Beadle's Dime Novels No. 14 — page 83: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AN APPARITION 81 When he came in to a late supper, which took the place of his neglected dinner to him, he suffered but little inconveni- ence from his wound, and pastook, with. gratifying relish, of the good housekeeper’s dainties. He retired to his room, full of those delightful dreams of youth, in which the inspirations of genius and the glow of - passion are mingled—slept soundly—and arose to work. Yes! he was going to paint a picture. His subjeet was chosen, his head, heart, and soul, ready for the work. He went first to the gallery, which had a skylight; but decided that he liked his own pleasant chamber best, and transferred his easel to that. Before the ruddy blushes of dawn had melted into the full splendor of day, his materials were pre- . pared. The summons to breakfast interrupted him in out- lining his picture upon a canvas ready prepared. He-par- took of a light repast, just enough to invigorate the body without stupefying the mind, and returned to his task with all the ardor which his subject inspired. It was not the fair scenes which lay stretched out before his window which he sketched—it was to him the embodiment of all beauty in a woman’s shape—a portrait of Clematis. How long he had labored he did not know; his hand seemed inspired, and wrought of itself the happiest effects— colors as lovely as he had ever imagined seemed to combine of themselves upon his pallet and transfuse themselves into the beloved countenance which began to smile upon him from the canvas. Hours or moments, hé could not tell which, flitted by ; looking up, by the merest chance, in a moment of dreamy abstraetion, there, in a chair which stood a short dis- tance from him, sat Clematis herself. She had taken the po- sition of the portrait, its expression, its dress, ¢#nd was smiling into his eyes with a look of love, so deep, so soft and still—it was like looking into heaven to gaze into those eyes. For several seconds neither of them stirred, the love which he saw so plainly in her look was to Pennon such a surprise and joy, that for the time being, he forgot to wonder how she came to be sitting for her portrait there, in his room. “ Clematis !” He almost whispered her name, in accents touched by his overpowering feelings, but gently as he spoke, his voice alarm- comiclbooks.com