The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-14

SllNeT sea. i u6u IcdCUcU pain W
the lake, and was pausing to consider
in which direction Lecco lay. The
scene around was all one glory of still
ness and of brightness. A breeze just
stirred the waters softly with kiss, the
outlines of the distant hills were soft
and tender, as If drawn bv an artist
angels pencil; here and there among
them there was white a glimmer which
told of q hamlet or q homestead; hard
by nightingale just struck a single
golden note, and was silent again, as if
he feared to break the calm spell OF the
moon.
All at once I started, and q low ex-
clamation burst from my lips. My eyes
were resting on the surface of the lake,
and there, mirrored in its clear waters,
l btheld exactly the same house and
garden which had so often, before left
England, met my view in such strange,
mysterious way. Disturbed. astonished,
unable to believe my own senses, l
glanced round behind me, and there, on
a little rising ground above the lake, 1
saw a house which corresponded to the
reflection below, and which was, in ev-
cry respect, the realization Of my vision.
Just then the clock of some distant
church up among the hills struck eight.
The whole circumstance and coinci-
dence was SO singular that l could not
help being impressed and startled by it.
Antagonistic though my whole energetic
nature was to all imaginary fears and
beliefs, l approached the gate of the
garden, and noted how. in every small
est particular, even to the star-like
flowers of the creeper on the wall, even
to the fresco of the old woman with the
basket of oranges at her feet, even to
the slightly-opened window with the
ray of light gliding through it, it was
the complete likeness of the house
which had so often met my view in the
mirror. The very name of the villa writ
ten over the gate filled me with a strange,
eerie feeling-it was sLa Casa dello
Specchio. 1t had evidently been so
named from the peculiarly clear and
beautiful reflection which it had pro-
duced in the waters of the lake.
The complex thoughts and feelings
which the sight of the villa and its name
called up caused me to hnger near it
for some little time, until began to
fear that my mind was going to take a
morbid, sickly turn, and l resolved to
leave the spot at once. Just as l had
turned to go, however, gold seal,
which had belonged to my father, and
which, therefore, was much valued by
me, happened to fall from my watch
chain, and spent some time in looking
for it, for it had rolled down the hill in
to the grass.
1 had at length found the seal, and
was moving away, when the same dis
tant church clock struck quarter to
nine. Scarcely had the sound died on
the breeze, when long shrill cry came
ringing out of the house into the night,
apparently through the partially open
window. After Lat can not describe
the motives which impelled me, / only
know that, led by what was more like
instinct than anything else, l rushed
across the garden and entered the door
of the lonely house.
There, the first thing l beheld in the
little entrance hall, was girl, with a
fair English face, in state of evident
great terror and agitation.
"What is the matter?" I asked. 81
heard your cry. l am an Englishman,
and l am here to give you any help and
service [ can"
my father, who is lying ill, has just
swallowed poison by mistake" she an
swered at once, for great grief is never
surprised. 81 could not help crying
out when discovered it. All our SER
wants happen to be out, and i have no
one to send to Como for doctor"
q am one" said, land, with Gods
help, will save your father
at so happened that that day had
been moving Lottie into more airy lodg-
ings, and had put my little travelling
case of medicines and instruments, for
better security, into the pocket of my
great coat, which hung on my arm.
The rest is quickly told. saved, by
the prompt measures took, the pois-
oned mans life, and that fair girl has
become my home queen. The villa is
her fathers property, and our brightest
holidays are spent in '.La Casa dello
Specchio'' house of the mirror"
RerieD.