey him
self was not only a man of genius, but ;
man of character, The material eyi
dences Of the extraordinary experience
which had occurred to him, still,
think, exist. In short, it is a most III
accountable business from the beginnin
to the end, and am very glad to hay
an opportunity now Of putting on rccor
my recollections of it, that may con
pare them with Mr.. Dickens versio
when | receive IT,
Near the end of q long summer da
toward the close of London seaso
Mr.. Heaphey was alone in his studio
London. This studio was situated,
think, somewhere in the ncighborhoc
of Langham place--but that is immat
rial, 1t was large apartmentof two
three pieces, in one Of which u numb
of portraits and pictures were hur
upon the walls, with the usual brio
brac Of an artists reception room. TIL
room was entered directly from Ian
ing-place Mt the head of broad flight
stairs leading down into the street al
past small porter's room, for the stud
was in public building occupied by
number Of persons. Coming into t
reception room from smaller cabin,
in which he was putting away some |
pers, Mr. Heaphey was startled to see
lady quite unknown to him, young,
good figure and carriage, dressed qui
ly, in perfect taste and in the fashi'
who was walking around the room a
inspecting the pictures Mr. Heapl
approached and saluted her, observi
as he did so that while she was unqu
tionably fine looking, her countenal
was unusually pale and that her ey
which she fixed upon him as he spoke
her, had a singular, and, as he all
wards described ii, almost 'uncanny'
preston. She made no explanat
whatever OF her presence, but at d
asked him whether he could paint
mediately portrait Of her for d
friend to whom she wished to send i
soon as possible MIR. Heaphy rep
that he would be happy TO do so il
were in his power, but that he was on
point Of leaving London for roun,
visits in the country; that he had m
professional engagements which wa
probably occupy him during the rem
der Of the year, and that hc could nC
all sec his way clear to doing what
was So good AS to ask him to do.
lady Treated these objections with pC
indifference and persisted, saying
would not be necessary for Mr.. HeaT