Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-17

tt q present for her blrthday-no /
dinary. conventional little gift but |
snmething which would show her that |
he selection had required time and |
oarch. something you couldn't see "
Ine In shop windows or advertised IA
ho back Of magazines something 70
bring the color to her cheeks and the
.parklo to her eyes and cause her to
arciafm. You've rummaged all over
town for It. haven't you, you dear
Did 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 eoi-
tons might be brought to light.
He had wellnigh given up further
search and decided to go back to
little shop uptown and purchase an
hour glass Of quantity carved ivory
be 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
al auction at $50, and in the same
breath he invited the passerby to step
in and inspect H. More from idle Gu
riosity than anything else, Caverley
went within. There was the usual
array Of vases and chinaware. ststu-
cites and rather glazing lamps. He
wandered about, while little man
with a high pitched voice trotted be-
side him. telling wonderful tales about
every article before which Caverley
made momentary pause.
Delft, sir, genuine Delft" the little
man was saying as he held up some
hldeous blue plates, when Caverley In
terrupted him with an exclamation OF
surprise. His eye had fallen on a
silver hand mirror, and he picked It
up and examined II 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 It inconvenient to come in the
afternoon
Il do" said Caverley. shortly. How
much7"
How much did he think it worth to
him? Caverley named a price and the
other made haste to take him up. A
few moments later. with his purchase
in his pocket, he was hurrying W the
street
II was a queer little mirror. The
back was OF oxidized silver, quantity
embossed--an impossible Cupid reach
ing out for a laurel wreath which com
pIetely surrounded him. It was the
very thing for a present to her.
For some time he sat turning tbs
mirror about in his hands, making
the enwreathed Cupid. Then suddenl,
he sat bolt upright. with a strang,
expression on his face He had glance,
into the mirror and the reelection h
beheld there was not that Of his owl
features. He could scarcely believ
his sight He looked again. The fac
he beheld was one from which h
shrank: a strong. firm face It Nigh
have been at some time, but noV
II was disfgured by hideous scar
He laid the mirror on a nearby tabl
and sprang from his chair. He knee
ii was weakness. but for the life Z
him he could not help walking owe
70 the glass on his shaving table an
glancing into IT, It was his own fac
that met his gaze. and he was hea
tiiy ashamed of the sigh Of relief b
gave as he saw it
He returned to his chair and pickle
up the mirror. Again he glanced ini
H. This time It was his own squar
clean-shaven face which looked baC
at him.
Well I amp a skittish fool" sa
he. and turned the mirror over. II
Cupid favored him with the smi
which was its perpetual attribute, al
At that Caverley laughed easily al
put the mirror in a drawer.
You're not quite so much the
ticie l wanted as l took you to be
he observed.
But some sort OF morbid fascinati
about the mirror caused him to Ia
Il often from the drawer. He car
to look upon II with loathing. a
each time that uncouth face peer
back at him he felt creepy sen
tons OF alternate warmth and Oh
yet so strong was the spell It c,
over his better senses that he "
unable to keep his mind from IT,
When her birthday came, Caverl
took her the hour-glass and made
mention of the mirror Indeed.
spoke Of It to no one, for he felt
intense disgust at his own actions
garding it. Yet every night he brou,
1t out and turned 1t about until
face he had come to hate stared b,
at him. Then with a curse he wo
throw It into the drawer and d
the room until he was tired out.
In time he discovered that the Z
ror must be held in certain post
for the face to appear. Otherwise
gave normal reflections. His discoy