The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-01

of such house, or had lately seen any
where picture like it? Either of these
things might possibly have left vivid i'm
preston on my mind which might have ac-
counted for the strange delusion. [ was not
however, able to recollect, search my memory
as | would, that book or painting had
brought such house and garden before
my thoughts. was naturally neither ex-
citable nor imaginative; indeed, | was gen.
orally regarded by everyone who knew me-
and by myself into the bargain, as one OF
the most prosaic, rational beings in the
world. My fancy had never before played
me the smallest trick even as I rode home
worn out with Watching by sick bed, on
the darkest night; even in the many pain
full scenes full of death and gloom through
which my professional life had led me. In
the dissecting-room, in the seyerest opera
ton, my hand had always been as steady
as if were peeling an orange. All this
made the present incomprehensible vision
yet more utterly inexpEcable Besides,
even while | gazed at it, | knew that had
never felt more calm and collected and
more in an ordinary condition of body and
mind throughout my very commonplace,
very busy history.
Would another pair of eyes see the house
in the mirror | wondered. With hur-
ried hand | rang the bell to test this point,
and summoned my housekeeper, who gen.
orally herself waited on me. This good
lady's name was Mrs Trickey 1t is a
common Devonshire name, let it be at once
understood by those who are not aware of
the fact, and is in no way meant to hint at
any unpleasant proclivities or runwarrantable
whims on the worthy DANES part; she was
as honest and simple-minded woman as
ever handled bunch of keys.
"Mrs. Trickey, [ have rung for you to
ask you to do a very simple thing" | said
hesitatingly, now that she was present,
scarcely knowing how to begin; for I felt,
if L spoke out plainly, my housekeeper
must infallibly think l had suddenly taken
leave of my senses.
'What will zee please to have, sir ?" re-
piled Mrs. Trickcy, in true Devonshire
fashion.
"Mrs Trickey, will you please look in
the glass over the chimney -piece?" [ blurt-
ed out rather abruptly, not knowing how
else to find out what [ wanted to discover.
'Get along with your nonsense, Master
Fred" cried Mrs. Trickey, with a toss of
her head, which was so energetic it almost
discomposed the stiff frills of her cap.
1t must be mentioned here that Mrs.
Trickey had lived with my mother when l
was boy, and that, with her, still con-
tinued Master Fred, though all the world
besides knew me as Frederick Heathcote,
ESQ.,, surgeon.
II can assure you, Mrs. Trickey, mean
no insult, nor even a joke" I replied hum
bly,. "I fancied something was wrong in
the reflection of the glass; perhaps Susan
has not busted it as she should. Will you
please look into it with your experienced
eyes, Mrs. Trickey?"
[ was in hopes that this last implied
compliment would have propitiated the
housekeeper; but apparently it had no
such effect, for after short inspection of
the mirror she said tartly:
"The glass be right enough so far as
do see; this be just one of your items, Mas
ter Fred
''But, Mrs. Trickey, do please tell me
what you see when you look into it" [ ex-
claimed, seeing that [ must be more ex-
plicit if | wanted to gain full certainty on
the matter.
"Why, what should I see but my own
face, Master Fred ?" she retorted snappish-
ly; aand it be as good-looking face as
the faces of many women who be ten years
younger than [ be, and 1 can tell ZEE that
it have been thought a 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 besides
your face, then, Mrs. Trickey?"
"Bless and save us, Master Fred, you
must be turning mazed, l think or else it
be that you be making regular fool oi
me- [ don't see why you should make up
such gammots about my face, when you We
aknowed it these last twenty years. [ calls
it very disrespectful, that | do.
And with founce and bounce Mrs.
Trickey turned and disappeared from the
room, leaving me alone with the house in
the mirror which most certainly she had
not seen.
was musing uncomfortably on this fact
with my eyes fixed on the vision, which te
me was as distinct as ever, when the clock
on the chimney piece struck quarter tc
9. Then suddenly, as if wiped out by
spirits wing, just when the little silver
chime of the clock was ringing, house, gar
den, summer-house, moonlight, yellow,
CLEAN, vanished from the mirror, and saw
nothing there save the reflection of the
familiar room,
1t was certainly more wonderful phe
nomenon than any which my medical books
and medical knowledge had taught me
and sat up late that night thinking i
over and trying vainly to account for it
As, however, | could not gain the slightest
light on the subject, turn the matter VI
and down as might in my brain, came
to resolution on two points, and ther
went to bed One of these resolves was
that | would not reveal the strange cir
cumstance to anyone, because | had Away
a most hearty dislike of gossip and ridicule
at my expense, and the other was, that |
would not allow the inexplicable vision tC
trouble my mind, so as to make me inca
pable of the daily work and duty of life
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 thar
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
a dangerous, difficult case, which required
all my skill and energy. By the time tht
evening was again come the impression
made by the strange circumstances of las
night had in a great measure faded out OF
my mind.
1t so happened that | was engaged t.
spend that evening with my friends Mr.
and Mrs. Woodland Mr.. Woodland wai
banker, and his wife was a pretty, spark
ling woman-the queen of society in oul
town. She and | were always close allies
she would chatter to me of all her family
affairs, and in a certain way make me hel
confdant. On the occasion in question
was Mr.. and Mrs. Woodlands only guest