Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-11-28

menced reading the account Of a
prepossessing American young lady
who had gone to Paris and there
married very wealthy officer OF the
French army.
The story was interesting, and
much time had passed unnOtiyed
the clock told a quarter TO eight.
Annette's toilet was usually la
borious business, and therefore her
long absence exited no surprise in
the mind of her fond parent. The
noise she had made in walking To
and from her dressing table had
ceased for some time ; but then her
mother thought she might be en-
gagged ut the mirror In adjusting her
hair and preparing her complexion.
"But Mr. T-may arrive at any
moment, and the girl should be
ready to receive him." said Mrs.
Din q sutdued tone If voice.
Taking hold of the little call bell
on her table she rang It, and Sarah
was soon by her side.
"Do you know Sarah" said Mrs.
D., "whether Miss Annette Is
yet ready for the party"
Il don't know, madam" " replied
the girl. ST took her the curling
irons about half an hour ago, and
she seemed to be then little out of
humor.
"Go up to her room and see If she
wants anything" said Mrs. D..
The girl went up stairs and knock
ed at the bedroom door, once. twice.
thrice, but received no answer.
There was a dead silence, except
when the storm shook the windows.
"Could Miss Annette have fallen
asleep %mposSlble !" Sarah knock
Ell again, but unsuccessfully, as be-
fore, She became a little auStered
and after q moments pause, opened
the door ard entered. There Was
Miss 4. D. sitting before the
lOoking-glass.
"Why, la me-" commenced Sa-
rah IN a petulant tone, walking to.
ward her young mistress, "here I
have been knocking for FIVE mln-
uteS, and''--
Horror struck, she staggered
against the bed, uttering loud
shrek, which alarmed Mrs. D.,
who instantly tottered up stairs and
tainted as soon as she beheld the
lifeless form oe her daughter. Miss
A. D. was dead
Sarah Immediately alarmed the
neighbOrs. was sent for. 1t was
a stormy night in March, and the
desolate aspect of things abroad, de-
serted the streets, the dreary, howl
ing wind, and the incessant patter-
ing of the rain contributed to cast |
gloom over my own mind, wher |
connected with the intelligence of |
the event that had summoned me |
out.
On reaching the house found
Mrs. D. working in a violent
tic, surrounded by several of her
Deighbors vino had been called TO
heT assistance. repaired instant
~ to khe scene of death, and be-
held what | never shall forge.
There was a table towards the fur
ther side of the room, and on it
stood ioOking-glass, hung with
little white drapery, and various ar
Iicles belonging 10 the toilet lay
about-pins, curling pa
pers, libands, gloves &c. An arm-
chair was drawn to the table, aud
in it sat Miss A. D., stone dead.
Her head rested upon her right
hand, her elbow supported by the
table, while her left hung down by
her side, grasping pair of curling
irons each of her wrists Wis en-
circled by show> gilt bracelet. Her
face was turned toward the glass
which by the light of the lamp ref
e3ttd with frigbtful i'd lity the
clamIny, Fixed features, daubed over
With rouge and carmihe, the tallen
oWer jaw, and directed full into the
mirror. With a cold dull stare, that
was APPALLING. On examining the
more clio, ely, thought
detected the traces Uf smirk of
,ouceit and self-complacency, which
not even the paraly wing touch of
1eath could wholly obliterate. The
lair of the corpse, all smooth and
glossy, was curled With elaboIa ate
precision; and the shining sallC W
neck was encircled with a string of
pearls. The ghastly Wis
lge of death thus leering through
he tinsel of fashion the vain show
# artificial beauty-was a horrible
u n0ckery Of the fOoltries Of life !
Indeed ir was most humiliating
md shocking sight. Poor creaturei
Struck dead III the very act of sacri-
icing at the shrine of vanity! Two