The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-01-02
IMPERIHL MILLIONS
By JULIAN HAWTHORNE

copyright, 1891. by American Press Associa-
tion.l
They mounted to the second floor ac-
cordingly, she still leaning on his arm.
He left her on the threshold of the
room, and the door closed behind her
as she entered. There was fire of logs in
the fireplace, and in the chandelier a
score of flames burned steadily. The
room was like the chamber Of a fairy
princess. Every appliance that could
render a woman's existence luxurious
and exquisite was there; every sense was
hattered, every soft impulse stimulated. d.
She moved about resting her eyes on
one delight after another. The bed, the
toilet table, the washstand, the low
chairs and divans, the soft rugs under
foot, the walls hung with lovely tapestry,
the numberless minor beauties of decora-
tions that only women of certain fine
ness of taste and temperament know how
to appreciate-all seemed designed for
her. Was it SO, indeed?
She seated herself at length and fell
into a long revery. Opposite to where
she sat was tall and wide mirror, in
which she saw herself reflected at full
length. 1t was set in the wall, the heavy
bevel of the glass and its frame of ebony
with ivory filigree pattern inlaid showed
that it was a rare antique-such mirror
as the magicians of old time were tabled
to employ in necromantic mysteries.
One might expect to behold in it secret
scenes from the future or the past-re-
Elections from heart that kept its own
counsels.
A dreamy mood came over the wom-
an. Her mind wandered vaguely from
one region of thought to another. She
sat with eyes half closed; all around her
was still. Glimpses of her earliest life
passed before her, and then pictures
nearer to the present and not SO fair.
She stsove to Danish them, and fix her
mind on the anticipation that had lately
suggested itself to her. To be the mis-
tress of this house-the wife of this man
the dispenser of his fortune! But by
perverse infelicity her memory revert
ed to their talk in the reception room.
She saw the court room, the judge and
jury, herself in the witness box, and then
in the prisoners dock the pallid counte-
nance, framed in black hair, of the youth
who was on trial for his life. He was
condemned; he was dead; his look seemed
to reproach her for his death.
Either her eyes were dim or the room
had grown strangely dusky. What
light there was appeared to concentrate
on the mirror. In its depths figure
darkly appeared, growing more distinct
as she gazed upon it. What was itf
Not her own reflection. She had not
moved from her position. No. This
figure stood erect; it was clothed in black
garments; it advanced from a shadowy
background. It was the figure of man;
surely she had seen it beforel Her nerves
thrilled cold and her joints stiffened as
she looked. Was her visitor assuming
concrete form before her eyes? The face
was still obscure; but in that slowly in
creasing and lifting light it dawned into
appalling visibility. And now it was re-
vealed! It was he-it was Keppel Darke!
A black veil seemed to swathe the lower
part of his countenance; his features
were contorted in a CHASTITY stare, direct
ed upon her. He raised his hands and ap-
peared to struggle with the semblance
of rope about his neck. Then he point
ed to the floor at her feet, and with a
sudden flash of conviction she knew that
this room, so cunningly disguised, was
the room In which Harry Trent had
fallen, stabbed to the heartl With a
shrek she sprang to her feet and stag
gered forward.