The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-06


with my eyes, beginning at the left and
looking into every fold. As neared the
right, my attention was riveted on what
seemed to be Il full length portraito Of
young and beautiful girl. How, in my
close examination of the room, had fail
ed to notice it seemed to me ineXplicable.
The light that streamed in from an adj
jacent window showed every line. The
face was pale, with dark, luminous eyes,
while the hair, equally dark, was parted
and puifed slightly on the sides. Asnearly
as | could make out, it was the fashion
of 80 or 40 years back. The gown was
white, soft and clinging, with short waist
and loose sleeves. The frame seemed lost
in darkness, but the face ann figure were
wonderfully clear.
/ Inow felt certain that the picture was
not there when | entered the room, and
yet how was its existence to be accounted
for?
Could the wind have drawn back the
tapestry, thus revealing some old family
portrait2 And who was this charming
girl?
Inow noticed points which had escaped
me at ilrst-the exquisite molding Of the
arms and hands, the jeweled dagger in the
coils of dark hair, which even in paint
seemed to change and flash, and the back
ground, which appeared to be copied from
the very tapestry of the room. The face
fascinated me. The eyes, so dark and mag
netic, seemed to burn beneath their arched
brows, and as | gazcd, they drooped, al
most closed, then dilated.
Good heavens this could be no portraitl
The arms were mOvingl
The hands claspet and then fluttcrcd to
the sides, then slowly went up to the
head and took the dagger from the black
coils of hair.
Surely this was no painted canvas. |
tried to rise, to reach for the bell, but l
seemed bound hand and foot. Every trace
of energy had left me- 1t was as if my
own life and activity had been transferred
to the figure before me, leaving me lifeless
as clay. AS looked, the girl bent her
head over the dagger, and when she raised
it | shuddcred The face was beautiful
still, but every bit of feeling was gone,
leaving it cold, sinister, cruel Then she
raised her arms high above her head and
the lips moved. No sound came, but felt
that in that moment she had made a
vow. The lips parted as if in laughter.
All was silent, but it was so hard and
cruel! Then all grew confused. The face
and figure seemed to melt away. closed
my eyes for moment and when looked
again the background Of the picture SEEM
Il . l,,,N q IL
ceased
On low divan reclined man of per
haps 80. His eyes were closed; his face
was very pale, but it was not the pallor
of death. His dress corresponded in pc
riod with that of the girls gown, although
he looked 10 years her senior.
The face was very familiar. Somewhere
and | racked my brain in vain to re-
member where-I had seen that face. Ev-
cry line l knew. How long the man re-
clined thus cannot tell 1t seemed hours.
1t was in all probability few moments,
perhaps only seconds. A door seemed to
open somewhere in the rear, and the girl
entered. She bent down over the man
and listened, then softly knelt at his side
to the floor. Her hands trembled now, but
the face remained unchanged.
Once more all grew indistinct, and when
| could distinguish form and color |
seemed to be looking into room paneled
with oak from floor to ceiling. Before
one panel stood the girl. Her hand moved
uncertainty over it, and then chose the
next one. 1t opened, as if by magic, dis
closing n spnCe about foot square. Into
this she dropped the dagger. For the third
time the colors mingled, and again was
looking at the motionless figure on the di-
van. His face seemed like alabaster in
contrast with his dark hair One hand,
delicate as woman's, hung at his side.
Suddenly it flashed across me that the face
before me was identical with the minia-
ture on the bracelet. Yes, every feature
was the same. The high, rolling collar
and stock which he wore completed the
resemblance. Had it been in my power to
sink back on my pillow certainly should
have done so at this discovery, but az
movement of any kind on my part was
impossible I could only gasp.
Near the divan stood the girl. Her arms
hung motionless at her sides. She was
almost as pale as he, save her lips, which
were scarlet. Her beauty repelled and yet
fascinated me- Never had behcld such
face. She shivered slightly, and slowly,
very slowly, sank down at his side Her
hair became unfastened and fell over her
like veil. For one instant closed my
eyes. The horror Of it was overpowering.
When opened them, she lay as if lifeless,
and her hair, no longer black, CLEANED in
the moonlight like driven snow.
A moment later there was only the tap
estry stirring in the wind.
Then lost consciousness, and when
came to my senses the sun was high in
the heavens. Before descending the stairs
| took the bracelet from the case for close
examination. There was no, room for mis-
take-the face and that which ! had seen
in the night were one and the same
To come down from that chamber to
the cozy breakfast room seemed like step
ping from one world into another. 1t may
have been imagination, but fancied that
all regarded me rather curiously.
Lady Harcourt was the first to break
The silence. "You rested well, | trustf"
she said quietly, but as l thought with
veiled interest.
answered briefly in the affirmative.
"And had pleasant dreams, Hal?" in
quired Stanly.
~ don't think dreamed at all" re-
piled, and the subject was dropped
Immediately after breakfast found an
opportunity 10 remind my host Of his
promise in regard TO the room. 1t is need
less to say that / was now doubly anxious
to know its history.
An hour later we were seated alone in
the small library, acknowledged by all to
be Stanly's special property.
at Is a long story" he said, "and /
hardly know where to begin, but perhaps
it would be as well to get to the point at
once. First, let me say that it is only my
great friendship for you, Halstone, that
leads me to speak of this. 1t is something
we seldom mention.
"My uncle, Lord Stanly, for whom am
named was my fathers eldest brother. He
married NJ TiHriwell-B Beatrice Hart
A POSITIVE CURE FOR ALL THE