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The window was open； and Schalken
sprang to a chair and gazed out upon
the street and canal below。 He saw no
form； but he beheld； or thought he beheld；
the waters of the broad canal beneath
settling ring after ring in heavy circular
ripples； as if a moment before disturbed by
the immersion of some large and heavy mass。
No trace of Rose was ever after discovered；
nor was anything certain respecting
her mysterious wooer detected or even
suspected； no clue whereby to trace the
intricacies of the labyrinth and to arrive at
a distinct conclusion was to be found。 But
an incident occurred； which； though it will
not be received by our rational readers as
at all approaching to evidence upon the
matter； nevertheless produced a strong and
a lasting impression upon the mind of
Schalken。
Many years after the events which we
have detailed； Schalken； then remotely
situated； received an intimation of his
father's death； and of his intended burial
upon a fixed day in the church of Rotterdam。
It was necessary that a very considerable
journey should be performed by
the funeral procession； which； as it will
readily be believed； was not very numerously
attended。 Schalken with difficulty
arrived in Rotterdam late in the day upon
which the funeral was appointed to take
place。 The procession had not then arrived。
Evening closed in； and still it did not appear。
Schalken strolled down to the church
be found it opennotice of the arrival of
the funeral had been given； and the vault
in which the body was to be laid had been
opened。 The official who corresponds to
our sexton； on seeing a well…dressed
gentleman； whose object was to attend the
expected funeral； pacing the aisle of the
church； hospitably invited him to share
with him the comforts of a blazing wood
fire； which； as was his custom in winter
time upon such occasions； he had kindled
on the hearth of a chamber which commu…
nicated； by a flight of steps； with the vault
below。
In this chamber Schalken and his
entertainer seated themselves； and the sexton；
after some fruitless attempts to engage his
guest in conversation； was obliged to apply
himself to his tobacco…pipe and can to
solace his solitude。
In spite of his grief and cares； the
fatigues of a rapid journey of nearly forty
hours gradually overcame the mind and
body of Godfrey Schalken； and he sank
into a deep sleep； from which he was
awakened by some one shaking him
gently by the shoulder。 He first thought
that the old sexton had called him； but HE
was no longer in the room。
He roused himself； and as soon as he
could clearly see what was around him； he
perceived a female form； clothed in a kind
of light robe of muslin； part of which was
so disposed as to act as a veil； and in her
hand she carried a lamp。 She was moving
rather away from him； and towards the
flight of steps which conducted towards the
vaults。
Schalken felt a vague alarm at the sight
of this figure； and at the same time an
irresistible impulse to follow its guidance。
He followed it towards the vaults； but
when it reached the head of the stairs； he
paused； the figure paused also； and； turning
gently round； displayed； by the light of
the lamp it carried； the face and features
of his first love； Rose Velderkaust。 There
was nothing horrible； or even sad； in the
countenance。 On the contrary； it wore
the same arch smile which used to enchant
the artist long before in his happy days。
A feeling of awe and of interest； too
intense to be resisted； prompted him to
follow the spectre； if spectre it were。 She
descended the stairshe followed； and；
turning to the left； through a narrow
passage； she led him； to his infinite
surprise； into what appeared to be an old…
fashioned Dutch apartment； such as the
pictures of Gerard Douw have served to
immortalise。
Abundance of costly antique furniture
was disposed about the room； and in one
corner stood a four…post bed； with heavy
black…cloth curtains around it； the figure
frequently turned towards him with the
same arch smile； and when she came to
the side of the bed； she drew the curtains；
and by the light of the lamp which she
held towards its contents； she disclosed to
the horror…stricken painter； sitting bolt
upright in the bed； the livid and demoniac
form of Vanderhausen。 Schalken had
hardly seen him when he fell senseless
upon the floor； where he lay until
discovered； on the next morning； by persons
employed in closing the passages into the
vaults。 He was lying in a cell of considerable
size； which had not been disturbed for
a long time； and he had fallen beside a
large coffin which was supported upon
small stone pillars； a security against the
attacks of vermin。
To his dying day Schalken was satisfied
of the reality of the vision which he had
witnessed； and he has left behind him a
curious evidence of the impression which
it wrought upon his fancy； in a painting
executed shortly after the event we have
narrated； and which is valuable as
exhibiting not only the peculiarities which
have made Schalken's pictures sought
after； but even more so as presenting a
portrait； as close and faithful as one taken
from memory can be； of his early love；
Rose Velderkaust； whose mysterious fate
must ever remain matter of speculation。
The picture represents a chamber of
antique masonry； such as might be found
in most old cathedrals； and is lighted
faintly by a lamp carried in the hand of
a female figure； such as we have above
attempted to describe； and in the
background； and to the left of him who
examines the painting； there stands the
form of a man apparently aroused from
sleep； and by his attitude； his hand being
laid upon his sword； exhibiting considerable
alarm： this last figure is illuminated
only by the expiring glare of a wood or
charcoal fire。
The whole production exhibits a beauti…
ful specimen of that artful and singular
distribution of light and shade which has
rendered the name of Schalken immortal
among the artists of his country。 This
tale is traditionary； and the reader will
easily perceive； by our studiously omitting
to heighten many points of the narrative；
when a little additional colouring might
have added effect to the recital； that we
have desired to lay before him； not a figment
of the brain； but a curious tradition
connected with； and belonging to； the
biography of a famous artist。
SCRAPS OF HIBERNIAN BALLADS。
Being an Eighth Extract from the Legacy of the late
Francis Purcell； P。 P。 of Drumcoolagh。
I have observed； my dear friend；
among other grievous misconceptions
current among men otherwise
well…informed； and which tend to
degrade the pretensions of my native land；
an impression that there exists no such
thing as indigenous modern Irish composition
deserving the name of po