Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-08-11

with an aunt, was rich, beautiful and
otherwise attractive. At twenty-five
she began to think it time to cease
declining all the offers of marriage
that continued to pour in on her and
take a partner. Mentallympassing in
review the men from who1A she knew
she might pick, she settled on three
Arthur Emerson, young clergyman
of the Episcopal church, Captain Win
field Dempster of the army and Cam
eron Wood, nobody. Mr. Emerson
was rising man among the clergy;
Captain Dempster had distinguished
himself in the Spanish-American war;
Mr.. Wood was chiefly notable for in
dolence. Nevertheless he was attrac-
tive to Miss Mortimer What it was
that attracted her she could not her
self tell. He was not handsome, though
it must be confessed he was to the
manner born. He was not especially in
tellectual, though she was not sure of
this because he was too lazy to think.
Miss Mortimer always hSd friends
staying with her at her country place
in summer and decided to invite the
threR candidates to visit her with
view to subjecting them to a certain
test which she designed to apply. This
plan was suggested by an old friend
of her father
ut is said,' he told her, that no man
is hero to his own valet That is not
true. Napoleon the Greats valet ador-
ed him. But no man is a hero to him
self. At any rate, if he is, he is de-
ceived. will suggest plan by which
you can discover what each one of
your three candidates is in his own es-
timation. Set up somewhere in your
house where your guests must occa-
siOnally pass a platOnized mirror. 1t
is made by coating a glass with very
thin liquid charged with platinum and
raised to a red heat When it Is placed
against a dark surface it reflects; when
light is admitted behind it it is trans
parent. View your candidates from
behind it in the dark
Miss Mortimer ordered the mirror
made and placed in the door of a cloak
closet at the entrance to her house
Behind it was a window opening into
a court with interior shutters. Before it
every one entering the house must pass.
The first candidate to arrive was the
clergyman. When he entered Miss
Mortimer was looking at him through
the mirror, though he could not see
her. He gave glance at his refiec-
ton and passed on with evident self
satisfaction. The soldier came next
and deliberately paused to curl his
mustache. Mr.. Wood, seeing himself
mirrored, stopped and uttered an I'M
Ineligible grunt at his appearance.
There was not much in this, but it
was beginning. The next day the host
ess caught the clergyman making ges-
lures before the mirror. Casting a
quick glance about him and being sat
isied he was unseen, he dropped on his
knees, placing the palms Of his hands
together, practicing the attitude of
prayer. Yet it was evident that the
object of his worship was herself.
Next came the soldier, who, upon en-
tering, stood before the mirror, per-
hitting his features to relax with an
expression that was very repulsive to
Miss Mortimer. 1t was evident that
some unworthy thought was passing
through his mind. AS to the lounger,
she could get no definite information
from the mirror except that he did not
apparently consider himself a hand
some man.
Miss Mortimer dismissed Mr.. Elmer
son as too contemplate for further
consideration One night when Cap
tain Dempster was out late she fixed
up a dummy burglar behind the mir
ror and lit a gas jet in the closet.
When the captain came home and saw
man pointing an improvised weapon
at him he went out the front door
and was later advised that he need not
return.
Miss Mortimer was disposed to test
Mr.. Wood further, but rather from Gu
riosity than as a candidate for her
hand. She sent him out one evening
and while he was gone dressed herself
and put on a mask, representing a
shriveled old woman. When the door
opened to her guest she was sitting
behind the mirror Illuminated and
looking straight at him. He stopped
short, looking steadily at the grim
tleman, his hand went up to his hat,
which he had never failed to remove
In presence of a woman and which he
now mechanically dotted. There was
wonder in his eyes at seeing an old
woman where he had been used to
seeing a mirror, but he did not seem
disposed to be shocked. Perhaps he
was too lazy. Miss Mortimer sat mute,
looking at him through the two holes
in her mask. Finally he spoke:
Madam, / wish you very good
evening"
His imperturbability was too much
for Miss Mortimer. With a laugh she
threw off her cloak and her mask and
stood before him in her own person.
Then, opening the door between them,
she stepped forth, gave him her hand
and said:
ST devised this mirror, transparent
when lighted from behind, to observe
you and two other men when you sup
posed yourselves alone. You of the
three have stood whatever of test
there is in it. The others may be fine
men toward the world. You are not a
fine man even to yourself, but you
have the instincts of a gentleman, and
your equanimlty is not easily disturb
ed l shall run less risk in marrying
you than the others and am ready to
do so. Have you made up your mind
that you really want me?"
whats the use," he drawled, eff
you've made up yoursY"
"True. The exertion is unnecessary "
ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR