The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-05-30
then 1 left to battle with the world,

been away but few months when /
was called back by uncle's death.
remained for another year during
which time my cousin and were wed
ded. Our marriage seemed to please
Rosaline's mother, in what l thought,
a peculiar manner. Thereafter noted
that my Wife was occasionally called
into the mysterious chamber. l asked
no questions but observed change
rapidly taking place in Rosaline. Her
usual good nature would appear to de-
part, she would grow morbid, then
hurry away from my side, enter that
room,' remain for while, and then re-
turn to my side, seemingly alive with
suddenly accrued high spirits. Thus
the days flew by while little suspected
the terrible plot of my uncl-'s wife.
"The spring time had arrived once
more; in the fall l would be twenty
one-then l would be at liberty to ex-
anime the contents of the two pack
ages that guarded so closely. Even
Rosaline knew nothing about them-I
would surprise her. AS the days
passed, strange feelings seemed to take
possession of me. [ had never been
sick, yet, it became necessary for me to
drink coffee every three or four hours;
even then it did no good unless Rosa
line or her mother prepared it. l
thought that strange! One day Rosa
line hinted at drugs-drugs! A demo-
nical feeling seized me! l clutched
my wife and forced the truth from her
i was being drugged daily! With
Rosaline sobbing and following made
for that chamber of mystery. The
door would not yield to my touch, but
l motioned Rosaline to my side and. in
obedience to my wishes she knocked a
signal on the dOOr-the signal for en-
trance. As soon as her mother opened
the door l stepped in. The elder wom-
an welcomed me-believing l had
yielded to Demonical Drug.
"Ah, vivldly is that scene before me
now! A thousand times-yes, twice
that have renewed my gaze at the
faces of those two unfortunate women
both were pale as the lily, one scarcely
breathing for fear of my possible mao
acts, the other smilingly thinking
had been conquered, henceforth to 'be
with them and inhale the life sappine
fumes of opium. My FIRST impulse
was to destroy the source of evil, bu
the craving might be satisfied in othel
ways. 1 knew I had been deceived
deceived by the ones 1 dearly loved
but love for them led me to play par
which would enable me to command
the situation.
"The room was fantastically deco
rated. Rich draperies partly hid al
Egyptian couch; on it was an ivor
tray, a small lamp and an opium pipe
Two narrow, long windows permitte
the daylight to enter, but they wer
hung with Venetian lace, decked pre-
fusely with Chile gold, and now tn
room was ilumed with fitful rays q
, various colored fire burning in an ar
, tique vase placed on mahogan
stand at one side of the couch. Mo-
8 rocco-weaved rugs and couple {
r buffalo robes covered the floor. Copie
paintings of Greek srtists adorned th
: walls; the ceiling vas frescOed wit
;. myriads of stars on q blue BACKGROUND
0 and in the center was representatio
i of Calas driving the sun. In niche
8 around the room were Italian scull
g lures, and small carvings of statuesqr
:. of old masters. My eyes wandere
g from object to object IN listless ma
e ner. Again and again I glanced arour
t the room-then Rosaline and her mot
a er stepped to the couch. ] partly r
= covered my half-dazed senses and WI
Is about to speak when the elder woms
Q touched spring on the couch; instan
p ly there seemed to float about me 10
Is melancholic music, and softly jinglir
,s belle, resembling the tones of Moori'
q music, added lulling feeling to Il
10 senses. 1 glanced at the women-th'
d were now lying on the couch, inhalil
the fumes of opium, apparently u
G. aware or indifferent toJ:my present
70 l approached the couch, the elder VOL
d an arose unaware, unsuspecting, th
q. she was but feigning. took the '