New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-21
THE LOOKING-GLASS.

,,,,rv velIow-skinned. bigeyed, big
o,,,h.a child. with thin arms and iees' an"
.r ,ntdy hair The eyes were reo anu INV
,h trepulous with tears when she s'o'A
.,o,. IN the world in the drawng-room oi "ei
,,n,.s house in Highgate, quite aIoie H'" ina
,b. friendly doctor who had taken '"".
her on her homeward voyage had p'o"e". ~
% the house OF her dead fathers Only ''''e'
and being busy man, home on s"o'
a"" s,,or long Indian service. had kissed her'
hidden her be a good girl given her NAN 'o'
ereirn and box of sweets and lei' net
Tive old servant who had opened the door I'D"
said that her mistress was attending 0'o''''"e
c,uh ,ea.meeting-had said 1t with no appea'
ance of surprise that her mistress s"ou'u
ahsant A. the hour which she herself had fixed
for the arrival of her only brothers only ch''u.
lima walked round the room, looking at 'he
,,,c,ures IN their heavy dull maple frames
9TH. Woman of Samara" Bolton Abbey IN
IN. O,den Time" 1.-The Maid Of Saragossa
ch. ,oo,,ed at the marble top OF the chii1ohier'
,.hsra tho case Of stuffed birds was; AT the
heavy stiff damask curtains the somDie re-
snectabllity of the Brussels carpet, the severe
uninyiting orderliness of the rep-covered chairs
She looked out Of the window at the garden Ill
intention as formal as the room itself, Out "he'e
the lavish hand Of autumn had sca''ereu
golden leaves. to the despair OF the garuehe'
and the rttering Of the lawn IL was chill
damn outlook. Una shivered, and walked BACK
into the room. ,
Tho chiffonier attracted her most. The stured
birds were pretty: besides. there was at 'he
back of them looking glass. In which she couio
see her face, her poor little pale. ilghteheu
face There was glass in the doors OF the
chiffonier. too, rejecting her black stockings ana
r,aI with
hecause il was not yet four months since jungle
fever had killed father and mother she was
tired. The chairs looked at her forbiddingiy'
yet with sort of challenge though they
dared her to sit on their neat cushions. she
WAS too tired to accept the challenge and TOO
tired for the little feet to support her longer
without protest.
So she sat down on the Brussels carpet In front
of the looking glass door of the chinon'er anu
peered into It's depths. 1t was comfort 10 her 10
see her own face That, at least was not strange
as everything else 1t was almost ike nav
ing friend there. and she sat looking at herself
IN IN. glass. and pitied herself very much In
deed as children do. and grown folks likewise.
She WAS lost in a sad dream Of the time when
the face had had a soft shoulder to rest on
kind hands to stroke 1t, dear lips 10 KISS IL
whenever 1t would; and she did not near 'he
door open and her aunt come in she had just
reacbed ont a little clammy hand with an i'm
pulse Of affection toward the image wh'ch
seemed all that was left Of the old life. when
h.r arm WAS caught from behind. and she
sprang to her feet, literally speeches. with the
sudden shock.
go Won are my niece" hard voice said and
Tina looking I'D. saw an elderly woman. with
male handed hair and black shawl and a very
uSly honnet
Una opened her lips, but the Eyes aunt
would not pass them. $500
nm the floor as IL you were a dog?' The voice
was not unkind SO Una managed to "a answer:
II was looking at myself In the glass.
"Why?" asked her aunt.
Because like TO-" was Unas summary OF the
many reasons that had brought her to that
contemplation.
Indeed" her aunt answered. "And what is
your Nance"
"Una." said the child
Anything else?"
Una May Vincent"
well, Mary" said her aunt. instantly adopt
ing the name unfamiliar to her niece. Il snail
not call you Una. because think 1t is high
flown and romantic. and not at all suitable for
little girl"
Mother and father called me Una" the child
found courage to reply clnging TO that in the
midst Of the waves Ct terror and loneliness and
lovelessness that were closing round her.
Indeed" replied her aunt mt as If that made no
Mary. you will have governesses and teachers.
and every advantage I can give you; and hope
you will be good girl, and not tiresome. Give
me kiss. and will ring for Fraser 10 take you
upstairs"
Una lifted her lips obedently, but 1t was a
hard, unresponsve cheek that they touched.
There was no lingering pressure. no touch Of
hand on her hair. no arm put round her for
moment. no love. She followed the old servant
patiently up the steep carpeted stairs into
large dreary room. furnished with mahogany
and seriousness Left alone. she took off hat
and jacket. washed her hands and face. and did
her hair as we'll AS she could at the big looking
glass between the two deep windows
1t was growing dusk; she did not like the big
room: she FASTENED down TO her aunt. There
was tea-a silent meal. Then Aunt Mary gave
her bound volume Of "The Monthly Packet"
and turned herself to wrestle with a number Of
little account books In notified paper covers.
Bedtime came all too soon. a bedtime that meant
loneliness In the big. dark, quiet chamber. Una's
heart beat with terror when she found herself
alone there with the one candle. She I'M
dressed very quickly, trying to encourage her.
self by saying over as quickly as she could all
the texts and hymns she could remember, I'm a
vague hope that they might act charm
against what might be lurking invisible around
her, ready TO spring into active horrible
terial existence as soon as the light was blown
out.
Once In bed. kind Nature remembered the child
for whom no one else in all the busy living
world had any thought in that hour. and rocked
her sweetly and swiftly into dreamless sleep
Next day prim but kindly governess ap-
peared. For the first time Una found in sums
and GEOGRAPHY refuge from her bitter long
that life had become to her When she went
up TO wash her hands for tea she found that
the big drcssing-table. with its large swinging
glass. was gone. When she came down she said
timidly to the aunt who sat waiting behind
the tea tray:
There IL no looking.glass in my room. aunt.
How am / to do my hair?'
You must learn 10 do without glass" her
aunt replied beginning 10 pour out the tea with
grim risidity Il didn't say anything to you
about 1t yesterday because you were tired and
l didn't wish to be too severe with you but I
must tell You was very much shocked 10 find
you induging In foolish vanity before the look
iIg-giass. You will have no glass for the
future
Eyes. aunt" said the child meekly climbing
on TO the large horsehair chair and smoothing
her pinafore down over her black frock
will you please pass me the bread and but
ter?' the aunt went on. 'You must learn TO be
very obliging and agreeable, Mary. and think no
rlore about looking glasses and such vanities
Remember that you are an extremely plain
child You will grow up TO be very plain woman
From what have seen Of you am quite sure