The herald., 1894-11-08
A MIRROR VISION.

Of 60, with abundant white hair puffed
above eyes still black and bright with
fire that must once have kindled fame
in many heart. caught the ball of cen
versation as it came her way.
''In my youth we never heard of this
thing you call mental telegraph, theoso-
ply and the like. but every now and
then there took place, as now, occur
rences which puzzled the thoughtful,
though they had no namo to give the
phenomena. But like most young girls,
was skepticai of all that was not di-
rectly natural when L thought of it at
all, which was not often, until L had
the experience [ am going to tell you of.
which was so strange that it upset me
for some weeks. which agitation came
not so much from the real shock and
fright that suffered as from the mys.
terious circumstances that attended Il
My own home was "a country place
some 5 miles from Large city. where
had several families Of relatives
whom visited once or twice wear or
whenever there was to be- given any
ball or opera 0, festivity OF sufficient
Importance for me to desire 70 attend
it, was just IL when e royal person
age from Europe came across the pond
to get a peep at the Yankees, and though
democratic to the point of being rabid
every manly head was uncovered in
the country, every manly throat ached
with cheering this parsonage, and every
feminine heart beat high with the hope
of having the royal eye rest for mo-
ment upon the new gown which was to
be had at all hazards if the family dined
on potatoes alone for year to come.
There were to be q series Of enter
tainments given in honor of his high
ness, and |, like all the rest of the world,
must attend in all the finery my fathers
ample means allowed me. From my
mothers side of tho family had inher-
tied some very fine diamonds, amount
ing in value to over $40, 600, and even
a great deal moro in those days. when
these gems were not SO common, and on
this occasion teased my father to let
me wear them.
81 had no omother to tell me that such
rich jewelry was rot in the best Of taste
on one so young and TN unmarried wom-
an, so when started for the city carried
the diamonds with me. But my maid
was al elderly woman, who had also
been my nurse since my motherless
babyhood and the jewels were in her
care. Unfortunately, however. Marian
fell ill the day after / left home, and
Loiy 30 H. 1,1l r
ent ON my aunt's maid for services N
my dressing, etc. In order to Tighten
this woman's 8 duties, which We're heavy.
as my cousins also frequently required
her aid as hairdresser and seamstress,
looked after my clothes and waited on
myself as much as possible, performing
such acts OF my toilet Gs ] could
cit TINS happened that one night,
after returning from reception at the
house of ii foreign consul, l disroheG
myself Of my trained evening dress, and
slipping on loose sHch sat down to
brush my hair before rcti"ing. My seat
was just in front of q Large glass above
my dresser, or what was then called a
bureau on which 7 had placed the
| jewclry had worr-,the diamonds !
| have spoken OF.
''As l piled ti,E brush my eyes nat
urally fell on tina mirror which reflect
| ed the rooIn benind me- and as con-
tinued to look saw evolving itself ap-
| parently fton empty air the figure Of q
man. He was we'll dressed, even stylish
| ly, and was after fashion handsome,
/ but deatkly pale, and his eyes glittered
feverishly.
'He crept nearer ard nearer to me,
seeming to look only at the diamonds
loosely strown ,1pon the marble before
me. but hi. right hand was thrust into
| his breast. aDd rs he e.uod over ne he
suddenly jerb td it cut and raised high
above me i. small Spanish dagger, the
hilt of Tnich WIS of n dead gold, or
Etruscan gold. as If j.; called. This was
set with ruhics, yh,ch ] noticed with
that peculiar attention to tl'ifles so often
displayed in moments Of danger, Up to
this point had been too terrified to call
out or even to move. not even turning
my head to look around tue, bnt watch
ing the movements OF the assassin as
they We're reflected in the mirror. But
as he brought down his hand with a
swift, murderous motion to strike me
from my chair with single blow the
spell that had held me snapped, and /
sprang to my feet with a shrek of ter
ror and rushed to the door.
l. "Even as ] ran l wondered at not en-
countering the man, but though could
not remember aftsrward seeing him al
all 1 did not stay, but unlocking the
door flung it open, still screaming as
fast as the sounds could issue from my
lips. 1t happened that two Of my youns
men cousins had fingered later thar
the rest of the family at the entertain
ment referred to, and having just come
in were coming up the main staircase
close to my room. Rushing to these,