The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-03-15
A True Tals Whksh = Wrappsdis tbs
Desossa nfystsry.

ems lsiler on Mr. Hesphsys shoss story
which Mr.. Dickens says is the most ~on
deriul be ever heard. A gentleman ~
New York, Who knew Mr. Hesphey and
bis family veil. u soqnaiuttd with ~
story, and hs told Il 70 . reporter Of tbs
New York Wwiis
Mr.. Thomas Hesphey. says this gentle
man. was distinguished aud very accom-
plished man, an artist by Inheritance y
we'll as By training. He was one OF The
t-ss Of the many water color painters "a
whom England owes her pre'eminencs Ia
that department OF art. snd Was for some
time president Of the Royal Society o.
Water Color Painters II Was from bis
sister. Mrs Eliza beth Murray, lady well
known 10 New York. that ! frat hsard the
story. Mrs. Murray was woman Of con
siderable ability. an author. and herself
very clever artist. Thomas Heaphey him
self was not only man Of genius but Q
man OF character. The material evidenc.
es Of the extraordinary experiences which
occurred TO him still, I think, exist. In
short. it Was most unaccountable bust.
ness from beginning to end
Near the end OF long summer day.
toward the close OF q London season. Mr.
Heaphey was alone in his studio in Lon.
don. This studio was large apartment
OF two or three places. one Of which wsa
used as q reception room. This room wss
entered directly from Q broad flight OF
stairs leading down into the street and
past small porters room, for the studio
was in public building occupied BY q
number OF persons. Coming into his re-
ception room from smaller cabinet. in
which he had been putting away some
papers, Mr., Heaphey was startled to see
lady, quite unknown TO him, young, OF
good figure and carriage, dressed quietly,
| in perfect taste and fashion,, who was
walking around the room and inspecting
the pictures. Mr.. Heaphey approached
aud saluted her, observing as he did so
that while she was unquestionably fine
looking, her countenance was unusually
pale, and that her eyes, which she fixed
upon him when he spoke to her. had a
singular, and, as he afterward expressed
it, On almost "uncsnny" look.
She made no explanation whatever OF
her presence, but at once asked him
whether he could paint Immediately por.
trait OF her for dear friend, to whom she
wished to send il as soon as possible. Mr.
Heaphey politely replied that on account
OF the great number Of his professional en-
gagements he could not grant hcr request
The lady treated these objections with po'
lite indifference and persisted. saying that
it would not be necessary for Mr.. Heaph.
ey that she should sit TO him. ''ron will
forget my face" she said with singular
intonation, "and II l am not misinformed
OF your talents, you can make sketch Of
me now at this moment from which you
could paint such portrait as ] wish SO
great WAS her urgency that she finally pre-
vailed upon Mr.. Heaphey to undertake
the commission.
"It will he necessary for me" he said,
ito find some time during the autumn
when can give you your sittings. and II
you will oblige me by your name and ad-
dress will see what can do and will let
you know
THAT is hardly necessary" said the la-
dy. II will be here at any time you may
appoint"
Mr.. Heaphey looked at her with aston
ishment and said: a.ss@'
"But don't see how You can be here
unless let you know when that time will
be-"
II shall have no difficulty about that, !"
said the lady almost petulantly; ''and in
the mean time / will see that you have an
engraving OF face that am told strongly
resembles my own--so strongly that it has
som etimes been taken for portrait OF me-
This will serve to keep me in your mind,'
she said smiling; "and, by the way. /
| wish you would try to make sketch OF
me now"
Puzzled by the lady's manner as much
as her words, he quietly said:
"Oh, excuse me- / must .get my adj
dress book and we will arrange matters. +"
With this be turned his back for mo-
ment to the lady, and, going to desk
opened II TO take out the book OF which
| he spoke. When he turned again with
the book in his hand. to his profound as
tonishment, the lady had vanished.
The door Of the studio was shut, as II
had been during the whole interview. II
was heavy door and closed with strong
spring lock. II seemed to Mr.. Heaphey
hsrlly possible that il could have been
opened and shut unhesrd by him; but be
instantly ran to it, opened It, and looked
down the broad flight Of stairs to the
street, and this so rapidly that it seemed
scarcely imaginable that the lady could
have got out Of the house before be wa'
on the stairway. No trace Of her, howev
er, could be seen. He ran hastily dowr
aud questioned the porter. who happened
TO be standing near his window. which
commanded complete view Of the stair
case and the entrance TO the building
His amazement was heightened when th'
porter no. ouly protested that be bad no
seen any lady go out, bu. declared that
40 far as he knew, no lady had entere'
the building Tor more than an hour be
fore.
The next morning when Mr.. Heaphe.
visited bis studio he found on bis desk
With number OF letters from tho mail.
small roll OF paper addressed TO him b.