Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-03-25


a quaint, plainly-set looking glass.
She began to examine it, and wonder
how it could have got there, when
she discovered that, held in certain
light. it revealed an inscription which
ran as follows;
al, the truth and love
OF uOrtals test and prove"
"See, see, Zoe" cried she, "here is
your fairy mirror"
Zoe started up in alarm at hearing
the excited voice of her cousin, but
her alarm was soon lost in wondering
delight at the possession of the pre-
cious fairy gift. rl
'Its mysterious arrival, wonderful
inscription and magic powers formed
the topic of the two girls CONVERSE
ton during their toilet; but they
both agreed to keepit u secret TIL the
night of the ball.
The day passed very slowly with
them. They thought it would never
end, for they were all impatience for
the advent of the morrow.
At last, like all other days, it came
to close, and the long looked-for
and all-important day arrived.
All day long the two cousins were
busv making pretty little bows of
various colored ribbons, fairy-like
boquets, wonderful dice of a size fit
for giant to throw, and all sorts OF
other pretty things, the utility OF
which all those initiated in the mys'
teries Of the dance of the cotillior
would understand.
The pretty and tasteful arrange
ments did credit TO the girls deft
fingers, and they had only just COM
pleted them when it WAS high time
to dress for the evening.
About nire o'clock the expected
guests began to arrive, pouring in
one after another; and for some time
there was nothing but succession of
rat atat.ta's AT the door, Gathering of
feet aid rustling Of dresses.
The evening commenced with the
usual round ofquadrilles, valges, etc,
of wi.lch the young people showed
their thorough enjoyment in their
bright, happy faces and merry laugh
ter.
Towards the middle of the evening
the whisper went round that the
cotillion was about to take place, and
the dancers soon arranged them
selves for this eventful dance.
1t was a scene worthy the pencil of
an artist. The yoang beaux, on
bcnded knee. presenting boquets to
thc fair ones whom they had chosen
for round in the dance and each
young maiden blu>hingly and with
trembling fingers pinnlng gay DOW
on the young mans coat whom she,
in her turn had selected as partner.
All the pretty and different devices
for the dance were brought into re-
QUESTION and exhausted, with the en-
ception of the looking glass.
How Zoe's heart beat high now
that the important and long-looked-
for moment had arrived. She began
to quake at the ordeal she had TO
90 through; but the thought of the
magic talisman she had in her pos
session gave her fresh strength and
courage.
Many fair damsel> preceded her to
the conspicuous scat; and merry was
the laughter when the fair occupants,
difficult to please, sent partners away
with ruetul looks!
.At last it was Toes turn to take
her place in the chair, which she did,
feeling that it was aquestion for Il
partner tor Etc, and not merely for a
dance
The young men who aspired to her
hand felt their hearts huttering, and
mi<givings beginning to arise and
each hung back, not to be the first to
venture.
At last little Lord Tompkins step
ped forward with Il self satisfied air.
and peeped over Toes shoulder in
the mirror. He saw his face reflect
ed but, oh, horror on his forehead
we're written in flaming letters, tht
words
"Ruin, DEBIT
He stood agha.t, transfxed; for il
was only too tue. Toes money was
the last straw the drowning man
could catch at
Zoe saw the warning words, and
smiled contelnptuouslv as she passed
her handkerchief over the mirror.
BY degrees all the suitors went TO
read their fate, and the condemnatory
inscriptions which they bore ruet thciI
mortified gaze. For all had sought
the rich and beautiful girls hand fol
the sake Of her wealth. The poor
wretchcs were frantic at the thought
that their mean motives, in this mys'
terious and terrible manner, should
be exposed to the whole world till
stolen glances in the mirror over the
mantle-piece rca>slired them, the tear.
ful inscription having vanished and
they comf0rted themselves with the
idea that it WAS only wild fancy OF
their own brain.
The game still went on; and to
Toes astonishment, shepresently saw
Harry Lonsdale's face reflected i'll
, her mirror, with his bright honest
gaze. and the words, Il love you,
standing out in bold truth upon his
itoble brow. He started to see the
secret which he had so long kept
close and sacred make itself known in
spite of himself, and in So wonderful
and unaccountable manner but Zoe,