The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-04-10

dies being brought in, on the plea of
being rather tired, she shook me heart
lily by the hand and wished me good
night. My mysterious acquaintance
caused the no small pondering during
the night had never been introduc
ed to her, | had not seen her speak to
anyone during the entire evening-not
even TO wish them good night--how
she got across the country was an mex
plicable mystery. Then, why did she
wish me to paint her from memory,
and why could she not give me even
one sitting? Finding the difficulty of
u solution to these questions rather in
creased upon me, made up my mind
TO defer further consideration of them
till breakfast time, when l supposed
the matter would receive some elucida-
ton.
The breakfast now came, but with it
no lady in black. The breakfast over,
we went to church, came home to
luncheon, and so on through the day,
but still no lady, neither any reference
to her. | then concluded that she must
be some relative who had gone away
early in the morning to visit another
member of the family living close by.
| was much puzzled, however, by no
reference whatever being made to her,
and finding no opportunity of leading
any part OF my conversation with the
family towards the subject, I went to
bed the second night more puzzled
than ever. On the servant coming in
in the morning | ventured to ask him
the name of the lady who dined at the
table on the Saturday evening, to
which he answered
"a lady, sir? No lady, only Mrs.
Kirkbeck, sir"
eyes, the lady that sat opposite me,
dressed in black |?
"Perhaps Miss Hard wick, the gov
| erness, sir ?"
mo, not Miss Hardwick; she came
down afterwards
| "No lady as l see, sir
ooh, dear me, yes; the lady dressed
in black that was in tho drawing.room
when | arrived, before Mr.. Kirkbeck
came home p
The man looked at me with sur
prise as if he doubted my sanity, and
only answered, 81 never see any lady,
SIR and then left.
The mystery now appeared more inn
penetrable than ever. l thought it
over in every possible aspect, but could
come to no conclusion upon it. Break
fast was early that morning, in order to
allow of my catching the morning
train to London. The same cause also
slightly hurried US and allowed no
time for conversation beyond that
having direct reference to the business
that brought me there; so, after ar
ranging to return to paint the por-
traits on that day three weeks, ! made
my adieus and took my departure for
towh.
1t is only necessary for me to refer
to my second visit to the house in Or
der to state that | was assured most
positively, both by Mr., and Mrs Kirk
beck, that no fourth person dined at
the table on the Saturday evening in
question. Their recollection was clear
on the question as they had debated
whether they should ask Miss Hard
wick, the governess, to take the va
cant seat, but had decided not to do
so neither could they recall to mind
any such person as | described in the
whole circle of our acquaintance.
Some weeks PASSED. 1t was close
upon Christmas. The light of short
winter day was drawing to close, and
l was seated at my table writing let
ters for the evening post. My back
was toward The folding-doors leading
into the room in which my visitors us
ually waited. | had been engaged
some minutes in writing when, | be-
came aware that person had come
through the folding-doors, aud was
standing beside me. l turned and be
held the lady of the railway carriage.
suppose that my manner indicated
that | was somewhat startled, as the
lady, after the usual salutation, said
"Pardon me for disturbing you. You
did not hear me come in"
Her manner though it was more
quiet aud subdued than | had known it
before, was hardly to be termed grave,
still less sorrowful. There was
change, but it was that kind of
change only which may often be OBJ
served from the frank impulsiveness of
an intelligent young lady to the com
posure and self-possession of that same
young lady when she is either betroth
ed or has recently become a matron.
She asked me if l had made an at
tempt at likeness of her. was oblg-
ed to confess that | had not. She re-
gretted it much, as she wished cne for
her father. She had brought an en-
craving "a portrait of Lady NJ. A.
with her that she thought would assist
me. 1t was like the one she had asked
my opinion upon at the house in Lin
colnshire. 1t had always been consid
cred very like her, and she would leave
it with me, Then Quitting her hand
impressively on my army she added
"She really would be most thankful
and grateful TO me if | would do it,
and if recollect rightly she added
'as much depended on it." Seeing she
was so much in earnest | took up my
sketch-book, and by the dim light that
was still remaining, began to make a
rapid pencil sketch of her. On observ-
ing my doing so, however, instead of
giving me what assistance she was
able she turned away, under the pre-
tense of looking at the pictures around
the room, occasionally passing from
one to another so as to enable me to
catch momentary glimpse of her fea-
lures. In this manner | made two
hurried but rather expressive sketches
of her, which being all that the declin-
ng light would allow me to do, | shut
my book and she prepared to leave.
This time, instead of the usual "Good
morning she wished me an impressive
ly pronounced "Good-by,' firmly hold
ing rather than shaking my hand while
she said it. | accompanied her to the
door, outside of which she seemed
rather to fade into the darkness than to
pass through it. But | referred this