Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1856-12-11

Agrlnpa PERMISSION tO consult his magic
mirror yet the Strangers words made So
great an impression upon him, that he
consented at once to crafty him.
"Nhom do you wish to behold p
asked he.
My daughlcr-my dear and loving
Miriam"
Cornelius closed up every aperture
through which the declining light of day
could have penetrated, and having placed
the stranger on his right, he began 10
chant some lyric verses in an under voice,
and in Il strange language. Several
times the stranger funuicd he heard Il
voice responding to that Of the magician,
but the sounds were SO feeble that it
would have been difficult to say.
While the magician continued chanting,
the chamber became iIIumined by de.
grecs, but without It's being apparent
whence proceeded the light. At last the
stranger perceived ut one end Of the
room a large mirror that covered the
whole wall, across whose surface a thick
cloud kept fitting to and fro.
odd your daughter die married :"
asked Cornelius.
mo, she died Il virgin"
"How many years ago did the grave
close over here
The strangers brow was overcast and
he replied with IA degree Of petuIance,
MANY ycars-than ! have time to count
Just now"
"Yet | must know the number" said
Agrippa "for this wand must trace as
many circles as there are tens Of Years
since your daughters death and it is
only when the last circle shall have been
accomplished that you will be enabled to
see her appear IN the mirror"
Begin tracing your circles, tbeu,"
said the stranger, with a bitter sigh
"and above all, take patience"
lrritatcd by this %iinperious tone, the
magician was about 10 retort, when he re-
strained himself in pity for the deep ms
fortunes his guest seemed 10 have expo
rienccd. His hand now BEGIN to trace
circle after circle, but it seemed as if the
wand had lost It's power, for the surfnce
of the mirror was still dimned by the
cloud. Cornelius then turned towards the
stranger, saying, "You singular being!
who can you be-, for your presence thiis
10 disturb my incantations ! This wand.
guided by the rules Of my art, has now
described a space of four hundred years,
Yet the surface Of the mirror is still the
same. Answer me! Would you mock
me, and has the person you describe never
existed =
go on-go on was the strangers
only reply.
Cornelius went on tracing the circles
with his wand. BY dint Of turning round
and round, his arm grew tired, and he
was about to cease, when the solemn,
thrilling voice Of the stranger urged him
to persevere with the words, "Go on-go
on And on he went nor was il until,
according to his calculations, the wand
had gone over a period Of more than
twelve hundred years that the cloud on
the surface of the mirror rolled away /;
on seeing which, the stranger uttered an
exclamation Of delight, and rising from
his seat, qazed in ecstacy at the scene that
met his view.
a splendid landscape lay before him,
intersrcted by "A rapid torrent, aud belied
by HIGH mountains crowned with marnih-
cent cedars. In the foreground a few
camels were grazing, and not far from
them ran a little stream, 10 which a herd
Of sheep had come to quench their thirst:
while under the shade Of a tall palm tree
sat a young maiden Of unequalled beauty,
dressed in n very costly Oriental garb,
coolly sheltered from the nooutide SIM.
It's She! lis she - cried the stranger,
vehemently; and he was about TO rush
towards the mirror, when Cornelius said,
"Do not stir from your place, imprudenl
slranger-for every step yQu take to aP-
proach the mirror, win only DIM the OBJ
iects depicted on its surface, and soon
make them vanish entirely"
These words restrained the stranger
but so great was his agitation hat he was
obliged to lean for support on the magi-
clans arm. lncoherent expressions OF
surprise, pain, or pleasure, burst every
now and then from his lips.
IT'S she = repeated he. "She is alive
once more-and how beautiful she looks
Miriam, my child. speak to me, Oh,
heavens, She moves her hand-she
smiles! Oh. for one word, my loved
daughler-only one word from your lips
Nay. were il but a sigh-let me hear YOU
breathe. Alas! all is silent and drearS
as my own heart! We, she smiles agair
It's the same smile, the remembrance
Of which not even the shadows Of a thou.
sand winters have chilled within hi.
heart. In vain yon seek To restrain me
old man." continued he, addressing
AgrIppa unjust press her in ny arms
So saying, he rushed franically u