The Holbrook news., 1911-12-15

house. all were. startled by her m@ usual pallor.
 Did you value the mirror very highly, Miss Katrina?" one of the girls asked. after Elsie told what had happened.
 "Oh, mo-" she replied, trying to smile, "but-but it's seven years of bad luck. you know"
 Miss Katrina is the last person should ever think of as superstitious. % Myrtle said, as they went home a short time later, but l suppose we each have our pet superstition. and that is hers"
 Meantime, Miss Katrina sat in her own room, thinking. not of the possi- ble bad luck to which she referred. but of the face which had flashed out of the darkness and looked at her from the mirror a second before it had fallen to the ground.
 T am getting old,' she said to her self, 'old and fanciful."
 Yet the face stood out clearly in her memory-the face of Maurice Clinton. stamped with the impress of time and with hair as plentifully sprinkled with silver as her own. Just as he might look now" she murmured, but, of course, 1t couldn't, couldn't be-"
 When the first light of the late No vember dawn stole into the room Miss Katrina, weary of futile attempts to sleep, was up and dressed. As she took spray of cosmos from vase on the bureau and fastened it in her hair the whistled melody of "Juanita" float ed up from beneath the window. She knew the signal well and, without pausing to wonder or question. ran down the stairs and threw open the door to find herself face to face with Maurice Clinton.
 For one breathless moment they looked deep. deep into each others eyes.
 You have waited for me, my Trina" he said at length, taking her hand and drawing her into the parlor.
 And you have come" she said. "Oh. knew you would"
 Fate dropped into my hands the in- formation which made it possible for me to come to you." he said. in low tone; read this, Trina"
 He handed her a document drawn up in legal form and signed by two witnesses, the dying testimony of one John Denham, the purport of which was that on a certain day. while en- gagged in a hunting expedition, John Denham had, at spot accurately de- scribed, shot and killed a man who chanced to be passing and of whose name the testator was ignorant Den ham was to start for Europe the fol- lowing day, on a commission of great importance, and, knowing himself to be wholly innocent of crime. did not feel bound to incur the delay which a statement of facts would necessitate. and which would risk the high place in the business world just within his grasp. When, after almost fifteen years, failing health compelled his re- tirment from active life, the unhappy incident constantly recurred to his mind, tormenting him with the thought that some innocent person might be suffering for his carelessness and sub sequent self1shness. As his attending physician Dr. Clinton summoned the lawyer at Denham's request, little dreaming that the matter which weighed so heavily on the sick mans conscience in any way concerned him. self When Denham died few days later Dr. Clinton secured the paper from the lawyer and started at once for the place which still held his heart
 'T am so glad we know just how it was," Katrina said. with tears in her eyes.
 And now you will keep your prom ise," he said, taking her in his arms.
 The years of trouble seemed to slip far into the background. as these two renewed the VOWS made so long ago.
 q came too late to see you last night" he said. but could not rest, so I wandered down the old orchard path and came out by the well just in time to see you there. What were you doing?"
 Trying to see my lovers face in the mirror" she whispered. "and did"
 He bent and kissed her tenderIy, while outside the late chrysanthe- mums nodded to each other and the pumpkin jack-o-lanterns by the door grinned knowingly in the warm au. tumn sunshine.