The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-05-15

before recognized rs his vife's. was noe
>erindn NJ All. but-of all people in tho
worid-the beautiful cousin, II was
incredible impossible. Of courses; and
yct how Is q man 70 reject the evidence
81 his senses? She 70 whom ho
had lost his too iicA,S heart was before
him-she' and no longer verinda-was
his wife. There was the slender oval
face the delicate patrician features, tho
complexion Of the magnolia petal. the
daris-fringcd. languishing Andalusian
cyc-thc cousin. 70 q hair! He put his
trembling hand 70 his forehead and
gaspcd with sheer amazcment.
"Why. what is the matter with you,
Eafael?' exclaimed she, advancing
and trying to put her arms round his
neck. You look as II you didn't know
me. What has happened?"
"I-I-dont feel quite WE'LL" replied
Rafael, shrinking away from her touch
I'll be all right directly"
ny strangcst thing was, that al
though his every sense told him that
this was tho beautiful cousin. some
deeper perception in his heart assured
him that il was. nevertheless, Vcrinda-
II was also evident that Verinda her.
self was unconscious of the change that
had come over her. And the servant,
who at that moment came in to say
that soup was on the table. was OBJ
viously unaware Of any alteration in
her mistress appearance. The trans
formation, then, was perccptible TO
Rafael alone. With a sudden impulse,
he drew her to the tall mirror between
the windows, that she might behold
her reflection there. Their eyes met on
the polished surface; but 10, another
marvel! The reflection Of the beautiful
cousin was not the beautiful cousin,
but Ver;nda! Rafael was the victim OF
an enchantment. which the mirror dis
PEELED. Yet, when he turned from the
reelection to the woman herself, it was
the cousin again!
Il understand it now:' he muttered.
with a shuddcr, 1T is Prof. Middle
mist's pills. What will become of mc?"
The necessity Of ~conccaling the mira
Gle from his wife-if she were his wife
was imperative; and by a violent cf-
fort he contrived to assume an outward
composurc- They went into the din
ing-room. she leaning lovingly on his
mm. Why did be recoil from her touch?
was he not in love with herewith tho
beautiful cousin-and should he not re-
gard this Transformation, Of which only
he was cognizant, as a piece Of unex-
amplcdgood fortune? to have ones wife
present the exact image Of the
one is in love with-vhat could be
more convenient and agreeable? and
if tomorrow he were to meet and be-
come enarnorcd of some other lovely
creature. undoubtedly he would find
her in his wife's shoes when he re
turned home; and SO on forever. II
this wouldn't satisfy a susceptible mar
ried man. what would?
1T is the most horrible fate that yer
overlook a man. said Rafael to him
self. ITO have another woman masqucr-
aiding as my innocent and precious
wife-or the other way about-it's q
hideous proclamation ind sacrilege. ]
hate the beautiful cousin from the bot
tom Of my soul. and l wish / had
seen her, and eve may again.
'sWil you have cheese in your soup,
darling?' asked the lady at the other
end OF the table. Rafael looked up.
lie uttered a cry Of Joy. The beautiful
cousin was 40 longer there. verinda
his own vcrinda-sat before him.
The change in his heart had made a
change in her; no third person stood
between them any longer: and Rafael
felt a conviction and registered a vow
that no such catastrophe should ever
occur again.
Back already growled the profess
sor. the next morning.
Take back your six accursed pills."
said Rafael. 'Onc Of them was enough
for me, and too much
Better keep the resin case.' said
the professor.
MY eyes are opened" returned the
young man. and ! see that there is but
one woman in the world, and that We
rinda IS she. And having once seen
clearly. I can never more be blind"
Very well" said the professor, you
know your own business. ! suppose.
By the way, did you tell Mrs. Amato the
secret Of your complaint"
Heaven forbid. = said Rafael. turning
pale. "Shc shall never know il. am
sane and seeing now; may she never
discover that | was once mad and
blind.'
For your sake. I say amen" said the
professor. '.But the pills arc always
here. If you should have a relapse
| Julian Hawthorne. in Life.