The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-07-05
A ROBT. W. CHAMBERS
STORY, AND WRITTEN
IN HIS BEST STYLE

clear starlight When | entered my room ! sent the
maid away and sat down by the window he beauty
of the night made restless; went downstairs,
slipped through the garden to the pergola. My
hammock hung there and lay down in it; looking at
the stars"
She drew the ring from her finger, holding it out
"The starlight caught the gems the Sign OF
Venus" she said under her breath; that was the
beginning And them don't know why-as ! lay
there idly turning the ring finger, found my
self saying 4 must go to New York; must leave my
body here asleep in the hammock and go down to my
in 58th street"
curious little chill passed over Rutherford
IL said it again and again. don't know why.
| remember the ring glittered; ! remember it grew
brighter and brighter. And then-and then! fou
myself upstairs here in the dark, cropping tor
matches. -
Again that faint chill touched Hetherford IL
81 was stupefed for a moment" she said trenf
ulously; then suspected what had done, and i
frightened me. And when lighted the candle, and
il truly my room-and when l caught
sight of my face in the mirror-terror seized
i, like glimpse of something taken unawares.
For do you know that although in the glass /
saw my own face, the face was NOT looking back at
She dropped her head, crushing the ring in both
hands.
''The reflected face was far lovelier than mine;
and it mine think, yet it not looking at me,
and il moved when did not move | wonder won
der"
The tension was too much eff that be So" he
said steadying his voice-"if you face in your
mirror, the face your own" He rose mpatently.
"All that you have told be explained he said.
How can it? AT this very moment am asleep
in my hammock"
1--WE will deal with that later he said, smiling
at her. "Where is there a looking CLASP"
There is one in the hallway" She rose, slip
ping the ring on her finger, and led the way to an
oval gilt mirror.
''Now look into the glass" he said gayly.
She raised her head and faced the mirror for
"Come here" she whispered; and he stepped be-
hind her, looking over her shoulder.
In the glass, though reflected, he her face,
but THE FACE WAS IN PROFILE! 1
A shiver passed over him from head to foot
did | not tell your she whispered Look!
See, the other face is moving while l am stlv'
There's something wrong about the glass; of
course" he muttered; cts defective"
"But who is that in the CLASP"
1t is you-your profile. don't exactly under
stand GOOD LORD! It's turning away from usr'
She shrank against the wall, wide-eyed, breath
ing rapidly.
said, scarcely knowing what he uttered. This is 58th
street, New York" He forced smile
Don't be frightened; there's explanation for
this. You not asleep in Westchester; you here
in your own house. You mustn't tremble Give
me your hand moment"
She laid her hand in his obedently it shook like
leaf. He held it firmly, touching the fluttering
''You are certainly no spirit" he said smiling;
hands like that, you know"
Her fingers lay in his quite passive now, but the
pulse quickened.
''The explanation of it all this" he said: "You
have had temporary suspension of consciousness,
during which time you, without being aware of what
you doing, to town from Willow Brook g.
You believe you went to the dance at the Hunt CluEF
but probably you did Instead, during lapse of
consciousness, you went to the station straight
to your house" He hestated &C.
Eyes" she said 81 have key to the door, Here
it is" She drew it from the bosom of her gown; he
took it trumphantly.
''You simply awoke to consciousness while you
were cropping for the matches That is all there is
it, and you need not be frightened at allr' he an
rounced.
"No not frightened" she said shaking her head;
"only-ony wonder how can get back. I've tried
to fix my mind my ring-on the Sign of Venus-I
cannot seem to"
"But that's nonsense he protested cheerfuly.
THAT ring has nothing to do with the matter"
"But it brought me here! Truly asleep in
my hammock. Won't you believe h?"
'No; and you mustn't, either" he said inpatient
Ily. "Why just now | explained to you
81 know" she said, looking down at the ring
Il