Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-18
THE MIRROR.



Translated from the French of Andre Thcu
riot by Susan II. Taber.
The evening of Iluviose II in the sec
ond year of the Republic. (February |,
1870. Mile. \aninc de Seigueulles-or rs
she was more simply called during the
reign of terror. the citizcness Seigueulles,
went to bed AT very early hour. During
these troubouS lines she lived alone with
an old nurse in country house that had
belonged to her mother and which was sit
uatcd just outside n little village close to
the belgian frontier. Here she lived alone
in almost absolute security her father hav-
ing gone TO join the army OF the Prince de
Condo.
one evening. while she ate her supper.
her old nurse told her many tales of
visions and appearances sacred to the magic
night She had ever assured her that il
she put Il mirror under her pillow, while
pronouncing certain words, she would, dur
ing her sleep. see the man who was dos
tined to marry her. Nanine was anxious
to try it and for that reason went early
to her room.
Mile. de Seiguculles was just entering
upon her twenty-fourth year and her
beauty had reached its full glory. Tall
and slender with curly black hair and
the whiteSr of snow white skin. she seemed
made 10 be loved and surrounded by af-
fec'ion but who was there to love her :
All the young men of noble birth mad
either cmigratrd or been killed and she
was far too proud to stoop to anyone whose
blood was inferior to her own.
Therefore, il was with a sigh. half
amused and half-crcdulous. that she slipped
the mirror beneath her pillow, saying soft
~ as she did So
Mirror. mirror. tell me true.
Present my husband hero to view.
Then. blowing out her candle, she soon
| fell asleep
| The charm worked almost Immediately.
In her dreams she saw a long hall, lined
| with mirrors. in which. through a thick
| haze she caught sight of multtudc of
strange faces. Little by little the haze
cleared away, the faces grew more distinct
and resolved themselves into single ono.
far away in the distance The apparitiou
slowly drew near until Naninc could dis
tingush an old man. with wrinked cheeks,
who advanced toward her. holding ont his
| hand. The idea that she was destined Ia
marry this old man frightened her so that
she awokc trembling Il was long before
she could get to sleep again and In the
morning she still fet troubled at the
thought of hcr dream,
Scarcely had she finished dressing when
her old nurse entered the room, saying,
as she handed her n letter
| "Madcmoiselle, a gentleman has just
| arrived who asked mo to give you this LET
ter. and begs to speak with YOU
Nanne recognized her fathers hand
writing and hastily tore open the following
lcrtcr:
My dear Naninc.
This letter will be given You by one
of our compatriots. the Count de Frrhaut,
whom the Prince dc Condo has entrusted
with a secret mission in Lorraine, Pray
extend the hospitality of the house TO him
and keep him in safe hiding until he can
find safe means of reaching his destina
ton. He will tell you what we are doing
here and tell you of your father who ten
derby embraces you.
Francois de Seigueulles"
With beating henrt, Nanine fastened
down stairs She found the bearer OF the
letter to be man who appeared certainly
over fifty. mufAed in a long brown cloak
and vaguely resembling the old man OF
her dream. In spite of his worn features
and aged appearance, the counts eyes were
still remarkably clear and bright and his
fine brown lashes contrasted strangely
with his gray hair which he wore very long
and tied with a black ribbon.
After the ceremony Of greeting him and
hearing OF her father, Nanlne gave orders
| that Tho count should be shown directly Ia
his room as he confessed to being very
tired having Travelled on foot all night He
did not appear again during the day but
towards evening, when Mile. de Scigueulle>
sent to question him, he replied that he
was entirely rested and would come down
for supper.
Accordingly he presently appeared. sim
uly dressed but in spite of his wrinkle,
and gray hair, he bore himself strikingy
and displayed a courtesy and vivacity eX
traordinary for his age. Certainly. by the
time they reached the dessert. Nanine found
her guest unexpectedly delightful for II
man who was we'll on his way toward
sixty.
They went into the parlor for their cof
fec and seeing the harpschord open, VI
de Frehaut inquired If Nanlne was mu
stefan. Ipon her Affirmative reply, hC
confessed that in his time he had beer
very fond of singing, Naninc lmmedlatel,
begged him to accompany her ana they
played and sang together for some time
As every one knows. music acts marvel
ously upon the emotions and the heart. and
when they had finished, the convprsat ion
naturally took y more tender, intima I,
turn NJ de Frchaut became almost eager
and gallant and his conversation dwclt dis
crcetly upon the borders of love- while his
blue eyes shonc with carcssnG light Al
eleven o'clock, when he retired. with g
long kiss upon Naninc's hand, he left hi,
hostess troubled and almost ashamed OF
the emotion that an evening with n mar
double her own age, caused her.
She went to her loom but her sleep waS
restless. At midnight she was awakened
by old Rastianne, the nurse, who came I,
tell her that the mayor of the little vii
lage had come secretly to warn her tina
she was suspected OF harboring an emigre
Some small boys had seen W. de Frehau
entering her grounds and had run 10 tel
the revolutionary committee at Montmidy
The authorities were likely TO arrive t.
search the house at any moment
but what shall | dof' cried Mile d.
Seigueues.
you must get rid of this dangerous
visitor Immediately" replied the friend,
mayor. AT the far end Of your park il
a tiny lodge, totally hidden amidst tbs
trees Hide the gentleman there unit
tonight. My son will come for him a
soon as it Is dark aud guide him through
the woods across the frontier When you
gentleman hears the cry of the owl, tel
him to jimp ont of the window of the Iii
tie hut and he will find my boy at th