The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-03-19
The Face In
the Mirror

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q present for his ladylove's birthday
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 adj
vertised in the magazines, something
to bring the color to her cheeks and
the sparkle to her eyes. and cause
her to exclaim:
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 Observation-Disclosures
shops. curio 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 welI-nigh given up further
search and decided to go back to q
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-wheu q
lucky chance changed his plans.
He wat passing an auction room,
where a notice board Haunted over
the door and a shabby man with
leather lungs bawled forth an an
nouncemen that the entire stock of
treasures inside would be sacrificed
at auction at $50 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. Caverley went inside.
There was the usual array Of
and chinaware, statuettes and rather
giaring lamps. He wandered about,
every article before which Cayerley
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 excia-
nation of surprise.
His eye had fallen on a silver hand
mirror, and he picked 1t up and ex-
amined 1t carefully.
'The very thing" he said to him
self; then, turning to his self-appoiRt-
ed guide. How much?"
Everything was to be sold at the
auction. the man explained. Still, If
the gentleman desired 1t very much,
and found 1t i~nconveaient to come
In the afternoon"
II do" said Caverley. shortly.
"EIow much?"
How much did he think 1t was
worth to him? Caverley named q
price. and the other, made haste to
take 1t. A few moments later, with
his purchase in his pocket. he was
hurrying up the street.
It was a queer little mirror. The
back was OF oxidized silver, quantity
embossed-an impossible Cupid reach
Ing out for a 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 q good bit
Of work, Caverley thought. as he X
amined the mirror carefully at his
apartment. Assuredly. it would bring
the sparkle to her eyes, and assuEedfy
she would tell him what q dear old
boy he was to take so much trouble
In her behalf. The Cupid was such q
fat. Notwithstanding little god that
he laughed aloud! Synnbolical. too. 1t
seemed to him. for theirs had been
a contented affair of the heart Sure
ly, it was the very thing for q present
to her.
For some time he sat turning the
mirror about In his hands. making
iocular comments now and then TO-
the ~enwreathed Cupid. Then. sudden
~, he sat bolt upright. with a 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
" believe his sight. He looked again.
The face he beheid was one from
which he shrank; g strong. firm face
It might have been at some time. but
now It was dislgured by hideous scars.
He laid the mirror on Q 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 CHANGING into It. It was his own
face that met his gaze. and he was
heartily ashamed OF the sigh Of relief
he gave as he saw t.
He returned to his chair and picked
up the mirror. Again he glanced into
IT. This time 1t was his own square.
clean-shaven face which looked back
at him.
swell, / am q fool" said he. and
turned the mirror oyer.
The Cupid favored him with the
emile which was its perpetual attri-
butte. and at mat .Caverisy laughed
easily. and put the mirror In ; draw
er.
Some evenings fateF he again look
ed at the mirror. As he turned It
shout he was aware that the sans
49, "a A4~a A.