The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-03
Guides IN
- SUPERSTITION
The Old Shaving Glass.

} Tn. hou-s stood back f---, tho quiet
street a picture 81 home IA white and
green There Tor many years Prof
ThAyn-. the philologist had lived. and
there Dr Achilles Blore. the renowned
professor Of archaeology ~ Piepson TINT
vrruity. vas now "a dine with the widow
~ his old A~soria'e and friend.
Though engrussrd with his voration
and stealing hours from il and the night
for that study Of supsrstitions which was
his pet AvoCation. the doctor yet revisited
occasionally tins scene for many ye,rs
II hI- solo social r''laNations. To show his
regard for the living and his respect for
IN" dead Was thcr' another reason.
unadmiited secre;' Truly. the doctor
did turn with pleasure toward the fresh
Young beauty ~ Edith Willis who rnadr
her home with her aunt. Mrs Thayn.
4 decent looking lahorrr for all has
rough heard and black pipe. lounglnE
under the elns az the corncr. st"-r"d M
n th" Doctor with a pull AZ hiS over
shadowing hat
Hist. doctor he said One word.
pleas. You know ne. don't youy-
What? Jim Lance cried the doctor.
his ears rather than his ewes recognizing
tn. detective
Yes. sir think the job I'm ~ will
he ~ the snrt YOU told ~" 20 let you know
about II is sure "A mortal uu.-'- ono
The captain sent mo Ia the college
president the morn The young Greek
tutor Grrnvull. Iarrv - missing It's
all on the qui-t vet You understand
hut ~ far as | can learn he was last seen
going into this house two nights ago
Il. A L. a
member any possible hint or mention Of
him IL might he helpful when I come
20 your tower rooms to tell vol more
about the cas-. At midnight. sir? l"s.
III he there faithful
II was a. peaceful within the house
a. without. Domesticity hoversNi low
ngly over the dining room with lie old
fAshioneCi furniture. it's family portraits
dull faded ami its polished andiTons and
rude crane set deep within the high
mAntel. on a corner Of which stood
small antique mirror swung IN a bronze
frame richly wrought.
And vet the doctor was conscious Of a
difference a difference ~ restraint He
read II in the wan smile of his hostess
Il was even more manifest when Edith
Willis. pushing aside her plate untasteSi
room.
-Mcmsnto nori. doctor sad Ms
Ihayne To you. one OF the very few
who know the tradition and history OF Il.
| NAV say that the shadows you feel
come from the old shaving glass
The sentimental sympathy he had felt
for EditE's dIsauIet vanished now before
an interest that revived the more al
sorbinsly for the WEI ht ~ years Again
he heard Prof. Thayne tell with simple
Ia "A fhta rssltR ~ fall LrAlr
tie glass before the death Of a member e
the family. Again he recalled the whit.
face 81 III" widow when on making his
condolences over the sudden taking ~
Of his old friend she had whisU"ret how
the maid. coming AZ dayhr-ak into
the room all drawn and closed for the
nIght. had found the shaving glass fallen
To the floor
WHY had he neglected to inveSti gate
80 startling an instance 81 the working
of superstition which had kept vital
through IN. ages among his own race.
20 delvs into the hsarSay and conf ctInR
evidence II remote alien folk recorded
IN m,Isty manuscripts 81 doubtful mean
ing and more doubtful origin A. least
now he would not make such n mistake
again A. least now he would See and
test for himself
Tho doctor stepped 60 the rantel and
took down the mirror IN his two hands
Doubtless from the thickness 81 the
hronza frame and the way the glass was
swung hack from ~. the rejecting surface p
glmmer~d darklv like tho sea IN the ,
sullen light after a storm
He could see bis own ina GO. 81 course
hut 10 was not the mag - his -.f satiS- .
faction There were crafty twttches 20
the lire and surely any one must -ay that
cruelty lurked m the corners II his mar
row-d eyes He S~t hack the mirror 80
inpati"ntlv that With the tang Their" was .
also \ rattle.
1T aaam. to 10 all night enough