Wichita eagle., 1889-11-10

from india, had far d-.nsesou.Ty III there.
and calling me al once 70 her SIDE knew
that Lottie's health had been delicate ever
since her baby was born, and that she was
about TO return 10 England for the sake Of q
,ooler climate and the best medical advica I
knew, too. that she meant to return through
Italy, but was hardly aware that shs bad,
Is yet, started from Bombay, and bad not
the faintest notion that her disease might
possibly take such q dangerous turn No
wonder, then, that the tidings were q severe
blow.
Lottie WAS far more to me than sisters gem
orally are TO their brotherA She was sew
eral years younger than was, and she bad
been nrss my plaything. then my pupil; and
had experienced pang Of real jealousy on
that day when, sitting on a stool at my feet,
with her sweet face hidden on my knees she
confessed to NE there was one who was more
to her than was. one who was more to her
than all tho world besides This foolish feel
ing, of course, quickly passed away. and I
rejoiced to see her q happy bride; yet Lottie
was still my pet, my pride and my darling.
l will not dwell upon the hurried Journey,
with Fear sitting at my side, nor the long
nights and days Of dreary, anxious watch
ing II sufices 20 Say hero that my sweet
girl was at length given back to my arms,
after, through long weeks, my medical care
and skill had batsled with death for her.
During the whole Of this period the hoase in
the mirror never again appeared To me, and,
indeed, in my absorbing anxiety and trouble,
the remembrance of 1t even hardly entered
my mind.
One lovely evening in early spring, whe..
Lottie was much better, but no. strong
enough Yet 10 De laoxad, had been taking
long ramblc inso the lovely country tina. sur
rounds Lake Como. and on my return had
lost my way. The sun had set. the moon had
risen, and was bathing the worid in . silver
sea / had reached patti by the lake and
was paasing 10 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 kiss; the
outlines of the distant hills were soft and
tender, as If drawn by an artist angels pen
Gil; here and there among them there was 4
white glinner which told OF hamlet or
homestead; hard by a nightingale just struck
a single golden note, and then was silent
again. as IL he feared TO break the calm spell
of the moon.
Ali at once / started. and low exclama-
ton broke from my lips. Ny eyes were rest
ing on the surface of the lake, and there. mir
rored IL its clear waters, beheld exactly the
same house and garden which had 50 often
before left Ensland met my view In such
strange mysterious way Disturbed, aston
ished, unable to believe INV own senses,
glanced roand behind me- and there ON lit
tie rising ground above the lake, saw a
hosse which eorresponded 10 the reflection.
below, and which was Ia eveyy Teepect the
realization of my vision just then the clock
of some distant church up among the hills
struck eight
The whole circumstances aud coincidence
were 50 singular that could not help being
Impressed and startled by it. Antagonistic
though nay whole nature was to all imaginary
fears and beliefs, approached the gate OF
the garden, and noted how, IN every smallest
particular, even 20 tire star ike flowers Of
the creeper On the wall, even the fresco Of
the old woman with tie basket of oranges at
her feet, even 10 tho slightly opened window
with the ray OF light gliding through il. II
was the complete likeness Of the house which
had so often met my view IN the mirror Tbs
very name Of the villa filed me with a
strange eerie feeling, ia Casa dello Spec
CHA" II had evidently been ~ named from,
the peculiarly clear and beautiful reflection
which it bad produced in the waters Of the
lake
The complex thoughts and feeling which
the sight Of the villa and It's name called up
caused me 10 lInger near IL for some little
time until | began 70 fear that my mind was
going To take a morbid, sckiy turn, and | re-
solved % leave the spo, at once. just as
had turned to so, however, gold ssal which
bad belonged to my father, and which, there
fore, was much valued by me, happened %
fall from MI watch chain, and spent souls
time in looking for 1t, for it had rolled down
the hill into the grass.
had at length found the seal, and was n,ov-
ing away when the same distant clock struck
q quarter 10 nine. Scarcely had the sound
died on the house when long, shrtil cry
came ringing out Of the house into the night,
apparently through the partially open win.
dow After that | cannot describe the mo
tives which impslled me. / only know that,
led by what wa more Ike instinct than
anything else. | rushed aeross the garden
and entered the door of the lonely house.
There the first thing / beheld la ,hs en-
trance hall was giri with a fair English
face, in a state Of evident gTea. terror and
agitation.
What Is the uiat;err' asked II heard
your cry. am an Eng liSLnan, and ! am
here 10 give you any help and service ean.'
my father, who = lying III, has just ssvLl-
lowed poison by mistake" she answered az
once, for grief is never surprised II could
not help crying on. when discovered IL All
our servants happco 70 be out, and have 10
one 70 send "a Como for a doctor"
II am ons, I said, and with Gods heip.
viii save your father"
II 50 happened that that day had been
moving Lottie into more airy lodgings, nnd
had put my little travelling case 81 medicines
and instruments, TOR better security, into the
pocket Of my great coat, which hung On my
arm.
The rest il QUICKLY toid saved, by the
promp, measures took. tbe poisonsd mans
hfe. add that fair girl has becorpe my hons
sueen The villa r. her fathers property. AID
Our brightest hoiiday rs are spent in ia Caaa
dslIo EDeccnia The Eoase Ct tie mirror
"olo wlssoURPs" HCHELY SAYINGS.
kssort~~siI IA Mine-~elI's brother.
The more 'l0Gzy" It's Halns, Tie lszz lousy
the miner.
F1nck, powder aud ns>l tie wealth q