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and to send me home； but for one reason；
I would have done it long ago： there was
a little child； his and minethe dearest；
the loveliest。' She could not go on for a
minute or two。 'The little child that is
lying there； on that bed； but it is dead
and gone； and there is no reason NOW why
I should delay any more about it。'
She put her hand into her breast； and
took out a letter； which she opened。 She
put it into my hands。 It ran thus：
'DEAR MASTER RICHARD；
'My little child is dead； and your
happiness is all I care about now。 Your
marriage with me is displeasing to your
family； and I would be a burden to you；
and in your way in the fine places； and
among the great friends where you must
be。 You ought； therefore； to break the
marriage； and I will sign whatever YOU
wish； or your family。 I will never try
to blame you； Master Richarddo not
think itfor I never deserved your
love； and must not complain now that
I have lost it； but I will always pray
for you； and be thinking of you while
I live。'
While I read this letter； I was satisfied
that so far from adding to the poor
girl's grief； a full disclosure of what had
happened would； on the contrary； mitigate
her sorrow； and deprive it of its sharpest
sting。
'Ellen；' said I solemnly； 'Richard
O'Mara was never unfaithful to you； he
is now where human reproach can reach
him no more。'
As I said this； the hectic flush upon her
cheek gave place to a paleness so deadly；
that I almost thought she would drop lifeless
upon the spot。
'Is heis he dead； then？' said she；
wildly。
I took her hand in mine； and told her
the sad story as best I could。 She listened
with a calmness which appeared almost
unnatural； until I had finished the mournful
narration。 She then arose； and going to
the bedside； she drew the curtain and gazed
silently and fixedly on the quiet face of the
child： but the feelings which swelled at
her heart could not be suppressed； the
tears gushed forth； and sobbing as if her
heart would break； she leant over the bed
and took the dead child in her arms。
She wept and kissed it； and kissed it and
wept again； in grief so passionate； so
heartrending； as to draw bitter tears from
my eyes。 I said what little I could to
calm herto have sought to do more
would have been a mockery； and observing
that the darkness had closed in； I
took my leave and departed； being
favoured with the services of my former
guide。
I expected to have been soon called
upon again to visit the poor girl； but
the Lodge lay beyond the boundary of my
parish； and I felt a reluctance to trespass
upon the precincts of my brother minister；
and a certain degree of hesitation in intruding
upon one whose situation was so
very peculiar； and who would； I had no
doubt； feel no scruple in requesting my
attendance if she desired it。
A month； however； passed away； and I
did not hear anything of Ellen。 I called
at the Lodge； and to my inquiries they
answered that she was very much worse
in health； and that since the death of the
child she had been sinking fast； and so
weak that she had been chiefly confined
to her bed。 I sent frequently to inquire；
and often called myself； and all that I
heard convinced me that she was rapidly
sinking into the grave。
Late one night I was summoned from
my rest； by a visit from the person who
had upon the former occasion acted as
my guide； he had come to summon me to
the death…bed of her whom I had then
attended。 With all celerity I made my
preparations； and； not without considerable
difficulty and some danger； we made a
rapid night…ride to the Lodge； a distance
of five miles at least。 We arrived safely；
and in a very short timebut too late。
I stood by the bed upon which lay the
once beautiful form of Ellen Heathcote。
The brief but sorrowful trial was past
the desolate mourner was gone to that
land where the pangs of grief； the tumults
of passion； regrets and cold neglect； are
felt no more。 I leant over the lifeless face；
and scanned the beautiful features which；
living； had wrought such magic on all that
looked upon them。 They were； indeed；
much wasted； but it was impossible for
the fingers of death or of decay altogether
to obliterate the traces of that exquisite
beauty which had so distinguished her。
As I gazed on this most sad and striking
spectacle； remembrances thronged fast upon
my mind； and tear after tear fell upon the
cold form that slept tranquilly and for ever。
A few days afterwards I was told that a
funeral had left the Lodge at the dead of
night； and had been conducted with the
most scrupulous secrecy。 It was； of course；
to me no mystery。
Heathcote lived to a very advanced age；
being of that hard mould which is not
easily impressionable。 The selfish and the
hard…hearted survive where nobler； more
generous； and； above all； more sympathising
natures would have sunk for ever。
Dwyer certainly succeeded in extorting；
I cannot say how； considerable and advantageous
leases from Colonel O'Mara； but
after his death he disposed of his interest
in these； and having for a time launched
into a sea of profligate extravagance； he
became bankrupt； and for a long time I
totally lost sight of him。
The rebellion of '98； and the events
which immediately followed； called him
forth from his lurking…places； in the
character of an informer； and I myself have
seen the hoary…headed； paralytic perjurer；
with a scowl of derision and defiance； brave
the hootings and the execrations of the
indignant multitude。
STRANGE EVENT IN THE LIFE OF SCHALKEN THE PAINTER。
Being a Seventh Extract from the Legacy of the late
Francis Purcell； P。 P。 of Drumcoolagh。
You will no doubt be surprised；
my dear friend； at the subject of
the following narrative。 What
had I to do with Schalken； or Schalken
with me？ He had returned to his native
land； and was probably dead and buried；
before I was born； I never visited Holland
nor spoke with a native of that country。
So much I believe you already know。 I
must； then； give you my authority； and
state to you frankly the ground upon
which rests the credibility of the strange
story which I am； about to lay before
you。
I was acquainted； in my early days；
with a Captain Vandael； whose father had
served King William in the Low Countries；
and also in my own unhappy land during
the Irish campaigns。 I know not how it
happened that I liked this man's society；
spite of his politics and religion： but so it
was； and it was by means of the free
intercourse to which our intimacy gave
rise that I became possessed of the curious
tale which you are about to hear。
I had often been struck； while visiting
Vandael； by a remarkable picture； in
which； though no connoisseur myself； I
could not fail to discern some ver