The Republican journal., 1872-10-17

| as the clock strikes Twelve must eat ner
apple and comb her hair. She will be
rewarded by seeing the face of her lover
and husband reflected in the glass as
though he were looking overhe shoulder. "
Kitty delivered herself of this harangue
with great gusto, adding, "Now | don't
mind telling YOU, girls, that | leave the
field clear to the rest OF YOU; for nothing
would induce me to take that terrible
promenade, though | did hang mirror
out there this afternoon for any one who
chooses to tempt provldence.' There
| was quite a pause when she flnlShed, ana
for the moment, curiosity as to the rela-
tive courage of the pretty group before
me, kept back the command which meant
| to give against this expedition. The girls
looked curiouslv into one another's faces,
but all seemed to shrink from the ordeal.
| until Chrissie Marston turned and SAID,
with an odd laugh. "Well, girls, Eve
made up my mind that I'll do it, Just for
| the tun OF the thing"
80, Chrssie, dare you?n burst in q
sort of half protest from all, and | think
this settled brave Chris. She was hand
| some blonde, 4 tritle naughty, perhaps, yet
with ravishing smile that belicd her
stately mein, for she carried her seventeen
years like a society queen. / should have
refused any other, | think, but liked
Christabel, and knew, too, that opposi-
| ton would be useless if she was really de-
termined at is halt-past eleven now,
cherries and Lady Macbeth demands her
| lamp, with the rest Of her paraphernalia,
| for | must be in time to meet my gallant
| lover" pursued brave Chris, undauntedly.
1--WE shall wait for you in the library"
we said, and the lamps were forthcoming
as well as the candle. "And then We'll
go directly to bed. if you please. my
dears." I was obliged to add. Chrissie
sat by the fire, unwinding the golden glory
! of her hair, which rippled in radiant
waves from her crown to her knees. 1t
| was the ''Marston hair" the traditional
pride OF her house, and seemed almost too
much for her slight, graceful iornn Her
cheeks were flushed with excitement, her
eyes glistened and danced and her lovely
mouth was tremulous with unspoken
thoughts | think | never realized her
beauty before; but she seemed lovely
then beyond compare.
Throwing u shawl about her shoulders,
she took the candle. the apple (Which
Kitty CONSIDERABLY took care should be
small,) and her comb, and with rapid
steps and not n word of goodbye, sped
swiftly down the .'corrdor." as Kitty had
romantically termed in. AS | watched
her all the ludicr0usncss of the scene van
ished. She looked like some sweet saint
framed in the nimbus of her shining hair,
like Beatrice going to her dungeon.
She soon diappeared from our sight in
a bend OF the ssage-way, and the group
of half-frghtened girls huddlcd together
in a hushed crowd of scared faces up
turned to me with a haf-query and ha
protest. 'Wc ought not to have let her
go-how long will she stay ?" As none
could answer, they tried to divert them
selves from foolish fears. Kitty was
studying the clock face and winking hard
over ''three doses Of salt. administered
two minutes apart" In spite Of all at
tempts at amusement. it seemed IN age,
although it was really only five minutes
after twelve, Still the corridor was dark
and silent, and had almost made up my
mind TO break the spell and 90 TO meet
her, when the pale light llickered once
at the end OF the passage way As she
came nearer, it seemed rs though she was
very white-else ii was the sickly glare
of the candle, but as she crossed the
threshold her fingers relaxed, the candle
fell, and she threw herself upon my neck
with Il burst Of hysterical sobs. The
nervous strain had been too much and
led her into the parlor again. and drawing
her down on the broad divan. tried to
soothc her. But she sprang up in a mo-
ment and said, Girls, don't ever try that
experimental it's true. I've seen him
and | am sure it is true"
"Who-who? ? do tell us all about it,
and the astonshed girls drew back in a
hall-horror rs they looked upon ChriSsie's
unnatural palIor and restless, trembling
fingers. Drawing her down once more,
and clasping my warm hands over her
cold ones, | soon calmed her sufficiently
for the narration of her story:
after left you walked last, because
it was chilly, and although | was not
afraid, I felt excited. OF course all was
quiet when | entered the old study,
found Kitty's mirror, and seating myself
before it, fell to quietly musing forgetting
my apple and comb, when ! suddenly
heard a stealthy tootstep near. As | was
about to turn my head quickly thinking
some of you meant to play q Joke upon
me, my uplfted eyes encountered in the
mirror the reflection OF a handsome, smil-
ing face-that Of a gentleman.
at was quite as lifelke us my own,
| and seemed to be peering over my should
er. 1t was the face of a man OF twenty
five, ! should Judge. with dark hair and
merry brown eyes, a clear, rich complex
ion and a saucy mouth, half hidden by II
| long, full moustache. 1t was a face had
never seen before, and was spell-bound
too fascinated to move a muscle. With u
| half bow and a whole smile, disclosing
| fine teeth il or he, or whatever it WAS,
| disappeared. The revulsion of feeling
| the moment it was gone was terrible.
| Such horrible fright came over me as
| turned and saw that every thing was un-
| chan@ed-not q trace Of humanity near
| that | grasped my light with Il desperate
grip and flew into the entry! How
| reached you all | shall never know, for |
| felt as if | was sutlocating."
80 Auntie what could it have been ?"
gasped Kitty.
''It is impossible, my child, that it could
have been anything but an over-excited
fancy, and you must all forget it now and
get ready for bed"
.No, Miss Jeanette, know, and shall
always affirm to my dying day that my
senses were clear, and I did indeed see
| 'tioeHCI l't'o III tilc itoo boo'NtC iIa ONh'
answered Christabel in tone of such
earnest conviction that | was staggered
for moment. The girls, rallying from
| their scare. insisted that it was a "true
sign, and now that Chrissie had seen her
lover, they would make one more effort "
SO Daisy went to bed, faithfully obcying
| the directions:
'Turn your boots toward the street,
| Leave your garters on your feet,
| Put your stockings on your head,
| You'll dream of the one you're going to wed -
While Kitty pursuant to her "salt charm, -
having successfully accomplished the three
swallows, went to bed backward, and lay
down upon her right side, determined to
sleep without stirring till morning. As
my room was only separated from the
larger room by a thin partition, which the
girls had improyised into 4 dormitory for
the sake Of being together, l had the ben
eft of Kitty's martyrdom. After they had
chatted some time, / heard her voice
mournfully exclaim, go dear! if could
only stir enough to get drink I'm