Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-03-25

The price named did not deter them, and
they asked to look around the studio 70 |
select the style and size they should prefer.
The inspection proving satisfactory, they
asked whether could paint the pictures at
their house in the country, and there being
no difficulty on this point, an engagement
was made for the following autumn, subiect l
to my writing to fix the time when might L
be able to leave town for the purpose This
being adjusted, the gentleman gave me his
card and they left shortly afterwards ON
looking at the card left by the strangers,
was somewhat disappointed to find that
though IT contained the names Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Krkbeck there was no address, / |
tried to find II by looking at the court guide, |
but il contained no such name, SO / put the |
card in my writing-desk and forgot for a time |
the entire transaction.
Autumn came, and with IL series of en- |
gagements had made In tho north of Eng
land. Towards the end of September, 1855 / |
was one OF dinner party ut country house |
at the confines OF Yorkshire and Lincoln
shire. The party was numerous one, and
as the meal approached its termination and
was about to subside into the dessert, the
conversation became general. 1 should here
mention that my hearing Is defective, at some
times more 80 than at others, and on this par
ticular evening was extra deaf-so much so
that the conversation only reached me in the
form of a continued din. At one instant,
however, I heard word distinctly pro-
nounced, though II was uttered by person
at considerable distance from me, and that
word was-Kirkbeck. In the business
of the London season l had forgotten
all about the visitors of the spring
who had left their card without the adj
| dress. The word reaching me under such
! circumstances arrested my attention and
| Immediately recalled the transaction TO my
| remembrance. On the first opportunity that
| offered asked person whom l was con-
versing with If a family of the name in ques-
| ton was resident in the neighcorhood Twas
| told In reply that Mr.. Kirkbeck lived at
| A., at the further end of the county. The
| next morning wrote to this person, saying
I that believed he called at my studio in the
] spring, and had made arrangement with me
which j was prevented fulfilling by there
being no address on his card; furthermore.
| that should shortly be in his neighborhood
| on my return from the north, but should
be mistaken IN addressing him, begged he
would not trouble himself to reply to my
note. gave as my address the postoffice,
| York. On applying there three days after
wards i received note from from Mr. Kirk
beck stating that he was very glad he had
| heard from me and that IL would call on
my return he would arrange about the pic
lures he also told me to write day before
| j proposed coming that he might not other
wise engage himself. 1t was ultimately ar
ranged that ! should go TO his house the
succeeding Saturday, stay till Monday morn
ing transact afterwards what matters had
to attend to in London and return in fort
night to execute the commissions.
The day having arrived for my visit, di-
rectly after breakfast took my place in the
an orning train from York to LONDON. The
train would stop at Doncaster, and after that
at Retford junction, where should have to
get out in order TO take the line through A.
| The day waslcOld, wet, foggy and every way
as disagreable as have ever known a day to
be in AN English October The carriage in
which was seated had no other occupant
than myself, but at Doncaster lady got in.
My place was BACK to the engine and next 10
J the door. AS that is considered the ladies'
; seat, offered IL to her; she, however, very
graciously declined it and took the corner
opposite, SAYING i'm n very agreeable voice,
that she liked to feel the breeze on her cheek
, The next few minutes were occupied in loca
ting herself There was the cloak to be
spread under her, the skirts of the dress to
be arranged, the gloves 10 be tightened
and such other trihing arrangements OF
. plumage as ladies are wont TO make before
, | settling themselves comfortably at church
or elsewhere the last and most important
being the placing back over her FIAT the
veil that concealed her features. could ther
| see that the lady was young, certainly no
more than two or three and twenty; bu
being moderately tall, rather robust In max,
and decided in expression, she might hav,
been two or three years younger. ] suppose
Q | that her complexion would be termed ,
|, medium one; her hair being of brigh
brown or auburn, while her eyes and rathe
decidedly marked eyebrows were nearl,
black. The color of her cheek was that pal,
l transparent hue that sets off to such al dyantag
Q large, expressive eyes and an equable, firm
, expression of mouth. On the whole, tn
: ensemble was rather handsome than beauti
: ful, her expression having that agreeable
b depth and harmony abont 1t that rendere,
: her face and features, though not strictl,
!, regular, infinitely more attractive than If the
y had been modelled upon the strictest rules o
symmetry.
Y 1t is no small advantage on wet day an,
4 a dull, long journey to have an agreeabl
y companion one who can converse and who's
= conversation has sufficient substance i'm ii 1
+ make one forget the length and the drearl
) ness Of the journey. In this respect j Ina,
no deficiency 10 complain of, the lady bein
| decidedly and agreeably conversational
I When she had settled herself TO her satisfac
n tiOn she asked to be allowed to look at m
:, Bradshaw and not being proficient In tina
SI difficult work, she requested my aid i'm as
certainng at what time the train passe,
through Retford again ON its way back from
London to York. The conversation turne
/; afterwards on general topics, and somewha
4 to my surprise she led it into such particula
subjects as might be supposed to be NOR
especially familiar with indeed, ! could nc
| avoid remarking that her entire manner
while 1t was anything but forward, was tina
t of one who had either known me PERSONAL.
: or by report There was in her manner kim
a | of confidential reliance when she listened /
me that is not usually accorded to a stranger
i and sometimes she actually seemed to refe
= to different circumstances with which ha,
# been connected Ia times past After abou
/, | three-quarters OF am hours conversation tn
!. train arrived at Retford, where I was I
u change carriages. On my aightng am
/, | wishing her good morning, she made
q slight movement of the hand, as if sh
meant me to shake it, and on my doing s
she said, by way OF adieu: ~ dare say W
o shall meet again !" to which / re
@ piled: Il hope we shall all NEE
again." and so parted, she going OIL
the line toward London and ! through Lin
o colnshire to A.. The remainder of tn
@ Journey was cold, wet and dreary. L misse
"a the agreeable conversation and tried TO SUI
. ply It's place place with box / ha,
brought with me from York and the Time
o newspaper, which had procured Mt Ret
n ford. But thel most disagreeable journe,
comes to an end at last, and $50 in the ever
, ing found me at the termination of mine. 4
u carriage was waiting for me at the station
o where Mr.. Kirkbeck was also expected b
d tho same train, but as he did not appear
was concluded he would como by the next
y halt an hour later accordingly the carriag
& drove away with myself only.
J, The family being from home at the momen
" and the dinner hour being z, i went at one
to my room to unpack and to dress. Havin
Q completed these operations descended /
Il the drawing-room. 1t probably wante
II some time to the dinner hour, as the lamp
:, were lighted, but I'm their place large blaz
ing fire threw a flood of light into ever
corner of the room and more especially owe