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Drowne's Wooden Image
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TherewasstillfurtherproofofDrowne’slunacy,ifcreditwereduetotherumorthathehadbeenseenkneelingatthefeetoftheoakenlady,andgazingwithalover’spassionateardorintothefacethathisownhandshadcreated.Thebigotsofthedayhintedthatitwouldbenomatterofsurpriseifanevilspiritwereallowedtoenterthisbeautifulform,andseducethecarvertodestruction.
Thefameoftheimagespreadfarandwide.Theinhabitantsvisiteditsouniversally,thatafterafewdaysofexhibitiontherewashardlyanoldmanorachildwhohadnotbecomeminutelyfamiliarwithitsaspect.EvenhadthestoryofDrowne’swoodenimageendedhere,itscelebritymighthavebeenprolongedformanyyearsbythereminiscencesofthosewholookeduponitintheirchildhood,andsawnothingelsesobeautifulinafterlife.Butthetownwasnowastoundedbyanevent,thenarrativeofwhichhasformeditselfintooneofthemostsingularlegendsthatareyettobemetwithinthetraditionarychimneycornersoftheNewEnglandmetropolis,whereoldmenandwomensitdreamingofthepast,andwagtheirheadsatthedreamersofthepresentandthefuture.
Onefinemorning,justbeforethedepartureoftheCynosureonhersecondvoyagetoFayal,thecommanderofthatgallantvesselwasseentoissuefromhisresidenceinHanoverStreet.Hewasstylishlydressedinabluebroadclothcoat,withgoldlaceattheseamsandbutton-holes,anembroideredscarletwaistcoat,atriangularhat,withaloopandbroadbindingofgold,andworeasilver-hiltedhangerathisside.
