Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-19
Written for THE EVENING STAR.
TWO STILETTOS.
By CONRAD MORE. AUTHOR OF "MY
WIFES DIAMOND"
copyrighted, 1851


what curious old italian stiletto which had
bought for a song at auction down I'm the neigh
borhOod of Clinton Place, II had a slender
prism-shaped blade. about seven inches long,
and half an inch thick at the base, whence 1t
tapered leisureiy away to the point. Two of
the three facets were engraved with an elab-
CRATE running scroll, and on the third you dis
tinguishei what at first sight you would GER
tainly have mistaken for q blood-stain, but
what on closer inspection you recognized for a
Struggling inscription In dark red enamel
"f'er rodto o TaHsOr,' being the rather ambiz-
uous italian phrase. The hilt was of silver,
cleveriy wrought in imitation of human
finger; and at the extremity an unusually large
anu brilliant opal did duty for the nail.
suppose 1t Is needless to say that valued
this stiletto very highly. As a keepsake of a
time when the flavor OF a romance still lin
Sered about the world II prompted a thousand
Interesting dreams. In what historic hands 1t
might have trembled. Perhaps Paoio had
worn it during his visits to Francesca. Per-
haps Queen Joanna had disposed of an incon-
venient lover with 1T. At any rate I did not
doubt that. If it had only had tongue, 1t could
have whispered many 81 thrilling secret. The
spark pent up in the opal was all that re-
manned OF the fires that had burned in dead
mems breasts-per rodio Pamor. 1t was like
Hans Andersen's magical goloshes. had but
to press it in my clasp, and be transported over
the sea and the centuries TO Italy and the Mid
die AGES.
So, as priced 1t thus the reader will easily
Imagine my diSmay one morning, when,
through sheer cluInsiuess on my part, 1t sus-
tanned an irreparable Injury. While handling
tt according To my frequent custom, somehow
carelesSly allowed il to slip from nv grasp
fastened To pick it up, but the damage was
already done. The opal, which may have been
loose in its setting, had fallen out.
An immediate and thorough search failed to
recover ii. i wasted more than an hour ran
sacktng every nook and Granny of my chamber
THEN called in the servant and bade her move
oit the furniture and sweep the fioor-in which
operation did not disdain to assist but to no
avail rne Opal obstinately refused to be found
tHo-e co>IlIc gaps of which, the transcendental
physicists tell Us. space Is full AT last, heated
and o"t oil patience L returned to the stiletto,
and Throwing myself into an easy chair, set
ab.'uS IN examination 10 see whether the mis-
ehiei h;.a begun and ended there.
Eut scarcely had i glanced at IL when nv At
tentlon was arrested by a continuance which
promised to account In some wise for the ex.
traordinary luster OF Inc vanished gem Directiy
beneath where IL had lain was inserted a tiny
strip OF looking glass, SO that II thought what
ever rays OF light had filtered through the body
o. the stone, had there been gathered up and
reflected back. Now, my own counteiiance
stared at me in miniature, and the EXPRESSION
on IL, owing to what cause could not DETER
mine, was so peculiar, so unfamiliar that
stayed studying IL considerably longer than
moGesty Justified. My face it was beyond a per-
adventure, and yet, II L had seen 1t any where
else than In q loOkIng-gass, should have
passed 1T for a strangers. 1t was modified In
hue and contour. 1t might have been my twin
brother's if i had had one.
By an accidental turn of the wrist slightly
altered the angie which the mirror bore 10 my
eye, the result being that my own image quickly
shot upwards and of. But before had Started
10 readjust it, perceived, slowly shaping itself
W Won not one 1anS surface another face which
now, II one hold an Oid-iashiOned daguereOtype
At certain inclination, it appears TO be per
aectly plain piece of lOOking-glass: whereas III
one tilt IL little, the likeness printed on il be-
gins TO emerge. This was precisely what hap
pened in the present instance, with the exceT-
Ton that the likeness which now confronted
did not resemble daguereotype in the least
Just what the effect was, it would be hard to
lua In words. 1t seemed as though, in transpa-
rent and almost invisible colOrS, this singular
picture had been woven in with the glass.
And yetit was anything but weak or indie
Slslve- A single GLIMPSE sufficed to M my gaze
The exquisitely modelled features, the low white
xOrenea0, tae wealth OF raven hair, the serene
liquid eyes, were fTaught with indiyiduaIitw>
and must have been done under a micrOscone
80 iauitiess they were even to TIE minutest lie,
Tails, II vas the lace OF a woman-fancy the
virgin Oh Nurriiio, Infinitely spiritualizcd, and
beauty.
We're fastened hall reproachfulIy half appeai-
1nSiy, upon my own. could feel the blood
Jungle IN my veins, and a tremor sweep over all
my nniDs- In general am not an upduly sen.
AitSe person; but on this occasion was as i'm
pressionabie as a child. The dimiDutive por-
trait exerted hardly credible influence upon
me. draught of strong wine could not have
stimulated me TO such pitch: the touch of a
living Madonna could not have lifted me to a
higher plane OF exaitation. 1 gazed upon her
until my breath had grown short and conyul-
sive, and pure exhaustion compelled me to
close my eyes.
When 1 reopened them made a very simple
uiscoNery, and yet one that caused me to ex-
claim Tor surprise. 1 discovered the reason for
mat ooo mOdincation of my own ply siognomy
which have alluded to above. Because OF the
distance at which held the stilletto my refiec-
ZION IN the mirror was Of the same dimepsioDs
as the portrait, SO that tine lines OF the two ex-
aotly coincided. Ii increased or Diminished
Inc distance, they became separate, because
tneH relative measurements were varied: but
restoring the former condition the face OF tine
lazy blended feature ior feature into my own
oou Know Thy this discovery should have
affected me as it did. The fact is that IT TOOK
fie q long time to realize how entirely natural
:. was, ana that meanwhile sat stOck-still in
my CHAIR, as dumbfouuded as though had
witnessed the performance of a miracle Even
sIterward could not shake of a queer sensa-
ton when thought Of IL, nor quite convince
Eny -el that The phenomenon had been alto
Sether de void OF supernatural meaning
NM. as ABOVE ,s events befe! on SUNDAY. Pretty
eohts npiation OF my painted lady. Who was
khef NO human artist had summoned SUCH a
LESS. Of this I was sure She must bava
hNeo, because she bore the stamp of Gods crea-
Ton. but when had she lived, and where?
Alas. in loreign country and numberIess
Yeas ago. had been born a century too late
ior aer- That she had loved as well as lived
VAS a contingency which il cost me a paug to
a'ilnii; anu yet such heavenly beauty co1,iI
lever nave come about excepl Though 1--we
ANA WY had her likeness been s.,ul M i..-
heath thai iInpeHetrabie opal in Ih. .ilt of that
murderous stiIletto7 Perhaps though IL Ms
oest that IL had been 80. Inc >i.nt O.. her MAS
enough 10 44ssr.ct "a man. Pc-.lsEJs IL Was in
mercy tisAt 0er iace HAD been cO.iNeaied. Fur
my part A ieit that my destiny had goae .stray
ie1 tnaI, orleI as our acquaintance was. she
hao aireAdy spoiled uis for osEer women-she
WAC wsts low dust and ashes. L can assure the
Reader, II ne needs such assurance tnat 4 passed
very Sentimental sun Jay afternoon per
900 E0ns0T, "iUr love hatred" kept re-
ieasibs 70 myself What could the words
hlsniix! Inc nilt for love, bScause II bore her
portrait? The blade for hatred, Lvcause IL was
AN Instrument III de.ttn? f.oust.y ia Italy
IO'.e ago its mission GI Laticl n.td been iul-
ulied ferLals LA America. al "a, late u.te.
sts .Aiss.ob Was Yet TO Oe accomplished.
Bal t.iag> wear different aspect uAder gas
HSnI y" hen night Tell, Il laughed at myself
a.id wSi.t around To a friend Z house for supper
aAcre an animated discussion OF the tariff issue
DAAisneo AL less practical concerns from my
mind.
The next day however, began to appreciate
tnHl something serious had happened.
1he lace pursued me from my house to NV
Counts. II nlled me with melancholy and un.
re IT stole away my appetite. Ny compan.
lons al lunch playfuliy accused me OF beinu in
iose. struggled with my self, but the struggle
9niy aggravated my distempeT. Was in love?
Al love with a dead woman face? / had no
experience 10 judge from. but IL the pain in NV
heart was not love, knew better name for
H.. ~
My work suffered that day Stroye a I