The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-07

accustomed graceful attitude Ill the re-
hected armchair was nothing less than
the counterfeit presentment OF Marian
Chapman herself
1t was wonder Jingleberry's eyes did
not fall out of his head, he stared SO.
What situation it was, to be sure, to
stand there and see in the.giass scene
which. as far as he could observe, had
no basis in reality; and interesting IT
was for Jingleberry to watch himself
going through the form OF chatting
pleasantly there in the mirrors depths
with the woman he loved! 1t almost
made him jealous, though, the reflected
Jingleberry was so entirely independent
Of the real JingIeberry. The Jealousy
soon gave way to CONSERVATION, for, to
the wondering suitor, the independent
reflection was beginning to do that foi
which he himself had come. In other
words, there was proposal going on III
the glass. and .Iingleberry enjoyed the
novel sensation of seeing how ne hlm-
self would look when passing through
similar ordeal.
Altogether, however, it was not as
pleasing as most novelties are, for there
were distinct signs in the face OF the MIR
rored Marian that the mirrored Jingle
berry's words were distasteful to her
and that the proposition he was making
was not one she could entertain under
any circumstance. She kept shaking
her head, and the more she shook 1t the
more the glazed Jingleberry seemed to
implore her to be his. Finally jingle
berry saw his quicksilver counterpart
fall upon his knees before Marian OF the
glass and hold out his arms and hands
toward her in an attitude of prayerful
despair, whereupon the girl sprang to
her feet, stamped her left foot furious
ly upon the floor and pointed the unwel-
come lover to the door.
Jingleberry was fairly staggered.
What could be the meaning of SO extraor-
binary freak of nature? Surely it
must be prophetic. Fate was kind
enough to warn him in advance, no
doubt: otherwise it was a trick. And
why should she stoop to play so paltry a
trick as that upon him? Surely fate
would not be so petty. No. it was a
warning. The mirror had been so af-
fected by some supernatural agency that
it OWNED and reflected that which was
to be, instead of contenting itself to what
Jingleberry called ''simultaneity. 1t
led instead of following or acting CO.
incidently with the reality, and it was
the part of wisdom. he thought, for him
to yield to its suggestion and retreat,
and as he thought this he heard soft.
sweet voice behind him.
II hope you haven't got tired of wait
ing, Tom, "it said, and, turning, Jingle
berry saw the unquestionably real
Marian standing in the doorway.
"No," he answered shortly. IL
have had pleasant-very entertaining
ten minutes; but l must hurry along
Marian he added. II only came to tell
you that | have a frightful headache.
and-er-l can't very well manage to
come to dinner or go to the opera with
you tonight"
"Why, Tom," pouted Marian, 81 am
awfully disappointed. | had counted
on you, and now my whole evening will
be spoiled. Don't you think you can
rest little while, and then comet"
swell, IL want to, Marian" said
Jingleberry, "but to tell the truth ii
really am afraid l am going to be i'll.
I've had such a strange experience this
afternoon. p
"Tell me what it was" suggested
Marian alphabetically, and Jingleberry
did tell her what it was He told her
the whole story from beginning to end
what he had come for, how he had hap
pened to look in the mirror and what he
saw there, and Marian listened atten-
lively to every word he said. She
laughed once or twice, and when he had
done she reminded him that mirrors had
a habit of reversing everything, and
somehow or other Jingleberry's head
ache went, and-and-well, everything
went.-John Kendrick Bangs in Chicago
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