Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-12-09

melancholy, silent, and singular.
had heard youthful dissapolnt-
/ men: referred to as the cause, but
the particulars of it had never been
discussed in my presence. Grand
mother was devoted to her, but do
not think it was pleasant TO the rest
of the family to meet her. At any
rate, they seldom went to Silent
Shades During the week | had been
there I had seen her but a few times.
Occasionally, in my rambles round
the house or the garden, had met
her, and she had looked at me word
lessly as she passed, swift and silent
IS shadow. Once only she had
stopped me.
sChild,' she sail, sis your name
Annie?'
Yes, aunt Winifred,' answered
struggling to maintain my self-po-
session.
"Aye, Aye she murmured, II
thought SO. You have Annis's
face. She was the dearest of my
sisters, but she stays away from me
now that l am no longer happy.
Good-by, good-by, Annie"
She moved away with look and
gesture of indescribable melancholy
and since then she has not address
ed me. She spoke now, however.
She drew a chair very near me, and
sat down, and in the mirror saw
her face steadfaslly watching mine.
She began in those, clear. slow,
thoroughly, ladyl.ke tone of hers:
"What have you seen 10 the mir
ror, cbild?'
any own face only, at first, and
now yours.
"You shall see more. It is
magic mirror. / saw my destiny
there once. will tell you the story.
Look steadily into the crystal
while speak, and you shall see the
history reflected there 1t is Hal
lowe'en. The house is blazing with
light, all save this room; far we have
invited merry party, l and my
sisters, and we are going to keep
Hallowe EN- after the fashion of our
Scottish ancestors. Only this room
is left in darkness, save such ghost
ly lights as the moon-rays can give,
stealing through the shutters OF the
east window, aud flashing fittuly
over the depths Of the great mirror.
We had left it in the dark purpose
ly that any maiden who should be
bold eno:gh might go in it alone
10 the hour between twelve and one
and looking into its still depths,
see over her shoulder her future
husbands face.
"When the time came, alone was
brave enough or reckless enough, to
go. Look steadily now. You see
lido you not) a young girl, clad all
in white, with golden hair falling
about her neck, In the glerms and
shadows; bright cheeks and lips;
eyes as blue as summer violets; a
tall slender shape. Twenty-Five year
ago that shape of seventeen was
IVinifred Thorne. | fear nothing.
There was no danger l wanted cour-
age to face. Taking a candle, which
fickered in my hand. l trirped out
OF the gay rooms, where were light
and music, and tue dance was going
on-along the silent passage--into
this apartment. I stood before
the mirror, and combiug my hair as
the charm directed, began to say
over the spell which was 10 sum
men the face was to wait for;
"Three times three,
True love comes to me-,
81 concluded, and there over my
shoulder, YVES the face-the very
face | thought must be there, or
none-that of the only man who had
touched my proud wilful heart. For
an instant a vague wild joy shook
me; then suspicion dsrkened it. l
felt breath against mp neck |
was quick tempered, passionate.
turned angrily.
$50 you could not trust to fateg
You took this manner 10 insure my
seeing your face, yours only. 1t was
worthy of you Robert ASH
ST spoke the words with an ac-
cent of bitter scorn. Anger-the
evil demon of the Tho nea-had
possession OF me. Shall | ever for
get how gentle he was?
"'No. Winifred,' he said, plead
ingly. Surely you must know that
I had no such motive. | do not be-
lieve, nor, I think, in your leart do
you. il these spells and incanta-
tions. Had | not presented my own
face there !, as | did, you would not
have seen that or any other. did
not come to deceive or interrupt
you. But time, with me, is precious.
| must be in New York tomorrow
My sailing orders came tonight, and
/ could not go without one moments
quiet talk with you. / followed you
here as the best chance for it, and
now you must listen 10 me. W.ni-
fred, you have known, you must have