Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-04-09
THE MAGIC MIRROR.

About eleven O'Clock on a cold evening two
young giils were sitting over the fire In
pretty chintz bed. room, the sanctum sanctorum
OF Zoe Leslie, that dark, handsome girl who Is
lazily unpinniDg her glossy hair, and letting 1t
TALL around her face In great thick waves. That
pretty little fair-haired creature busily engaged
In disentangling her curly wig is her bosom
friend and cousin, Grace Leslie, who has come
To Fair Holm, as Zoe's home Is called,
"What thing 1t is to be rich," suddenly ex-
claimed Zoe, who for some time past had been
loo king dreamily into the fire, unnoticed by her
little companion, who was very busy waglng
war against her obstinate locks, and bent unon
bringing them into subsection In the form of a
steady, sober plat. 81 wish l were like YOU,
with only my face my fortune as the old song
says. The idea of my godfather leaving Inc ali
his money! He little thought what misery and
perplexity ii would bring me, instead of happi.
ness anu comfort, as he fondly imagined. The
dear old man! Filthy lucre, how | abominate
evil"
"Oh, Zoe" broke in her cousin, "do not say
that. See how you have it III your power to rem.
der others happy"
"Ob, yes-it is all very well for charity, |
know, mpatiently interrupted Zoe. ~ am
thinking of my own troubles. Here am, a rich
heiress, and therefore a prize for ali adyentnr.
srs. Why, have had about twenty offers since
l have come into my money-all sorts of sizes
rom lord to lawyer. IL was only last night
NJ Lady Browns party that little whlpper-snap,
per, Lord Tomkins, had the audacity to pro.
pose TO me, and actually looked quite offended
Ano astonlsned when told him that, like the
others, he should have his answer at INV cotill
Ion party. believe lie thought that | SHOULD
have been only too delighted TO have the hopol
OF bearing his name, and would Jump at hi,
propose at once!"
Sand do you really Intend,'' asked Grace
TO give the poor anxious lovers their ans wers
them"
ayes certainly" answered her cousin, LAUGH
Ing. "As have obtained my guardians con
sent TO managing, my love sfiAirs as please
arranged this party on purpose to avoid the
painful duty OF having to say decided mo- &c
twenty different suitors, for know that is how
VIII end. They only want me for ray money
ano not for myself think 1t Is a capital Idea
They will know their fate in the figure of the
lookinG-glAss; for as their faces, looking over INV
SHOULDER, are reflected 10 the mirror that hold
"a my hand, they will have their answer; for
NE sign Il, II refuse them efface their image
nom the glass, and III accept them dance
with themn
"but Is there not one out of all the twenty. ,
SAID Grace, "that you like just little btu"
"No," said Zoe-''strange to saw, not one
ana, what Is still more strange, the only younl
man that do like, Harry Lonsdale, the vicar,
son, cannot bear Inc. He always shuns nv 40.
eisty, and when We do happen TO come iute
contact with each other, he is quite brusque. and
almost wanting In the common courtesies O.
polite society"
"Psrhaps that is his natural m.nner.p ar
gusd Grace. "Soms people are by nature
rather abrupt"
"No, that Is the mystery" despondently an
swersd her Cousin. "ro others he is ths ca
sspce Of pollteness; but 10 me he ALWAYS main
tains the ssme cold and extraordinary be
hAvior."
"Oh deaIi wish we lived in the time OF fsrie.
and they would perhaps lot us have pee,
81 peoples hearts, aud then we should know
their real worth"
Happy though let me see-what shall
wish for? Oh, know, a magic mirror; which
renecting parsons face, shall disclose 10 me
ms true cnaracter' Thatwoul do splendidly
for my coiilllon.
A few moments after this conversation. The
Two cousins, with busy thoughts of the coming
syentiful night, fe fast asleep.
The sun streaming into the room the mex,
morning disturbed the peaceful slumbers OF
Grace. She started up, but finding Zoe still fast
asleep, she debated in her mind whether She
would have one, only just one little, delicious
snooxe, or get up. She very soon decided upon
n,s former course, as being more agreeable, and
was on the poiut of putting it into execution
whom suddenly her eye was caught by some
thing glittering on her cousins pillow.
"What can 1t be?"
She ran to see, and found ii to be y quaint,
plsinly-set looking-glass. She began to ex.
anime II, and wonder how it could have got
there, when she discovered that held in a GER
tain light, IL revealed an inscription which ran
~ follows;
al, the truth and love
Of mortals test and PROVE"
''sse, see, Zoe" cried she, ''tere is your
fairy mirror!"
Zoe started up in alarm at hearing the ex-
cited voice Of her cousin, but her alarm was
,oen lost In wondering delight at the possess
lion Of the precious fairy gift.
Its mysterious arrival, wonderful inscr ption