Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-21
b r E N
MIRRORS
By CHARLES GALBERE
Copyright. by Short Stories Co, Ltd

ANvpyilsAts W ohoAb SUITES w. -@N--t
The little mirror slipped from Ma
rie's fingers and lay shattered on the
floor
Marie is very superstitious. She has
a horror Of crossed knives, spilled salt
and especially Of broken mirrors. Sc
70 console her and also as a measure
OF self-protection (for the dear girl
can be the least bit disagreeable when
things go wrong) l told her the fol.
lowing true story:
/ In the little town in which | was
born there lived joiner named Nal
yeuil, who had learned his trade in
Paris and was, renowned far and wide
for the remarkable excellence of his
workmanship. But though his skill
was admired. and though he never
gave the slightest cause for offense,
he was not well liked Perhaps 1t
was because he was so MORALLY home
~ and also because he seemed to
prefer his own society to that of 9th
ers; for it is a melancholy fact that
personal beauty is a great aid to so
ctal success, and that people in gen.
eral have a sort of grudge against
recluses, whom they either despise or
fear.
If Malveuil, like the other young men,
had frequented the tavern and strut
ted about In his best clothes on Sun.
day afternoons nobody would have
paid any particular attention to him
But he stunned his fellows, spoke lit
tie, and laughed not at all. Every
day from morning to night, his tall,
gaunt figure and ugly, red-bearded
face could be seen bent over his work.
bench. Long. solitary evening walks
were his only diversion.
Great surprise was therefore occa.
stoned by his appearance, one sum.
mer evening. at the weekly open-air
dance; but as he stationed himself by |
he side of the musicians and re-
NAMED motionless through the en-.
ire evening. his presence was soon
orgotten. For several weeks in sue
'ession he repeated this performance,
he meaning OF which became appar-
mt when It was observed that his
yes never left MARITIME. the prettiest
.irl and the most notorious flirt in the
.illage.
MARITIME laughed scornfully when
he was told of this discovery. The
Dung men leased her: Don't you
eel proud? Sult another admirer!
ee him casting sleeps eyes, the wild
lan!"
She made a plrouette and replied
nabashed Il don't care. What Is
ne more or less when have so
any?"
But such a onel" q
"All the better!"
She neither frowned nor smiled on &
e Joiner, but as she was resting aft {
a quadrille she saw him suddenly i
ave his post and march straight {
ward her.
What impelled her to accept his in I
tation? Perhaps she felt fattered {
cause she had been the first to u
arm and tame the wild man. At \
events, she astonished everybody {,
whisking through the next waltz a
tn him. n
On the following day however, the h
ere mention of the name of her
'ange admirer was sufficient to pro b
Ike her to mirth, and two days after. h
I'D she had ceased to think about u
n, engrossed as she was with rib IN
MS, laces and other adornments of re
precious person. RI
So she was very much surprised one W
ernoon. when her uncle was busy h,
'airing a saddle and she was sit NJ
g In the back room, TO see the ioin- pt
enter the shop, cap in hand. and fir
'ost the old gentleman. She lis
ed, of course, but failed to catch ht
but the last words of the con. tn
sation. fr
Well, after all, good looks are not. as
her uncle said. Il have
hing against you If the little one 10,
agreeable, shan't stop her mar
lg you"
And when shall come for her an. We
TT"
Come tonight and ask her your.
!"
Ialveuil came, but wasted a long
e in desultory remarks inter.
rsed with periods of embarrassed II
nee. He felt almost certain Of a list
isal. but at last he plucked up cour- ply
and said abruptly: Il have come lie
SIX you to be my wife, ing
artine did not derive quite as me
a pleasure from this proposal as If
had anticipated. for the humble liv,
Ugh eager entreaty in her suitor's ide
checked the cruel premeditated low
that rose to her lips. Only for
instant however. Then she re- tax
ed to the plan of action upon sta
p she had decided after consult. ing
with her girl friends. VIII,
eopie who marry, she said. 'smust nut
furniture, and no one can mako coo
so well as you. First make the foo
iture, and then-well, we will see eau
not promise anything. mind bon
llveuil was forced to content him. full
with this ambiguous answer Nevt do
rr-r~ h.a ~