Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-11-20

ty to sleep again, while, from time to time,
l watched the visionary house. 1t was just
as I had expected; when the town clock
chimed quarter to nine, it vanished exact
ly as it had done on the previous night.
From that time forward, wherever 1
might be, if was in the room with a look
ing-glass, 1 saw every evening, from eight
to quarter to nine, for the next month to
come, the house in the mirror. Sometimes
it met my view in the tiny looking glass on
cottage wall, where 1 was tending poor
patient, sometimes in the pier-glass of sick
fine lady's apartment, sometimes in the
mirror of friends dining-room as L sat at
dinner. There was never faintest change
in the vision it was always marked by eX,
actly the same features. I cannot say but
that this perpetual haunting of my life by
so mysterious an apparition did make
vaguely uncomfortable and painful impress
sion on my mind. But by strength OF will,
and by clinging resolutely and ceaselessly to
all my active daily duties, prevented its
having a morbid, unhealthy effect upon me:
I revealed the circumstance to no one, but
appeared to the outer world as if there was
no strange page in my commonplace story.
When, however, month or so had passed
by, there came great, sudden, real sorrow,
which most effectually thrust aside all incli-
nation to brood over gloomy, shadoWy, fam
ciful troubles. One morning there arrived
telegram from Lecco, on the Lago Como,
in North Italy, saying that my sister, on
her way home from India, had fallen dan
gerously ill there, and calling me at once to
her side. I knew that Lottie's health had
been delicate ever since her baby was born,
and that she was about to return to England,
for the sake of cooler climate and the best
medical advice. I knew, too, that she
meant to return through Italy, but | was
hardly aware that she had, as yet, started
from Bombay, and had not the faintest no.
ton that her disease might possibly take
such dangerous turn. No wonder, then,
that the tidings was severe blow.
Lottie was far more than sisters generally
are to their brothers. She was several years
younger than was, and she had been first
my plaything, then my pupil and l had
experienced pang of real jealousy on that
day when, sitting on stool at my feet with
her sweet face hidden on my knees, ,she con-
fessed to me that there was one who was
more to her than all the world beside. This
foolish feeling, of course, quickly passed
away, and I reioiced to see her happy
bride; yet Lottie was still my pet, my pride
and my darling.
will not dwell upon the hurried journey,
with fear sitting at my side, nor the long
nights and days of dreary, anxious watch
ing. 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 skill 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 even hardly
entered my mind.
One lovely evening in early spring, when
Lottie was much better, but not strong
enough yet to be moved, I had been taking
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 silver sea. had reached path by the
lake, and was pausing to consider in which
direction Lecco lay. The scene around was
all one glory of stiffness 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 all artist an
gels pencil here and there among them
there was white glimmer which told of a
hamlet or a homestead; hardly nightin-
gale just struck a single golden note, and
then was silent again, as if he feared to
break the calm spell of the moon.
All at once I started, and low exclama-
tion burst from my lips. My eyes were rest
ing on the surface Of the lake, and there,
in its clear waters, beheld exact
ly the same house and garden which had so
often, before l left England, met my view
in such strange, mysterious way. Dis
turbed, astonished, unable to believe my
own senses, 1 glanced round behind me, and
there, on little rising ground above the
lake, / saw house which correspondent to
the reflection below, and which was, in eve
ry respect, the realization of my vision.
Just then the clock of some distant church
up pamong the hills struck eight.
The whole circumstance and coincidence
was so singular that could not help being
impressed and startled by it, Antagonistic
though my whole energetic nature was to
all imaginary fears and beliefs, approached
the gate of the garden, and noted how, in
every smallest particular, even to the star
like flowers Of the creeper on the wall, even
to the fresco of the old woman with the bas-
ket of oranges at her feet, even to the slight
ly opened window with the ray of light
gliding through it, it was the complete like
ness of the house which had SO often met my
view in the mirror. The very name of the
a strange, eerie feeling: it was, "La Casa
pella Specchio." 1t had evidently been so
named from the peculiarly clear and beauti-
full reflection which it cast upon the waters
of the lake.
the sight Of the villa and the name called
time, until I began to fear that my mind
was going to take a morbid, sickly turn,
and I resolved to leave the spot at once.
Just as had turned to 60, 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
I spent some time in looking for it; as it
had rolled down the hill into the grass.
I had at length found the seal, and was
away, when the same distant church
clock struck a quarter to 8. Scarcely had
the sound died on the breeze, when long,
shrill cry came ringing out of the house
into the night, apparently through the par
TALLY open window. After that, cannot
describe the motives which impelled me;
only know that, led by what was more like
more by instinct than any thing else, I
rushed across the garden and entered the
door of the lonely house.
There, the first thing beheld in the little
entrance-hall, was girl, with fair English
face, in state Of evident great terror and
agitation.
"What is the matter?" asked. "I heard
your cry. I am an Englishman, and l am
here to give you any help and service I can"
"My father, who is lying i'll, has just
swallowed poison by mistake" she an
swered at once, for great grief is never sur
prised. II could not help crying out when
discovered it. All our servants happen to
be out, and I have no one to send to Como
for DOCTOR"
81 am one," I said, "and, with Gods help,
will save your father"
1t so happened that that day had been
moving Lottie into more airy lodgings, and
had put my little travelling case of medi-