The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-08-23

fused mass Of outlines invisible to unen.
lightened eyes, but which under certain
favorable circumstances arranged them
selves in order, and came out into shadowy
dlstinctness, one after the other.
"An aneestress Of mine," l heard him
saying in his dreamy voice, chad mirror
of Venetian glass. set 10 frame carved
wonderfully, and swinging between twist
ed columns. She was beautiful woman,
with great blue eyes, and red golden hair
like that Of Titian's women. 1t was said
that my ancestor loved her with such
jealous rage that he could not bear her
to even look at aught beside himself; oven
the sunlight and the evening sky were
hateful to him, because her sweet eyes
looked at them. She must have led
gloomy life at best, in the high castle
perched upon a lonely rock, and who can
wonder if the painter who came to take
her portrait stirred little blood In those
pale checks, If only as sudden stone dis
turbs the surface of some still mountain
lake? Her husband watched her grimly,
as she sat in her thick satin dress, sowed
with great pearls, and her hair gathered be-
meath diadem, and flowing in long locks
behind.
"The next morning they found her lying
in the great bed with its blood red hang
ings-dead. The women who made the
death toilette, whispered that the fair neck
was dark and swollen, with the cruel grippe
Of strong hands; and it is said that when
she laid 10 state, her long hair was curl
ously dressed, so that her neck and throat
were vailed by it, and her fair pitiful face
was framed like some of the Madonnas Of
Fra Angelica, in burning gold.
"That night my ancestor shut himself
in his wife's chamber, and in the dull
dawn they found him on the floor before
the mirror; they lifted him, but bis dark
face was rigid, and his gloomy soul had
gone to its appointed place. He had gone
alone into the deserted room, aud with
his dim candle went to search in the
secrets of the dead It was midnight,
and as he Looked involuntarily in the mir
ror, out Of It's shadowy depths suddenly
looked forth the face of his dead wife, with
all the lonely wretchedness aud despair OF
her short life gathered into her eyes. She
implored him mutely to give rest to her
poor wandering soul she held him with a
| ghostly strength ip the dark room, until she
conquered, and he fell and died before hel
mirror And SO she was avenged"
There was a painful silence for mo
ment, then George laughed aloud 90 All
Giovanni, how easy it is for you in6de
Italians to believe! Ii is said, it is said,
that is enough for you who knows wha
your grim ancestor saw in the mirror
Did he come back to tell? His owl
black face might be cuough to frightel
the soul out Of his old body. And more
over, suppose man should choose mir
ror into which no one he knew had eve
looked, what then ?"
Giovanni answered TRANQUILITY, 9Th
hand of fate would lead him silently; b
would be constrained to choose the miro
holding the face which made or marrc
the past.
'isooE Jack, George suddenly exclain
cd, "it Is nearly midnight; ii you had
lonely room and mirror, would tr
Giovanni's theory tonight"
| had mirror aud lonely room; a
antique mirror which | had found the da
before in an old shop in the City, an
brought home ip Triumph as a vcritabl
work Of art As Giovanni proceeded i
his story a strange fancy had taken poi
session Of me--for this mirror swun
in its carved frame between two twiste
columns.
"Haye you mirror, Jack 7"
"Yes," | answered, "there is one in til
lumber room, but George, don't try an
experiments tonight; it is cold aud abou
Unable in there, and il will strike midnigh
Immediately"
$50 it will, there is not moment /
lose" He sprang up, and snatched
"a ndle cut Of an old.fashioued eandea
brum on the mantelpieee. As he lighte
it, ! was painfully struck with his rcstles,
excited manner. As he passed me,
laid my hand on his arm; strange fea
chokcd my voice nd oppressed me. II
shook me of hastily, aud laughed out =
"Why, Jack, are we fools? Do you be
lieye IN such rubbish? Bah p He walk
cd quickly to the door Of the salon, an,
opened il he looked back and made
mocking gesture Of farewell to us, as W
sat and stood, in dead breathless sicnc
around the supper table, with It's gay con
fusion, its light and flowers. Perhaps th
feeling of dread which evidently ha,
taken possession Of all these reckless fcl
lows was a sort Of eontagion from Gic
vanni and me; for the Italian sat immoy
able, with burning, horrorstricken eye,
and |, if | had been a woman, woul
have cried out or tainted. We lstene
| to his firm footsteps, as they echoed acros
the wide, empty room. They stopped
The little clock on the mantcl and the be
Of Notre Dame began to strike. The
there rang through our cars a terrible or,
then heavy fall, then desd silence.
was at the door in moment, and the res
followed. | knew, before could SO,
that | should find him there before III
mirror. The only light was from the str
dio door, aud from the moonlight strug
Cling through the cobwebbed window
He lay on his face with his arms ou
stretched turned him over, aud LITE
up his handsome head. His teeth wcr
elenehed, his eyes wide open; the fac
was full Of dispair and horror, but eve
as we looked il settled into the calm r,
pose Of death He was dead. DR.. Lau
rent knecled down beside him and bare
his arm. Not drop of blood followe
the lancet, but as still held him my heal
gave a great leap at the sight Of broa
golden band below the shoulder. hastil
pulled down the sleeve. | had no nee
to decipher the fantastic bloodred letter
on it. A food of light illumined the pas
months. No wonder, no wonderl 1ur
derstood in a moment. There was st
cret 10 his life, an anguish against whic
he might well wound himself to death
Dr. Laurent said il was disease of III
heart; but Giovanni whispered in my car
"Giacomo, ii is Beatrice's "mirror, anI
he crossed himself furtiyely. Aiier Al
the necessary formalities were ended, W
followed him to his lonely grave. Thcr
was one person who stood with as besid
tho ora va n woman. All oat ,-tfho~.Il