The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-03
SEEN In a MIRROR.
4 Diamond ROBBERY 0nd Possible Man.
der Oddly Prevented.

from my fright, | allowed myself to he
almost persuaded that this was the real
truth
ny the next night had so thor
oughly been laughed into believing this
that | took my seat before the mirror
and began brushing my hair as nonchal-
antly as At first. when to my utter hor-
ror | saw that figure form itself from
nothing, absolutely nothing, and again
advance upon me with that menasing
attitude. Again it raised its hands to
strike the terrible eyes seemed to glare
into mine, fxcd on them in the mirror,
and as before. released from the horror
that held me stricken into marble
leapc1 to my feet and ran screaming
into the corridor without. glanced
back into the room. but there was no
one visible there, hut | was not to be
convinced this time that an overheatcd
, Imagination was to blame | fled to my
auatS door. and as she opened 1t fell
tainting in her arms, | was not to be
| stirred from my belief that my life had
been threatened n that dreadful room
by all the searching and arguments that
We're made and announced my intention
of returning home In the morning.
But the next night was to be that
OF the grand bail given in honor OF the
Prince, AMI that, with the fact that
| had the prettcst gown In the city to
wear finally prevailed on me to alter
my mind, though | made 1t condition
| that Marian. my maid. was to occupy
| little antechamher opening into mine,
and that my stalwnrt cousin, Chrstos
| fher who was afterwards my loved hus-
| band for nearly forty years, was to
/ sleep on cot in the hall just outside my
door So with contented mind | went
to the ball. returning late to find my
good maid asleep. and as she was still
not well | crcpt quietly in and proceeded
to undress.
Il let down my hair, and. though too
| fatiEued. as usual. to brush IT. sat for
some moments looking at myself In the
| glass-l was little vain in those days
when all at once | saw behind me the
man with his knife in his hand.
! But this time he did not evolve from
air, but was there, real flesh and blood
his hot breath nearly scorchng the back
of my neck. | leaped to my feet with u
scream, and as | did so he stuck at me,
but the blade glanced aside, wounding
me only slightly In the shoulder.
screametf aloud and he Aelled me with
| IA bow just as Marian and Christopher
came rushing in. Seeing them. the rob-
Der and assassin sprang for the open
window and would have escaped by
| leapng-an easy feat for n muscular
| man-in the window of the house next
| door, which was also open and only
about three feet distant.
This had evidently been the way by
which he had entered and which he
used as an egress. But Christopher
caught him and dragged him back, and
after struggle secured him. aided by
his brothers. who had been summoned
by Marian, so when I opened my eyes
from my swoon 1t was to see the would
be murderer lying bound, while near me
lay small dagger. with a handle OF
Etruscan gold. studded with fawed
rubies.
| but here Is the strange part of the
story: On the night OF his capture he
had entered my room for the first time,
though on the two previous nights he
had watched me through the shutters of
the two windows. He was the son of
the family residing next door, and from
the love OF dress and pleasure beyond
MS meas hdu ihNoINeu hiWselt nope
lessly In debt, and seeing my diamonds
had conceived the idea of killing or at
least silenClng me and stealing them to
pay his debtG. But though his mind had
dwelt persistently on the scheme he had
lacked courage to carry it out until the
night OF the ball. when, pressed by an
importunate creditor he had let himself
into the room. where he had concealed
himself until my arrival, not knowing
of the protectors | had been warned to
have near me. "-Philadephia Times.