Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-01-13
The Face In
the Mirror

no ordinary, conventional little gift,
but something which would show her
that the selection had required time
and search, something you couldn't
see displayed in the windows or ad
vertised IN the magazines. something
to bring the color tn her cheeks and
the sparkle to her ewes, and cause
her to exclailn;
you've searched all over the city
for It, haven't you. dear old boy?"
To this end he spent many after
Moons in queer places -pawnbrokers'
shops, curo stores, art establish
ments, ETC.; but his search was for a
long time in vain. He could find
nothing to suit his needs, for the
things he found out of the ordinary
would not crafty her taste. and the
things which would suit her taste
were too ordinary.
He had well-nigh given up further
search and decided to go back to a
little store on Broadway and pur
chase an hourglass of quaintly-carved
ivory--he hadn't the faintest idea to
what use she could put it-when a
lucky chance changed his plans.
He was passing an auction room,
where a notice board Haunted over
the door and a shabby man with
leather lungs bawled forth an an
nouncement that the entire stock Of
treasures inside would be sacrificed
at auction at go p. m, and in the
same breath he invited the passers by
to step in and inspect it.
More from idle curiosity than any
thing else. Cayerley went inside.
There was the usual array of vases
and chinaware, statuettes and rather
glaring lamps. He wandered about,
every article before which Caverley
made a momentary pause.
Delft. sir, genuine Delft" the lit
tie man was saying, as he held up
some hideous blue plates, when Cav
erley interrupted him with an excla-
nation of surprise.
His eye had fallen on a silver hand
mirror, and he picked it up and ex-
amined it carefully.
The very thing" he said to him.
self; then, turning to his self-appoint-
ed guide, How much?"
Everything was to be sold at the
auction. the man explained Still, If
the gentleman desired it very much,
and found it inconvenient to come
In the afternoon"
Il do said Caverley, shortly.
"How much?"
How much did he think 1t was
worth to him? Caverley named
price, and the other made haste to
take it. A few moments later, with
his purchase in his pocket, he was
hurrying up the street.
1t was a queer little mirror. The
back was of oxdiZed silver, quantity
embossed impossible Cupid reach
ing out for laurel wreath which
completely surrounded him. Several
sprays of laurel trailed from the ends
of the wreath, and these were twisted
round and round to form the handle.
A unique idea and rather a good bit
of work, Caverley thought. as he ex-
amined the mirror carefully at his
apartment Assuredly, it would bring
the sparkle to her eyes. and assuredly
she would tell him what dear old
boy he was to take so much trouble
in her behalf. The Cupid was such a
fat, contented looking little god that
he laughed aloud. Symbolical, too, it
seemed to him, for theirs had been
a contented affair of the heart Sure
ly, it 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 to
the enwreathed Cupid. Then, sudden
ly, he sat bolt upright, with strange
expression on his face.
He had glanced into the mirror, and
the reflection he beheld was not that
of his own features. He could scarce
ly believe his sight. He looked again.
The face he beheld was one from
which he shrank; strong, firm face
1t might have been at some time. but
now it was disfigured by hideous scars.
He laid the mirror on a nearby
table, and sprang from his chair. He
knew 1t was weakness, but for the
life of him he could not help walking
over to the glass on his shaving table
and glancing into 1t. 1t was his own
face that met his gaze, and he was
heartily ashamed of the sigh Of relief
he gave as he saw 1t.
He returned to his chair and picked
up the mirror. Again he glanced into
it. This time it was his own square,
clean-shaven face which looked back
at him.
well, l am fool" said he, and
turned the mirror over.
The Cupid favored him with the
smile which was its perpetual attri-
butte, and at that Caverley laughed
easily, and put the mirror in draw
er.