The Portland daily press., 1898-07-28
THE LOOKING GLASS.

II of the republic (Feb. l, lf99) Mic.
Naniue do Leigrealles, who at this period
of the terror was called simply Cltoyenne
Leigroalles, - retired early to her sleeping
chamber In these troubled times she
lived alone with an old nurse in country
house inherited from her mother and situ-
ated at Eillons, near the village Of Ecou-
viers, q short league from the Belgian
frontier.
After passing q large part of her child
hood and youth in this retired region she
had again taken refuge there on the occa-
sion of tho sequestration Of the patrimoni-
al hotel where she was residing in Verdun
with her father, the Marquis de Leigre-
allies, whose property was confscated as
that of an "emigre' when the marquis
went to join the army of Condo. Eillons
and Ecouviers not being yet agitated by
the revolutionary fever, Mile. de Leigre-
allies, loved and respected by all the peas
ants in the neighborhood, found herself
there in almost absolute safety.
This evening all through the supper her
old nurse, Bastienne, had told her excit-
ing stories in relation to visions and reve-
lations on Candlemas night. She had even
assured her young mistress that by plao-
ing a mirror under the bolster and pro-
nouncing certain words one could see that
night ''during ones sleep" the man whom
one was to love and afterward to marry.
Nanine, who was slightly superstitious,
longed to test the truth Of this legend. 1t
was for this reason that she went to her
own room Immediately after supper.
Once alone and half undressed she took
@ looking glass in her hand and, before
hiding it under the pillow, half amused
and half credulous, she decided to repeat
the sacramental words which Bastienne
had taught her:
Mirror, make me see while sleeping
Him who is to be my lover.
Then she slipped the mirror under the
bolster, went to bed and soon fell asleep.
Well, almost Immediately the charm
took effect. In the midst of her first sleep
she saw in her dream long. perspective
of mirrors in which there moved as in
fog multitude of eccentric heads. Grad
ually the fog lightened, the figures defined
themselves, then blended into single ap-
partition, very distant, in the recesses OF a
church chancel The apparition slowly
approached, and then Nanine distinguish
ed an old man with hoary head and wrln-
killed. cheeks, in French costume, who ad-
vanced toward her and held out his hand
to her The idea that she was destined TO
marry this old nobleman of at least % so
shocked her that she awakened suddenly.
She had great difficulty in going to sleep
again and rose the next morning still
agitated by her dream.
AS she completed her toilet Bastienne
entered her room and said in handing a
letter to her:
Mademoiselle, gentleman has just
arrived who asked me to deliver this note
to you and wishes to speak with you. -
Nanine glanced at the superscription of
the note, which she hurriedly unsealed as
she recognized the handwriting of her IA
ther The Marquis de Leigrealles wrote
as follows:
MY DEAR NANINE-This note will be trans
mitted to you by one of our countrymen,
Count Frehaut, who has been charged by the
Prince de Condo with confidential mission
in Lorraine. Receive the count with all hos
pitality and conceal him until he shall find
means to arrive at his destination. He will
inform you of our affairs and give you intel
ligence Of your father, who embraces you ten
derry. FRANCOIS DE LEIGREALLES.
Luxembourg, Jan. 30.
W1UQ u OGt&UlIiR I6dIU Netulu0 AdSoOAC>k
to descend to the drawing room, where the
traveller had been received. She saw
gentleman who appeared to have passed
his f1ftieth year muffied in a long brown
great coat and vaguely resembling the old
man of her dream. Notwithstanding his
apparent age, his drawn features, his
creased eyelids, the count had lively eye,
and his fine brown eyebrows contrasted
with the gray hair which he wore very
long and tied at the back of his neck with
black ribbon.
After ceremonious greetings and brief
tidings respecting the situation and health
of the Marquis de Leigrealles M. de Ere
haut admitted to his hostess that he was
broken down with fatigue, having made
the last part of his journey at night on
foot, and asked permission to take the
rest of which he was in great need Ma
nine gave orders that room should be pre-
pared for him. He retired to it as soon as
1t was ready and did not appear again
during the day, but toward evening,
Mile. de Leigrealles having inquired after
him, he notified the young girl that he
was completely restored and that he would
come down to supper.
He presented himself accordingly at
about z O'Clock freshly shaven and simply
dressed in coat Of coarse brown cloth,
with two rows of buttons, in gray, tight
fitting breeches and scalloped half boots.
Despite his wrinkles, his gray hair and
bent shoulders, he had very pleasing air,
distinguished manners, exquisite courtesy
and extraordinary vivacity for his age.
They went into the dining room and sat
down together at table before good fire
of blazing wood. The menu, superintend-
ed by Mile. de Leigrealles, was substan-
tial and delicate. The Moselle wines were
of the choicest quality. NJ. de Frehaut
did honor to the repast and showed him
self q charming guest and brilliant talker
He had sprightliness and imagination.
and related with much humor his adyen
lures as an s'emigre. :" Was it the effect
of the pretty sparkling wines, to which she
was not accustomed, or perhaps OF her
youth and her protracted solitude that IN
clined her to susceptibility? When the sies-
sert came, Nanine dc Ileigrealles had be-
gun to find her guest very fascinating for
a man who was approaching his sixties.
They took coffee in the parlor, and, as
the harpsichord stood open, NJ. dc Frehaut
n "