Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-05-21
Gales aud Skftthes.
from All the Year Round.
YdI FACE IN me GLASS.
(continueo from yesterday.

L
| inaudible tone. He was supported as be-
fore, BY his hands resting on the table
and could only bow with his head toward
the glass, to intimate what he meant
LOOK in there.'' he repeated.
II did as he asked me.
What do you see p he asked next
-. See p repeated, trying to speak as
ebeerfully as could. and describing the
reflection of his own face as near as l
could. Il see very. very pale face with
sunken cheeks
WHAT he cried with alarm in his
voice which could not understand.
"With sunken cheeks went on, and
two hollow eyes with large pupils
Il saw the reflection of my friends face
change. and felt his hand clutch my arm
even more tightly than he had done before.
| stopped abruptly, and looked round at
him. He did not turn his head toward me
but still gazing on the looking-glas SEEM
ed to labor for utterance.
| WHAT he stammered at last. DO
-you--see it too?
See what p asked. quickly.
".That face 2 he cried in accents of hor-
ror. That face-which is not mine-and
which, SEE INSTEAD OF MIME-always !!
IL was struck speechless by his words.
In moment this mystery was explained
but what an explanation! Worse, q
hundred times worse. than anything had
| imagined. What Had this man lost the
power of seeing his own image as it was
reflected there before him7 and in its
place was there the image If another?
| Had he changed reflections with some
other man? The frightfulness of the
IL cnoonhlacs for q time
then / saw how false an impression my ST.
lence was conveying.
No, no, nor I cried. as soon as
could speak, hundred times, no / see
you, of course, and only you. 1t was your
face that attempted to describe. and no
other
"He seemed not to hear me. Why look
there = he said in low. indistinct voice,
pointing to his own image in the glass.
Whose face do you see there p
Why, yours. of course. And then,
after moment l added, Whose do you
see?'
HE answered, like one in trance.
.His-only his-always hisr He stood
still moment, and then. with loud and
terrific scream, repeated those words, AL
ways his, always his and fell down in a
fit before me.
II knew what to do now. Here was a
thing which, at any rate, could under
stand. had with me my surgical instru-
ments, and l did what was necessary
first to restore my unhappy patient, and
next to procure for him the rest he needed
so much. He was very ill,--at deaths
door for some days,-andI could not leave
him, though there was urgent need that |
should be back in London. When he be-
gan to mend. sent over to England for
my servant-John Masey-whom knew
I could trust. Acquainting him with the
outline of the case, left him in charge of
my patient with orders that he should be
brought over to this country as soon as he
was fit to travel.
THAT awful scene was always before
me. l saw this devoted man, day after
day, with the eyes of my Imagination,
sometimes destroying in his rage the
harmless looking glass, which was the
immediate cause of his suffering, some
times transfixed before the horrid image
that turned him to stone. | recOllect COM
ing upon him once when we were STOP
ping at a roadside inn. and seeing him
stand so by broad daylight His back
was turned towards me, and waited and
watched him for nearly half an hour. as
he stood there motionless and speechless
and appearing not to breathe. 1 am not
sure but that this apparation seen so by
daylight was more CHASTITY than the ap-
partition seen in the middle of the night
with the thunder rumbling among the
hills.
Back in London, in his own house,
where he could command in some sort
the objects which should surround him,
poor Strange was better than he would
have been elsewhere. He seldom went
out except at night; but once or twice |
have walked with him by daylight. and
have seen him terribly agitated when we
had to pass shop in which looking
glasses were exposed for sale.
at is nearly year now since my poor
friend followed me down to this place, to
which have retired. For some months
he has been getting weaker and weaker,
and disease of the lungs has become
developed in him, which has brought him
to his death bed. should add. by the by.
that John Massey has been his constant
companion ever since brought them to-
| gelher. and | have had. consequently, to
look after new servant.
And now tell me-" the doctor added,
/ bringing his tale to an end. ''did you ever
hear more miserable history. or was
ever man haunted in a more CHASTITY man.
ner than this man?''
was about to reply, when we heard a
sound of footsteps outside. and before
could speak, old Massey entered the room
in haste and disorder
81 was just telling this gentleman, - the
doctor said. not at the moment observing
old Masey's changed manner. ..how you
deserted me to 60 over to your present
master"
"Ah SIR the man answered, in a
troubled voice, "I'm afraid he won't be
my master long"
The doctor was on his legs in moment
What is he worse?'
81 think he is dying" said the old man.
"Come with me, sir; you may be of use
if you can keep quiet" The doctor caught
up his hat as he addressed me in these
words, and in few minutes we reached
the Compensation House. A few seconds
more. and we were standing in a dark
ened room on the frat floor, and I saw
lying on bed before me-pale. emaciat-
ed, and it seemed. dying-the man whose
| story | had Just heard