Year: 1879

ColeTidge is the author Of this curious
story: A stranger came recommended to


a merchants house at Lubbock. He was
Hospitality received, but, the house being


full, he was lodged at night in an apart


ment Handsomely furnished, but not


often used. There was nothing that


struck him particularly, in the room


when left alone, till he happened to cast
his eye on q picture, which Immediately
arrested his attention. II was a single


head, but there was something so un-


common, so frightful and unearthly, in


its expression, though by no means ugly,


that he found himself iTTesistibly at


tracted to look at it. In fact, he could


not tear himself from the fascination of


this portrait till his imagination was


oiled by it and his rest broken. He re-


tired 10 bed, dreamed, and awoke from


time to time with the head glaring on


hiya.


In tine morning his host saw by his


looks that he had slept i'll, and inquired


the cause, which was told. The master
of the house was much Vexed, and said


that the picture ought TO have been re-
moved, that it was an oversight, and that
it always was removed when the cham
OGA wac NoCAs AA1O lA%AAACs DtAANif " 40


indeed terrible to every ore: but il was


so fine and had come into the family in
so curious a way, that he could not
make up his mind to part with it, or to
destroy it. The story O. il was this:


"biy father" said he, "was at Ham,
burg on business, and while dining at
coffee house, he observed q Young man
of a remarkable appearance enter, seat
hrr,,eo1f arzA
a solitary meal His countenance be-
spoke the extreme Of mental distress,
and every now and then he turned his
head quickly around as if he heard
something, then shudder, grow pale, and
go on with his meal, after an effort as
before. Ny father saw this same man
at the same place for two or three sue
eessive days. and at length became so
much interested about him that he spoke
to him. The addl ess was not repulsed,
and the stranger seemed to find some
comfort from the tone of sympathy and
kindness which my father used. He
was an italian. well informed, poor, hut
not destitute, and living economically
upon the profits of his art as painter
Their intimacy increased, and at
length the Italian, seeing my fathers
involuntary emotion at his COnvulsiYe
turnings and slludderings, which con.
tinued as formerly, interrupting their
conversation from time TO time. told him
his story. He was a native Of Rome,
and had lived in some familiarity with.
and been much patronized by young
nobleman but upon some slight occa-
sion they had fallen out, and his patron,
besides using many reproachful express
sions, had struck HIM The painter
broOded over the disgrace of the blow
He could not challenge the nobleman
on account of his rank therefore
watched for an opportunity and assassi-
mated him. OF course he fed from his
country, and finally had reached Ham
burg.


"He had not, however, passed many
weeks from the night Of the murder,
before one day, in the crowded street,
he heard his name called by voice IA
miliar to him he turned short around
and saw the face of his victim looking
at him with a fixed eye. From that
moment he had no peace at all hours,
in all places, and amid all companies,
however engaged he might be, he heard
the voice, and could never help looking
round, and whenever he so looked
around, be always encountered the same
face staring close upon him. At last, in
a mood Of desperation, he had fixed
himself face TO face and eye to eye, and
deliberately drawn the phantom visage
as it glared upon him and this was the
picture so drawn. The Italian said he
had struggled long, but life was bur
den which he could no longer bear, and
he was resolved, when lie had made |
money enough, to return to Rome, to sur |
render himself to justice and expatiate
his crime on the scaffold. He gave the |
picture to my father in return |
for the kindness which he had shown /
him"