Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-25

$3.50
had excited no suspicion on the part OF
the servants, who only wondered httle
that the master had not risen to supari1-
tend tho hanging, as he usually did.
However, they had not disturbed HIM,
imagining that he knew sll about It,
So when the master ct last appeared his
pictures ware miles away.
"And that Is not all, said my host
with an ill-used expression. That
dealer turned up here the day after and
called upon me 10 exhibit gratitude and
enthusiasm, and to pay ESQ. as my coun-
terieits only went part way toward pay
ment for the gems OF which he de-
scribed me Is happy possessor.
"And you paid it?" / inquired with
a show Of real interest, (for 1 was not
without q suspicion that the only PIC
lures OF value had been carried of
"Oh. yes, he made answer, with re-
turn 10 good humor. Zone should nl-
WAYS keep on good terms with ones
dealer-be can do so much for one"
$50 it appears, . | replied.
And oil tho time the art collection was
on the tqpis Miss Hcath's eyes accused
me Of breaking at least one clause Of the
Tenth Commandment OF course J must
envy 8 man such a collection how could
It be otherwise?
The following morning after breakfast
] was put in possession OF the dilapi-
dated rags" / vas to turn into pictures.
My studio very good one-was en-
tered through long passage, and was,
Of course, at the top OF the house.
Leading from it Ess u long picture-gal-
lery, also lit from the top, which termi-
mated in an snte-chamber but this ]
was not aware OF in the tirst part Of my
stay, for MIR Heath, after showing mo
ny studio and looking 70 see That l had
everything needlul both for work and
comfort. magnanimOusy left ms to IN
vestigate the picture-eallery for myself.
q privilege ] resolved not to avail myself
Of, having been satisfied with srt at
Thornton Lodge. This resolution
brought me q very odd experience
had commenced upon one oil tho
pictures, aud had 30 placed myself that
] could SEQ the end Of the long gallery.
Among the crowd Of portraits there my
eyes caught sight Of one empty irame.
Being in a sentimental mood since
Yesterday / tried to imagine the face Of
my lovely shepherdess within it. 1t was
not difficult to call up the laughing face
under the brosd-brimmed hat, and pres
emily ] seemed TO see the brown eyes
glancing and the ssucy mouth smiling
from thnt empty frame.
Day after day / % called up the sweet
vision. This was, perhaps, very ab-
surl, but nY foolishness did not end
here. ! took up a habit Of waiting
kisses from my fpger-tips to thiscreahon
OF my fancy
Could Burnleigh have known he
would have called 10 my remembrance
the well-worn hdsge which has reference
TO " little things and little minds
Il must not be imagined, however,
that while thus Economically devoted to
tho shadow ! made no effort 10 become
equally 30 20 the substance. But the
ruo was that | could not ind it. made
afternoon excursions to the pine woods,
] presented myself to buy glass OF milk
Mt all the farm houses in the neiRhbor-
hood, but not q glimpse OF my divinity
rewarded my diligence and solf-sacrihce.
GLOW self-sacrifce ?" asks the reader.
Well, all my friends know that milk
gives ne eli rgonizing pain in the chest
A week passed away and ] began 10
think j had created tho original rs well
as the imaginary picture. in other
words. | thought | had gone to sleep
and dreamed the whole thing. And this
is what gave me the notion.
was IN my studio as usual one morn
ing aud glaucing at the empty frame III
pause in my work 1 saw the RirlIsh face
eravely watching me through 1t. l had
never called up 50 vivid picture before.
IL NAsmOre real, moro lifelike. than any
o. the actual portraits around 1t. The
brown eyes looked steadily into mine
tbo colorinR Of the sweet still face was
warm and bright as the SKY at sunrise.
An uncanny feeling crept over me.
I could not move my eyes from the spot
though tried 10 do 40. Tho vision did
not fade it persisted during several
moments and then vanished. ] now
made n frantic rush tOWsr IL the spot, but
nv mad career was cut short 10y tho pol
ished oak AoOr. [ would like to omit
this incident, but l must be faithful.
My heels slipped from under me and /
tell ut full length upon my back, IN
which undignified position my host saw
me. for he entered my studio at the very
moment, and having ascertaincd that /
was unhurt seemed TO derive considera-
BE amusement from the incident.
! did not rush ut the empty frame
nRpin, nor did call up any vision IN 1t.
/ thought it could not be healthy con-
dition Of mind [ had been culhystinF.
was, moreover, Of opinion that if 1
could see my shepherdess 70 plainly on
one occasion Wlcro she could not be 1t
might be that my imagination had but
played a similar part IN the pine wood.
However, dream or no dream, 1t bad
takon such possession OF no that tue
loss Of 1t gave mo real pain. / grew
gloomy and looked out Of health. My
host piled me with champagne and
begged me not 10 work so hard. ] as
sured him | was well. But for days l
Loot my appetite and worked apatheti-
cally, never raising my eyes to look to-
ward the empty frame. ] smoked III
Vulnerable cigarettes. Once l abstract
edly inserted tue lighted end of my
cigarette in my mouth-a Circumstance
calculated to bring even love sick swain
momentarily to his senses. In the start
I gave l CHANGED TO glance down the
gallery. Good heavens there was u
face III that frame again.
Inyoluntauly ] touched my burned
lips with my fnRer-tips and waited my
usual salute My eyes were watery from
the effect Of the sudden burn. passed
my hand across them and then saw
clearly hui what did / see and with
what horror and confusion / saw it no
words can tell. 1t was not the face OF
ny phantom shepherdess that occupied
the frame this time, bat that of Miss
Heath-Miss Heath with flushed and
indignant couR,ensnce In moment
the truth dawned upon me. This was
Miss Heath IN the Aesh the frame VAS
an aperture leading into an anie-cham-
Der Why had | not thought OF this
4 a 1 L. i