Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-31
DAILY SHORT STORY
NEW CASE OF JEKYLL AND HYDE
Original

q cavalier dHu Il SIdncd TOY dilSA-CdAhc
to America in CromweIrs time, and
his grandson was noted Tory during
the Revolution Some years ago l
visited London and sent my card to the
present earl. who invited me TO visit
Etchwoth house. the family seat We
arrived there in time for dinner and
spent a part or the evening examining
the house and many heirlooms ii con-
tanned This finished, We sat by the
great fireplace. built centuries ago. and
nay host told me stories and legends or
the family.
l went 10 my room with my head full
OF visions OF different genera tons pass
ing and repassing as in panorama.
The house had never been changed into
a modern abode, aud my only light was
candle. While undressing l noticed
a portrait hanging on the wall whose
white wig. high cOllared red coat with
large buttons, and ruftied shirt bosom
marked the original for the period Of
George III. / noticed him especially
for the benevolent expression OF his
face and since be bore strong family
resemblance l did not doubt that he
was one OF the earls and my own an
ceStorS
Placing the candle on a table beside
the bed the candlestick. OF heavy sill
yer, had lighted people 10 bed 100 or
more years beforeI put the eXtin-
guisher over il, shut my eyes and went
to sleep.
/ soon awoke with one or those i'll
describa bile sensations, the only definite
thing about which is Il certainty of
some cause for wakefulness. l lighted
my candle and, lying back on my pill
low, found myself facing the picture
Of the benevolent gentleman that had
attracted my attention.
started NJ I'm establishment. Through
this man who had lived from one tn
two hundred years ago there seemed TO
be looking from the back ground the
portrait OF one in the costume OF either
Charles H. or James II. At any rate,
he wore the curls and lace collar of
that period. What II face, Never have
| seen such malevOlenCe combined with
such despair. | thought of Stevenson's
Strange Case of DIR. Jekyll and Mr..
Hide" the good and the bad In one
body. There were the features OF be-
nevoIence and malevolence. the one
looking through the other. though the
former seemed to have mastered the
latter. ! could not bear the thought Of
remaining under the gaze of that hOrri-
bic face. | dared not put out the can
die, for | dreaded the darkness more
than the light; SO, getting out OF bed.
placed the candle on a dresser where 1t
would not shine so fully on the picture.
While returning to my bed ! noticed
that the features Of the evil face were
gradually giving place to the good face.
and before | lay down the good had
completely annihilated the evil.
An hour passed, during which l Occa-
slonally cast furtive glances at the por-
trait, dreading the return Of the fiend
face. But there was no return, and at
last | fell asleep. | awoke again, how
ever Ia few hours. The candle was
hickering i'm the socket. Being thirsty.
| got up TO get drink OF water before
the candle should go out. Turning TO
go back to bed, | cast glance at the
portrait. There again was the face
dreaded
l must have started and caused dis
guish the pickering candle. At any
rate IL fiared and went out, and | dash
ed for the bed. climbed into it and bu-
ried my head under the clothes my
heart beating like q triphammer. An
other hour OF wakefulneSs. then slum-
Der relieved me of the dreadful feeling
that that evil face was looking at me.
In the morning my chamber door was
thrown open, and my host entered to
announce that breakfast was waiting.
and we had scarcely time to eat 1t and
reach our train To London. Ny first
thought was of the portrait ] looked
at ii, and there. as ! had seen the night
before. were the two faces in one
Explain that" | said, pointing
The earl looked at 1t, surprised.
II beg thousand pardons," he said.
for putting you in a room with that
picture. When last here gave an
order for It's removal, but | see the
OF Ter has not been obeyed Did IL
trouble YOU i'm the night?'
Trouble me? I should say 1t didr'
Come, get your clothes on. and at
breakfast I'll tell you about it
This is the story Of the picture:
When the Duke of Monmouth,
Charles lis natural son, returned
from the Netherlands TO dispute the
throne with James H. the Earl of Fitch
woth WAS deep I'm the plot His am
bition was fired at the prospect OF hay
ing been one Of the principal adherents
Of king in adversely, and he staked
all on the result. When Monmouth WAS
defeated at Ledgemoor and executed
the earl was one Of those whom JEFF
fries tried and condemned The fail
IRE Of the earl's plans and the result
embittered him and made n devil OF
him. The night before his execution
an artist visited him i'm prison and,
struck by his expression, hurried to his
studio TO put IL on canvas. The picture
eventually passed into the Etchwoth
family, but was kept in a garrett |
Three quarters OF a century later, when |
a canvas was wanted for portrait for |