Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-07-19


The walls were hung with gobelin-
blue tapestry. The woodwork was
ivory-white, and the ceiling was beauti-
fully carved in arabesques of gold.
Above the hangings, in the wide,
carved frieze, were medallion portraits
of the court of Louis XIV.
The furniture was very beautiful, and
IN perfect harmony with the decora-
tics. There We're luxurious divans,
such as Madame de Maintenon might
have reclined upon, exquisite tables of
inlaid wood, and dainty chairs of blue
and-gold.
One article, writing-table, heavily
inlaid, was apparently all ready for use,
with bewitching array of materials
trays and candle-sticks of Dresden
china, wax of palest colors, and little
pile of tapers.
The bed was massive structure, with
a canopy of old blue brocade.
And you would never have shown
me this, if had not insisted on taking
possession ?o
eve often show the room, but it is
seldom occupied might say, never"
but it is in such perfect condition p
Stanley smiled little sadly. "My
mothers orders !"
"This room has a history, know.
How came it to be furnished SO beauti-
fully, and in such a different way from
the rest of the house? On the whole.
| think | prefer the old oak and rugs,
but for one room, it is superb" and /
found myself repeating the only adjec-
tive that seemed fitting.
Yes, it has history. My fathers
brother had it fitted up for his bride.
If tho raiTniyrr fnC
in the fifties. He died shortly after his
marriage, and the room has never been
occupied, save once or twice but it is a
long story. l will tell you later; saw
tomorrow, when we have more time. y
The evening passed off agreeably, and
it was late when we retired.
"Happy dreams, Hail. said Stanly.
as he left me at the door.
By the light of the candles, the room
was more beautiful than ever. The
face from the frieze seemed to look
down upon me. There We're Madame
Maintenon, cold and cynical La Val
liere mild and gentle, fascinating
Madame de Rambouillet; and Julie
d'Argennes, fairest of all.
What was the mystery connected
with the room? What secret did these
patched and powdered ladies guard {?
| found that l could not drive the sub
ject from my mind, and after l had
gone to bed, and lay looking up at the
ceiling, the gold tracery dimly visible
in the moonlight, | still wondered
what it could be.
| do not know how long / had slept,
when | was awakened most suddenly.
There was no noise-nOt a sound per-
vaded the rOOm-and vet | sat up in
bed wide awake. The silence seemed
oppressive, almost suffocating. I
scanned the room to see if everything
was the same as when | went to bed.
Yes, the position of each chair and
table was identical. ] looked up at the
faces. They We're one confused mass.
Then [ followed the tapestry hangings
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 a full-length portrait
of young and beautiful girl. How,
in my close examination of the room,
had failed to notice it, seemed to me
ineXplicable.
The light that streamed in from an
adjacent window showed every line.
The face was pale, with dark, luminous
eyes, while the hair, equally dark, was
parted and pulled slightly on the sides.
AS nearly 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 and figure were wonderfully
clear.
| now felt certain that the picture
was not there when entered the room.
and yet, how was it's existence to be
accounted for?
Could the wind have drawn back the
tapestry, thus revealing some old family
portrait? And who was this charming
girl?
/ now noticed points which had
escaped me at frst,-the exquisite
moulding OF the arms and hands, the
jewelled dagger in the coils of dark
hair, which even in paint seemed to
change and flash, and the background,
which appeared to be copied from the
very tapestry of the room. The face
fascinated me. The eyes, SO dark and
magnetic, seemed to burn beneath their
arched brOws, and as [ gaZed, they
dropped, almost closed, then dilated.
Good heavens this could be no por-
trait. The arms were moving!
The hands clasped and then fiuttered
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.
l 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, / shuddered
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 1 felt that
in that moment she had made 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 a moment, and when L
looked again, the background of the
picture seemed the same, but here the
resemblance ceased.
On low divan reclined a man, of
perhaps Internationally. His eyes
were closed his face was very male :.