Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-12-21
Como, in North Italy, saying that my

over since her baby was born, and that
she was about to return to England fol-
the sake of q cooler climate and the
best medical advice. I knew, too, that
she meant to return through Italy, but
l was hardly aware that she had, as
yet, started from Bombay, and l had
not the faintest notion that her disease
might possibly take such q dangerous
turn. No wonder. then, that the It'd
ings were q severe blow.
Lottie was far more to me than sisters
generally are to their brothers. She
was several years younger than l was,
and she had been first my plaything,
then my pupil, and | had experienced
a .pang of real jealousy on that day
when, sitting on a stool at my feet, with
her sweet face hidden on my knees, she
confessed to me that there was one who
was more to her than 1 was, one who
was more to her than all the world be-
side. This foolish feeling, of course,
quickly passed away, and 1 reioiced to
see her a happy bride; yet Lottie was
still my pet, my pride and my darling.
l will not dwell upon the hurried
journey, with Fear sitting at my side,
nor the long nights and days of dreary,
anxious watching. 1t suffices to say
here that my sweet girl was. at length,
given back to my arms, after, through
long weeks, my medical care and skin
had battled with death for her. During
the whole of this period the house in the
mirror never again appeared to me,
and, indeed, in my absorbing anxiety
and trouble-the remembrance of It
hardly entered nv mind.
One lovely evening in early spring.
when Lottie was much better, but not
strong enough yet to be moved, I had
been Gaking q long ramble into tho
lovely country which surrounds Lake
Como, and on my return had lost my
way. The sun had set, the moon had
risen, and was bathing the world in
q silver sea. [ had reached u path by
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 a kiss, the
outlines of the distant hills were soft
and tender, as if drawn by an artist
angels pencil; here and there among
them there was white 8 glimmcr which
told of a hamlet or a homestead; hard
by a 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 1 started, and O low ex-
clamation burst from my lips. My eyes
were resting on the surface of the lake,
and there, mirrored in it's clear waters,
| beheld exactly the same house and
garden which had so often, before I left
England, met my view in such a strange,
mysterious way. Disturbed, astonished.
unable to believe my W senses, I
glanced round behind me, and there, on
"a little rising ground above the lake, 1
saw a house which correspondent 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.
4. The whole circumstance and coinci-
dence vas 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, I 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 strange,
eerie feeling-it was ssLa 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 linger near it
for some little time, until l 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 1 had
turned to go, however, a 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.
), Ihad at length found the seal, and
was moving away, when the same dis
tant church clock struck a quarter To
!, niue. Scarcely had the sound died on
the breeze, when a long shrill cry came
ringing out of the house into the night,
a apparently through the partially open
y window. After tLat l can not describe
:. the motives which impelled me, l only
know that, led by what was more like
= instinct than anything else, l rushed
. across the garden and entered the dool
of the lonely house.
!, There, the first thing l beheld in thu
little entrance hall, was a girl, with {
; fair English face, in q state of eviden'
: great terror and agitation.
"What is the matter:?" I asked. 8!
heard your cry. l am an Englishman
a and I am here to give you any help ane
service | can"
+ "My father, who is lying i'll, has jus
;. swallowed poison by mistake" she an
swered at once, for great grief is neve
= . surprised. 81 could not help cryin!
out when l discovered it. All our ser
. wants happen to be out, and 1 have n
one to send to Como for q DOCTOR"
II am one," 1 said, land, with God
4 help, I will save your father"
3 sit so happened that that day I hat
7 been moving Lottie into more airy lodg