The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-09-26


lect a present for her blrthday-no
ordinary. conventional little gift, but
something which would show her that
the selection had required time and
search, something you couldn't see ly-
ing in shop windows or advertised In
the back Of magazines, something TO
bring the color to her cheeks and the
sparkle to her eyes and cause her to
exclaim, You've rummaged all over
town for It, haven't you. you dear
old boy?"
To this end he spent many after.
Moons In queer places-pawnbrokers
shops, curio stores and musty base
ments. where odd volumes or first edi-
tons might be brought to light.
He had well.nigh given up further
search and decided to go back to
little shop uptown and purchase an
| hour glass of quantity carved ivory
he hadn't the faintest idea to what
use she could put it-when lucky
chance changed his plans.
He was passing an auction room,
where red flag Haunted over the
sidewalk and a shabby man with
leathern lungs bawled forth an an
nouncement that the entire stock of
treasures inside would be sacrificed
at auction at $50. and in the same
breath he invited the passerby to step
in and inspect IL. More from idle Gu
riosity than anything else, Caverley
went within. There was the usual
array of vases and chinaware, statu-
cites and rather glaring lamps. He
wandered about, while a little man
with high pitched voice trotted be-
side him. telling wonderful tales about
every article before which Caverley
made a momentary pause.
Delft, sir. genuine Delft" the little
man was saying as he held up some
hideous blue plates, when Caverley In
terrupted him with an exclamation OF
surprise. His eye had fallen on a
silver hand mirror. and he picked 1t
up and examined It carefully.
THE very thing" he said to him
self; then turning to his self-appointed
guide. How much?"
Everything was to be sold at auc-
ton, the man explained-still, II the
gentleman desired II very much and
found II inconvenient to come In the
afternoon
II do" said Caverley. shortly. How
much?"
How much did he think II worth To
him? Caverley named price and the
other made haste to take him up. A
few moments later, with his purchase
in his pocket, he was hurrying up the
street.
II was queer little mirror The
back was of oXldized silver quantity
embossed-an impossible Cupid reach
ing out for laurel wreath which com
pletely surrounded him. II was the
very thing for present to her
For some time he sat turning the
mirror about in his hands, making
jocular comments now and then tC
the enwreathed Cupid. Then suddenly
he sat bolt upright with strange
expression on his face. lie had glanced
into the mirror and the reflection he
beheld there was not that of his owr
features. He could scarcely believe
his sight He looked again. The face
he beheld was one from which he
shrank; strong. firm face II might
have been at some time. but now
II was dishgured by hideous scars
He laid the mirror on a nearby table
and sprang from his chair. He knew
It was weakness, but for the life Of
him he could not help walking ovei
TO the glass on his shaving table ant
glanclng into It. 1t was his own fac,
that met his gaze, and he was hear
tily ashamed of the sigh OF relief h,
gave as he saw It.
He returned to his chair and picked
up the mirror. Again he glanced intt
It, This time 1t was his own square
clean-shaven face which looked bacl
at him.
We'll, ! am a skittish fool" sait
he and turned the mirror over. Tn,
Cupid favored him with the smil,
which was It's perpetual attribute, ant
at that Caverley laughed easily ant
put the mirror in drawer.
; You're not quite so much the ar
; ticle wanted as | took you to be,
he observed.
But some sort OF morbid fascination
about the mirror caused him to TAX,
il often from the drawer. He cam,
TO look upon it with loathing, an,
each time that uncouth face peere,
back at him he felt creepy sensa
tions of alternate warmth and chill
yet so strong was the spell Il cas-
over his better senses that he wa
unable to keep his mind from It.
When her birthday came. Caverle,
..-..t--. .I-----.------s--------
mention OF the mirror Indeed, N
spoke Of II 70 no one. for he felt al
intense disgust at his own actions re
garding It. Yet every night he brough
it out and turned II about until tn,
face he had come 10 hate stared bacl
al him. Then with a curse he woul,
throw Il into tho drawer and pac,
the room until he was tired out.
In time he discovered that the mir
ror must be held in a certain position
for the face TO appear, Otherwise /
gave normal reflections Ills discover,
gave him a certain courage. II tool
away some OF the weirsnasS OF Oh,