Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-02-17
The
Dark
Mirror
by
Louis Joseph Vance
AHttrOr of"The False Faces.
"The Lone Wolf" Etc.
illustrated BY
IRWIN MYERS
llIIlIIIIl
Copyright, 1870, by the Author.)
III. MR.. CHlLVERS-Co

him continue to believe that she was
Leonora, and make what profit he
could Of that belief. If she could not
have that happiness of which Le-
Onora unwittingly had despoiled her,
she could at least protect Leonera's
happiness and conserve it by taking
upon herself the punishment Leonora
otherwise must suffer at the hands
of her forsaken associates, by way Of
penalty for her detection.
Exalted by a sublime spirit of self
sacrifice, she faced Mr.. Chilvers with
a decision and confidence that would
have made him uneasy had he been
less infatuated in the triumph of his
low cunning.
AS it was, not till long after he had
left did he recall that look, try with
out avail to fathom it, and become
suspicious.
The slamming of the outer vesti-
bule door disturbed them. Priscilla
turned hastily to peer out into the
hail. On the filet lace that covered
the glass of the front door the vague
silhouette of Mrs Trowbridge showed.
'Please!" An imperative gesture
brought Mr.. Chilvers to his feet, some
what to his own surprise. you must
go now-or you'll spoil everything"
"Papa comin'?" he inquired with a
knowing look.
"My aunt. daren't present you to
her. You must CO."
"Well-but how about our next lit
tie chat?"
Anywhere you say, any time"
81 say the Plaza. Four o'clock to-
morrow afternoon. Well have tea.
Mind my draggin' Inez along?"
"No-surely not. But don't delay
now"
Mr.. Chilvers deftly f1icked the stub
of his cigarette into the empty fire.
place, took up his hat and stick, and
moved gracefully out into the hall.
Remember: the Plaza at four. And
don't stand me up-not unless you're
lookin' for real trouble"
"Tll be there" The front door
swung open, admitting Mrs. Trow-
bridge. Priscilla gave the criminal
her hand. ''Then good afternoon, Mr..
Chilvers-and thank you for calling.
I'm so sorry 1 have to rush off to
Keep my appointment
"Don't mention it. Charmed to have
had the pleasure of seein' you, even
for a moment"
al h
Esther bore down on Priscilla with
supercilious brows.
MY dear child, who was that
strange creature?
"That?" Priscilla laughed with a
note of 'hysteria. 'Oh, nobody of any
consequence-just an acquaintance
an artist of a sort"
IAN artist? I thought as much !"
The good woman sighed. 81 did hope
you wouldn't bring such people to the
house. but presume :"
Priscilla laughed, and for the first
time in days with a genuine ring of
mirth.
Don't worry, DEAR" she offered
vaguely; and added with more de-
cision: by the way, I've been think
ing it's selfish of me to keep you in
town in this heat. Besides, Ada Meyer
won't pose again till some time next
autumn. We might as well go down to
Southampton as soon as you can man.
age. -. :"
III TIE TLPEAr -ur mn, -
In the morning she dreamed once
more of Leonora
But ROW the way of the dream with
her was something new; perhaps in
that it was more in true sense dream,
less an involuntary essay in telaesthe-
sia. For all that, it had it's element of
clairvoyance, as the outcome was to
prove.
What instinct had foreshadowed in
the dream proved true. The scene
was in a theater of the hills, set high
upon wooded mountain flank, over
looking a deep wide valley, the soft
green velvet of whose forest carpeting
was threaded by slender silver streams
and dotted with little shining lakes.
Sunlight, flashing level across the
eastern ridges, struck squarely a bun
galow set in the clearing, a rambling
structure that Rugged the earth, the
primitive crudity of its undressed logs
belied by every refinement civilization
could contribute.
On the veranda, near the steps, Le-
onora stood waiting, looking back in
to the living room.
The girl was brilliant with a beauty
new in Priscilla's knowledge of her,
every shade of care and discomfort
disestablished from her countenance,
its clear pallor enriched by a new
found glow of well-being. In her eyes
peace had taken up it's abode.
Dressed in a brief skirt of tan
twilling and blouse of white silk sim
ply fashioned, with high-laced boots
sturdy enough for woods walking, hat
less, her hair dressed low upon her
neck, she held herself with a conf
dence unrelated to her One-time ar
rogance. OF that truculent swagger
which had been so becoming in the
Street of Strange Faces today no trace
survived. Here was a woman so ut
terly regenerate that the history of
her beginnings seemed completely
abolished and annulled and as if It
had never been.
So much. in those few days, love
had done for Leonora
The clear radiance of her eyes was
cloUded only when, restless with wait
ing. she turned for a moment to look
out over the valley that swept below,
abrim with fluid blue shadow, in all
its far sweep never one hint of another
human habitation.
Then her face sobered for an in
slant, she had almost a look of
fear.
1t was swiftly dissipated by a sound
of footsteps. Mario came out of the
bungalow.
Clothed far more formally than she,
a costume better suited to city