The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-12
o. SOMERSET, PA, WEDNESDAY, JULY

you see. Whatever that may be, how
ever impossibl 2 it may seem TO you that
you really look npOn it. Paint it, paint
it, paint"
As she spoke, she resumed her former
position. Her flce grew pale, her eyes
dilated.
took up my palette and brushes as
one does things in dream. resolved
to obey her literaly-paint what saw.
As arrived at this decision, felt an
understandable thrill run through me. My
finger tips tingled, and the tip Of my
tongue had that sensation which isereat-
ed by touching the heart of pineapple; !;
a cold breeze seemed to blow over me,
and my scalp turned icy cold.
/ gazed fixedly upon my sitter. Be
hind her chair seemed TO arise delicate
puff ofwhite smoke which hovered about
her head. Then | saw it condense itself,
and take shape. The figure had seen
twice before was leaning on the back Of
the chair with her hand on Pansy's
shoulder. l could not be seeing double"
for the girl in the chair had different
attitude from the girl behind it. As l
looked at the latter, she lifted her finger,
and touched her chin with It, and saw
that it Was deeply dimpled, while that Of
Pansy was not, being smooth, and round,
and oval 1t was the only great differ
ence between the two faees-tbe real and
the unreal one. ! painted fast, l painted
long painted well that day. The set
ting sun indicated the lapse oftime TO
me. looked toward the window for an
instant, and when I again turned my
eyes upon the dais, my mysterious sitter
was gone. Pansy, pale to the lips, and
trem bling from head to foot, sat gazing
at me like child just awakened from
sound slumber. ] approached and held
out my hand to assist her to descend.
We stood together before the canvas.
She elung to my arm, unable to support
herself, and trembling violently.
Il labor under no delusion, then, she
said, rather to herself than to me. 1t is
perfectly true there can no longer be
any doubt Of it"
As she spoke a sudden rap came upon
the psnnels Of the door. 1t opened-a
sharp voice was heard.
"Oh, my sakes, Miss 'Ow skeered
your ma IS about you. We really felt
sure some accident had happened YOU"
It was Bobbins She took her young
lady's cloak from the chair, where It had
been thrown, and wrapped it around her
"Why, you're ike ice, Miss" she said
"and that 'aggered."
Il am very, very tired" said Pansy;
but she smiled upon ne as she went her,
way, and said sweetly, at two o'clock to
morrow"
For my part, my own fatigue was in
tense. 1 had never been so weary. l
staggered to the sofa, dropped my head
upon the cushion, and in an instant was
asleep.
It was long after midnight when
awoke, and having eaten a biscuit and
taken glass Of sherry, retired for the
night, through which l slept soundly.
IawOke. possessed Of a great horror
that Of insanity.
turned to my glass and examined my
face carefully.
felt my own pulse. l tested my
memory. l renewed my school-day
tasks, and gave myself an intricate prob
lem in mathematics to solve. As far as
1 could judge, was in full possession OF
my faculties. Everything looked as
usual nothing had any odd, or peculiar
OF effect. 4 sudden hope
rushed into my mind, heard Of dreams
50 vivid that the dreamer thought them
actual occurrences after he had awakened
from them perhaps one such had visited
me. With bated breath, hurried 10
examine nv canvass. Alas. upon the
surface saw a WORK that seemed to be
better than anything had done pre-
yiously, but still the sketch Of tro young
ladies. Pansy sat in the great chair, with
her calm, fAr-awsy look, and behind her,
the arm resting upon the chair, the other
hand upon PAnsy's shoulder, stood that
other figure 80 like hers, and there smiled /
the face that differed from her own only
in the full and dimpled chin.
For matter-offaet young man, who
particularly prided himself on his CON-
mon sense, here was e situation.
However 1 resolved to face il, and
waited with a curious, almost impersonal, !
interest for the afternoon sitting.
Miss Pansy arrived punctually, this
time alone. She had added to the Orna-
nents upon her person a bracelet Of
twisted ropes Of pearls. We exchanged
4 few words Of greeting. Then she took
her place, and l took mine. had work
"a fifteen minutes on Pansy's portrait
without any return Of the optical illusion
yesterday, but something else was to
happen to-day. l turned to transfer
some carmine from its tube to my palette, /
md as looked at my model again, saw !
,nly her aEm-her right arm, with the 7.
bracelet upon it, the hand lifled and 1
;lasping another right hand, the wrist I
If which was entwined by a bracelet Of /
he same description as that she wore. 1
This curious effect lasted but two min I
ties then I saw Pansy once more sitting
4 the chair, and the other girl leaning .
,ver her. The vision or illusion wore
lpon its arm pearl bracelet that it had .
lot worn the day before, the counterpart
1T bat which pansy wore
That day the maid came al the end Of
he sitting and hustled her young lady
way with sharp pFomptitCde.
The picture needed one more sitting.
was intensely anxious to proceed with
: The day and the hour appointed
ame. but Pansy did not come with them.
instead Of her light foot fall l heard
nee more a elamping Of heavy boots
nd thick cane upon the stairs, and
Ir. Cranch entered. Important as ever,
still detected trouble in his face.
Ny daughter, Pansy, is ILL.," he said,
and I'm afraid this sort of thing is not
,oOd for her. In fact, her delusions have
eturned with great force. The doctor
dvises retreat, but ! can't bear the
hnnrht Of II Hnuerar she nnnsr rn+ |