The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-21
THE BLACK VEIL.

OF some unknown artist, which Ruskil
had found in a garrett. This picture wa
lite-sizs, Turneresque in color and outline
aud was considered great work of art.
1 used to make my sketches inthe morn
ing NOT to be in the way Of visitors, ant
for a week, 80 old Joscelln said, the mo
ment entered the gallery where tht
"Ariadne" hung, woman, who was dress
ed in heavy black Grape and whose fact
was covered with the same somber mate
teriaI, would also enter the gallery where
was sketchiug. She would remain neal
me, every time, until my work was don'
aud picked up my sketching material t
20 away. Then she would hurry of aheaC
OF me.
Jo;cslin, the attendant, first though
that her coming when l did was acct
dental, and, aiterward, that she was study
ing my somewhat unusual method o.
skeiching. Atlast erpersistent intentnes'
alarmed him, and he detained me one
morning, after she had gone, to tell me
about her.
/ was first amused and then disturbed
This woman had some purpose in watch
ing me. What that purpose was LIQUID
not imagine. Mysteries always annoyed
me, and this Black Veil was the most an
aoying mystery Of my life.
For q couple Of days ! kept quiet and
watched the unknown stranger, without
az supposed, attracting her attention.
Joscelin suggested having her elected
from the Academy when she next came
/ shook my head. l wanted to know first
who she was and Why she came there
Away down in the depths OF his English
heart | think Joscelin despised my weak
meas. though he advised me TO consult the
police. This l did, and one OF the best
detectives in London was placed at my
disposal. After listening to my state
ment and aSkIDg few questions, he IN
formed me that he ugreeq with Joscelin
and that the only thing necessary was to
let tho attendants keep the woman out o.
the Academy.
/ was not 10 be so easily shaken OF, and
told the officer, somewhat CURLY, that all
[ required Of him was to solve the mystery
i was not seeking protection, but in.
formation. 1.-The did not want the case
weuld find some oue else that did. lie
took the case without further remark.
NV vile observed my abstraction that
nipht and, pratinE herself vt my feet, in
quired into the cause OF 1t. After some
Hesitation told her the whole story, and
she set herself about reasoning the thing
out,
She declared that the woman must have
some grave reason for watching me. 4tere
modesty, she was sure, would not cause
her 10 come yelled; and woman who
was too xquisitely organized to risk being
stared at would certainly shrink from the
attention which her veil and the frequen'
CIV Of her Visits would draw to her. She
might be the painter Of the "AriRdne,
and was tlattered by my interest in 1t, OF
the model after whom the picture was
made. or some lunatiC. II might also be
that the Black Veil had some sinister de-
sirn upon me, and as she said this my
wife hid her faca in her hands and shud.
dered. To dispei her horror volunteered
that she had overlooked one possibility
the strange woman might be IN love with
Nv wife seemed strangely moved al
this and laughed Historically,
The next day the detective came to the
Academy, ard so did the Black Veil
The latter fingered near me as usual, and
went away when was packing my traps
When / reached the sidewalk, the de-
tectiye stood there scratching his head
II was twenty minutes since the woman
had left the gallery where l was working
and she had gone down the first flight Of
sts;1s directly behind him. She had ther
disappeared, and he had seen nothing o.
her since. .u
completed. The Black Veil came every
day. and every day she eluded the officer
Thoroughly vexed, dismissed him. Attel
that used to walk through the Stranl
every evening, and the third time die
This the Black Veil reappeared. She ever
bowed to me as l passed her, apparently
in derision. / tried to follow her, and
ike the detective, failed. The next nigh
/ met her again, stopped equarely in IRON
OF her. and asked her who she was, anc
Thy she persisted in annoying me, snt
informed me, in French, that she coulc
mot apeak English. repeated my ques
ton In her own language, and she sac
sho had just posted letter TO me WhicL
would tell me all. Then she hurrlet
away, and ! was too much surprised u
try to follow her.
The next morning the letter came, snt
a very gushy, silly thing it was. She sale
she knew that was happy with my wife
hut that she loved me as woman peVeI
loved man before blindly, madly and IN
reseryedly. II l would only fly to Paril
che would make me happier than | haC
ever been yet, and happier, too, than
ever could be with any one but her. Sht
said she was rich and that with her
could either abandon art or pursue It Il
the end, She begged me TO make no an
aver until | had first seen her, and ther
told me where could find her at 2 o'clocI
that afternoon, promising to lift her vel
when ! came and show me lace that nni
Of the greatest artists in England hat
raved over,
NV vile was thoroughly indignant AMI
/ was never more annoyed in my life. ShI
urged me TO see the detective again Ant
sscertain Il could not, in some way, b.
rid OF my yelled tormenter.
This / decided TO do and at once hasten
ed away to nnd him. Ny wife still bit
terly afraigning the Black Veil as l wen
out Of the door.
The officer was glad to see me. BE hal
begun to feel interest in the veile'
yomRn's apprehension, and said that sbI
vas undoubtedly g bad one.n He hat
seen her several times since the Academ!
episode, and, without appearing to motto
him, she had baiIled his shrewdest effort
TO follow her and make her out. She hai
even sent him note informing him tina
she eIuded him at the Academy by brib
| ing one Of the attendants to let her on
secretly-probably JAscelin, out OF con
tempt Tor my curiosity.
Tie officer accompanied me TO the hote
where the women's letter stated that
would find her. II, a. the officer supposed
the woman was q willy and hardened Grim
inal, and he was sure that NO one els
could have 90 cleverly outwitted him, b
Il q "A. aNHaa