Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-09

door.
My heart was beating violently, and
the pencil shook in my hand. but |
knew that it would not 90 for me to
show any hesitation in fixing for all
eyes what, unaccountably to myself,
continued to be perfectly plain to my
own. SO endeavOred to do as he babe
me and succeeded to some extent, for
he uttered Il slight ejaculation ut one
of its features and. while duly express
ing his thanks honored me with a very
sharp look.
as this your first visit to this house,"
he asked.
"No. have been here before"
"In the evening or in the afternoon 2"
"In the afternoon"
81 am told that the main entrance is
not in use tonight"
"No. \ side door is provided for &C.
casions like the present. Guests enter
ing there find a special hall and stair
case, by which they can reach the up
stairs dressing rooms without crossing
the main hall. Is that what you
mean?"
Yes, that is what l mean"
l stared at him in wonder. What lay
back of such questions as these?
you came in, as others did, by this
side entrance" he now proceeded.
did you notice as you turned to go
upstairs, an arch opening into a small
passageway al your left?"
81 did not" l begun. flushing, for I
thought l understood him now. 81
was too eager to reach the dressing
room to look about me-"
every we'll" he replied: 81 may want
to show you that arch"
The outline of an arch, backing the
figure we were endeavoring to identi.
fly, was IA marked feature in the sketch
! had shown him.
"Will you take seat nearby while
l make a study of this NATTER"
l turned with alacrity to obey. There
was something in his air and manner
which made me almost buoyant. Had
my fanciful Interpretation OF what
had seen reached him with the con-
viction it had me? If so, there was
hope-hOpe for the man l loved, who
had gone in and out between curtain.
and not through any arch such as he
had mentioned or I had described.
| Providence was working for me.
saw 1t in the way the men now moved
about, swinging the window to and
fro, under the instruction of the in
spectOr, manipulating the lights, OPEN
ing doors and drawing back curtains.
Providence was working for me, and
| when. a few minutes later. I was
asked to reseat myself in my old place
ut the supper table and take another
look in that slightly detected glass
knew that my effort had met with its
reward and that for the second time
| was to receive the impression of a
place now indelibly imprinted on my
consciousness.
as not that it?" asked the inspector,
pointing at the glass with last look
at the imperfect sketch l had made
him and which he still held in his
hand.
Yes" | eagerly responded. "All but
the man. He whose figure | see there
Is another person entirely; see nc
remorse or even fear in his looks"
"Of course not. You are looking al
the reflection of one of my men. Miss
Van Arsdale, do You recognize the
place now under your eyeT
Il do not. You spoke of an arch in
the hail, at the left of the carriage en-
trance, and see an arch in the win
| dow mama hafora mo hutr
"You are looking straight through
the alcove-perhaps you did not know
that another door opened at its back
into the passage which runs behind it
Farther on is the arch, and beyonC
that arch the side hall and staircase
leading to the dressing rooms. Thi.
door, the one in the rear of the alcoye
mean, is hidden from those entering
from the main hall by draperies which
have been hung over it for this occa
sion, but 1t is quite visible from tn,
back passageway, and there can b.
no doubt that it was by its means
the man whose reflected image YOU
saw both entered and left the alcove
1t Is an important fact to establish
and we feel very much obliged to yol
for the aid you have given us in thi
matter"
Then, as l continued to stare at hin
In my citation and surprise, he added
in quick explanation:
"The lights in the alcove and in tn
several parlors are all hung wit
shades, as you must perceive, but tn
one in the hall, beyond the arch, /
very bright, which accounts for tn
dlstinctness of this double reflection
Another thing-and 1t Is a very inter
esting point-it would have been in
possible for this reflection to be notice
able from where you sit if the leve
of the alcove flooring had not bee
considerably higher than that of tn
main floor But for this freak of tn
1 Ii.