Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-02
Gales ano Sketfbes.
fHR House IN faE MIRROR.
(Continuued from yesterday. }


MRS. Trickey. I have rung for you to
ask you to do . very simple thing" l
said, hesltatingly, now that she was pres
ent, scarcely Knowing how to begin; for
felt. if spoke out plainly. my house
keeper must infallibly think that l had
taken leave of my senses.
What will zee please to have, sir p
replied Mrs. Trickey, in true Devonshire
fashion.
MRS. Tricky. will you please look in
the glass over the chimney piece ?" /
blurted out rather abruptly. not knowing
how else to find out what wanted to dis
cover
Get along with your nonsense. Master
Fred" cried Mrs. Trickey. with toss OF
head, which was 50 energetic it almost
discomposed the stiff frills Of her cap
II must be mentioned here that Mrs.
Trickey had lived with my mother when
] was a boy, and that, with her. still
continued Master Fred. though all the
world besides knew me as Frederick
Heathcote, ESQ.,. surgeon.
II can assure you, Mrs. Trickey, |
mean no insult. not even q joke" re-
piled humbly. IL fancied something was
wrong in the reflection of the glass; per-
haps Susan has not busted il as she should.
viii you please look into it with your ex-
perienced eyes. Mrs. Trickeys"
was in hopes that this last implied COM
pliment would have propriated the house
keeper; but apparently it had no such
effect, for after short inspection OF the
mirror she said tartly:
The glass be right enough 80 far as
do see this be just one of your items,
Master Fred"
But. Mrs. Trickey. do please tell me
what you see when you look into it,"
exclaimed, seeing that must be more ex-
plicit if wanted TO gain full certainty on
the matter.
why, what should see but my own
face, Master Fred ?" she retorted ,snappish.
ly; land 1t be as good looking face as
the faces OF many women who be ten
years younger than be. and can tell zee
that it have been thought good looking
face by scores of men in its time"
And herewith she bridled considerably
and drew herself up.
"And do you see nothing there beside:
your face, then, Mrs. Trickey?"
BLESS and save US, Master Fred. You
must he turning mazed. think, or else il
he that YOU be making a regular fool OF
me. don't see why you should make up
such ganimots about my face, when you've
knowed it these last twenty years. | calls
1t very disrespectful, that | do"
And with founce and "a bounce Mrs
Trickey turned and disappeared from the
room. leaving me alone with the house in
the mirror. which most certainly she hao
not seen.
I WAS musing uncomfortably on thi.
fact. with my eyes fixed on the vision
which to me was rs distinct as ever, when
the clock on the chimney piece struck a
quarter to nine. Then suddenly, as il
wiped out by n spirits wing, just when
the little silver chime of the clock was
ringing. house. garden. summer house
moonlight. yellow CLEAN. vanished from
the mirror, and saw nothing there save
the reflection of the familiar room.
II was certainly a more wonderful phe.
nomenon than any which my medical
books and medical knowledge had taught
me, and sat up late that night thinking
it over and trying vainlv to account for it
As. however. could not gain the slight
est light on the subject. turn the matter
up and down rs might in my brain
came to resolution on two points,
and then went to bed. One OF
these resolves was. that | would not re.
veal the strange circumstance to any one
because had always a most hearty dis
like of gossip and rdicule at my expense.
and the other was, that | would not allow
the inexplicable vision to trouble nv
mind, so as to make me incapable of the
daily work and duty of life. My natural
calmness of temperament and my active,
busy course OF existence, made me more
able to make these determinations with
some chance of keeping to them than
most people in my place.
slept well that night. and did not see
the house in the mirror once in my dreams
Next day was sent for in haste to attend
. dangerous. difficult case. which required
all my skill and energy. BY the time the
evening was again come the impression
made BY the strange circumstance of las,
night had in q great measure faded out OF
my mind.
II 50 happened that | was engaged to
spend that evening with my friends Mrs
and Mr.. Woodland. Mr.. Woodland was
. banker. and his wife was a pretty,
sparkling woman-the queen OF society in
our town. She and were ALWAYS close
allies; she would chatter to me of her
family affairs. and in certain way made
me her confidant. On the occasion in
question was Mr.. and Mrs Woodland
only guest. The banker slumbered in his
armchair. the lady had two or three bits
Of gossip to tell about the ueighborhood,
and two or three new books to discuss
with me. and deal to say besides about
the first appearance of a tooth in Miss
Baby's little rosy mouth. The young
heroine was brought down in state in her
nightdress. and had to examine the prod
ICY with much circumstance and solemn.
y.
Baby had retired again to the nursery,
and had ceased her somewhat loud re.
monstrsnce with regard to the inconyen.
fence of being brought down stairs to ap-
pear in the drawing-room in such cos
tune and at such an hour Mrs. Wood
land was standing on the hearth-rug
looking in the mirror when the town clock
in the market-place hard by struck eight.
was looking at the reflection of my