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r LVCL. XVIIi. ATLANTA* GA., TUESDAY MUKN1NG. JUNE 221886 PRICE FIVE CENTS TWO STILETTOS for her. Tbit iho hid loved u wall u lived waa a contingency which it coat me a pans h admit; and vet anch heavenly beauty conic never have coma about exeept throush lore. "My Wlfo’a ncatb that impenetrable opal In the hil opal In tl that murderoua attletto? Perhapa, though, It “■ ' ".of 1 By Conrad More, author of Diamond." Copyrighted. 18SS, by B. A McClure. Once upon a time I waathe owner of a aome- I | n mercy her face had been eoncealwl.'For my What coriona old Italian atilotto which I had I part I felt that my destiny had cone astray. I igh- I fdt that, brief at our acquaintance was, ahe was belt that it had been to. The alfht of her waa enough to d litract a man. Perhaps it waa have no companion—nnlea tho other figure that I have mentioned may have been inch. Thla other wae a man of abort stature, made up aa a cardinal In crimson tllk. Tnfta of graylah beard eacaped aronnd tho edgea of hit math. Whether by accident or detign ho wu alwaya to ha observed a few feet behind the through t bought for a long at aoction down in the neigh, borhood of Clinton Piece. It had a slender prism-shaped blade, about teven inches long, and half an Inch thick at the base, whence it tapered leisurely away to the point Two of the three facets were engraved with an elabor ate running eeroll, and on the third yen distin guished what at lint alght yon would certain ly have mistaken for a blood-stain, hot what on closer inspection yon rcoognlatd for a strag gling inscription in dark red enamel—“Per l’odlo o l'amor,” being the nthor ambiguous Italian phraae. Tho hilt was of sliver, clever ly wrought In imitation of n hnmsn linger; had already spoiled me lor other women -aho who was now dnat and ashes. I can assure tho reader, if he needs snch assurance, that I Pod loo l'amor,” “for love or hatred,” I . repeating to n " words signify? The kept repeating to myself. What could tho . .. . —• bilt for lore, becanso It bore her portrait? The blade forhatred, because it was an instrument of death? Probably In Italy long ago ita mission of hatred had been Perhaps In America, at this la to date, its mission was yet to be accomplished, Bnt things wear a different aspect under gas- s throng in hi astonishment wu the reader need not be told when I Inform him that, suspended' from thla woman'a girdle, I beheld the Identi* cal stiletto which I had made away with that very morning—the identical attletto or, what seemed vutly more unlikely, its literal dunll. cate. I gulped down my natural roticenco and at taining the woman'a aide addressed her. Todo so was tha privilege of masquerade. “.Beautiful muk,” I said, “may I secure yon for a waits?” blend’s houso for aup- ^Mv^r=!! 7Uw “ a I itom my mioa. The next day however I began to approclato that something serious had happoned. brilliant opal did duty for tho nail. I snppcse It is needless to say that I valued thro stiletto highly. As a keepsake of a time when the flavor of romance still lingered •bout the world, it prompted a thousand Inter esting dreams. In what historic hands it might have trembled 1 Perhaps Paolo bad worn It daring his visits to Franceses. Perhaps Queen Joanna had disposed of an Inconvenient lover With it. At any rate I did net doubt that, II antwtnd, “I do not waits.” Her voles, u ir naira 1 u a silver bell, quivered with charm ing timidity. “That la a pity, beautiful mask." I said. and should have deserved worse it I had oov- tied better. Toward snnset one tender hiay afternoon I chanced to ha strolling through Central Park. The air wu swut with tho scent of bursting foliage, andclamorons with the criu of chil dren at sport. At a certain point a rod or so In advance of me, tally a score of little folks were gathered aronnd a bench. As I drew nearer I noticed that their cyuoenre wu an old gentleman, from whose animated gestnru I inferred that he wu delivering an harangue. Before i bad proceeded half a dozen steps farther, their ranks split suddenly apart and the old grntleman darting forth, greeted me with an impetuous salutation: 'The powers lie thanked!" ho exclatmod. “At Jut we meet again." Be wu Dr. David Pexias, .“Ah," I responded, rather embarrassed by his enthusiasm, “how do you do!” “My dear, dear lrlona," ha went on, not herding my question, “If yon could but dlvlno bow eagerly I hare awaited this occasion. I - have not been able to forget your kindness. opportunity to discharge It 11 looked foe office and hovered between me and my I counts. It tiled me with melancholy and un rest, It stole away my appetite. My compan ions at lnnoh playfully scented me of being In love. I straggled with myself; hot the strug- ' y distemper. Was I in answer, he approached a brontc vase, suspend ed from the colling by a chain, and producing interior. A puff of smoko; ends delicious fragrance began to permute the air. ullke rare Jewels?” be askad with “Do you equal abro] irnptness. "book attheae.” boosing a reddish util ‘ tering precious stones upon the rag at my rest. are yon put a third questiou- ftnd of music?" The nut moment h^was regaling me with terly. The tome voice tho leaves of a rue-bush, and anon rose am fall like the wall of a human soul. I nr wu swept op and urrled away straw on the wind. I bad mover such music u hit before. There wu a wild minor chord running through it that pierced and thrilled my heart. I had nsver supposed I myself by It, like a llstenod to .hat the pretty tinkling mandoline wu capa ble of such heights and depths of sound. * ! file only aggravated my distemper. Wu I in love? In love with a deed woman’s foes? I had it had only had a tongue, It eonld have whls- exjmloncn to Judge from, but if the pain pored many a thrilling secret. The spark pent !*“ “*>!£* *““•* ,4T# 1 kn#w “° b,w * r xk pent tip In tha opal wu all that remained of the fires that had burned In the dead men’s breasto —per l'odlo o l’amor. It wu like Hans An dersen’s magical goloshes. I had but to preu it in my clasp, and bo transported over the su and tho centuries to Italy and the Middle Ages. So, as I prised It thus, tho reader will euily imagine my dltmay one morning, when, through sheer elomalnui on my part, it rag- tained an irreparable Injury. While handling it according to my frequent custom, somehow I carelessly allowed it to slip from my grup and drop upon tha hearth* Of coarse, I has tened to pick Itnp. but the damage wu already done. The opal, Which may have but loose in its settiug, had fallen ont. An Immediate and recover it. I My work so fibred that day. Strive u I might, I could not halp it. Finally I pleaded a headache and hurried home la advance of my wonted hoar. I wu foolish enough to nd the entire evening closeted with my on- ban tress. Tha time flow put on llghti wings. Dawn bad crept up shivering from log _om tho eut before It occurred to mo to go to bod. Day* and weeks slid away. Constantly I progressed from had to worso. A spell bound my tkcnltics; the more I battled with It tho I list, all my worldly dntiu. In a " iluw thowoman’a my calling list, all my woi hundred impossible places 1 face. I would bo crossing crossing tho street whan I descried her standing by the opposite© but on my arrival there tho had dluppc A hone-car would Jlnsle by. She was at the more than an hour ran- | myself, fihowu not there after all. My weak- ' thou junctures mortified and appallod had commonood, hostopped. Tho musl off In a loud, discordant cruh. “There I” ho cried. “To raiumo—what do yon guess my trado it?” “A musician of course—a groat on*.’’ “Chang* the first syllable of the word, my r’TIio dances fall of their object—they are I vapid, liks wine deprived of Ita boqnet, if yon decline to take part In them. Still I perhapa I should congratulate myself. If no others are coming (o claim you, I shall not ho disturbed b* found. Apparently It had been swallowed up In one of thoso cosmlo gaps of which, tho “T.Twrvrrutn pi :flev: tuil u,, »( . © !• run. At last, bested and on I of pationeo, '. roturnod to tho slUotto. and throwing myself into an easy char, ut about an examination to soo whether the mischief had began and ended there. iij Bark, beautiCnl mask," I resumed, “the .»?.», orchestra baa stopped playing, nud t lie moment I,.—» ta: ueveuter mucin iuu nrriqadv Will y.,. nJS ..'A eiitak to me?" catc all I say?" aho asked, with child- Isball presume to dictate. Only If yon are willing to bo particularly gracious^cell mo why yon carry that deadly looking 1 ?" iy? I don’t know of any special reason. Jergth brought ng together, let ate tell yon that I am your servant, to do your bidding in wluitevor wiae you desire.” “I assure yon, sir,” I stammered, ’’that yon her sweet plau-tivo faoo would rise before mo, and common tonso would be supplanted by re morse—remorse that bad boon disloyal to hor even for an Instant. Bnt scarcely bad 1 glanced at it when my at- ‘ad by a contrivance which teniien was arretted i I was abominably morbid, nnpardonably fast becoming ill. At length •ordinary lustre of the vanished gem. Di rectly beneath where it had lain wu inserted morbid, and 1 waa _ 1 determined to resort to hereto treatment. go long. I argued, aa I retain posssssion of her portrait 1 cannot resist the temptation to . .i-i.i„ci I l-.« i feast my eyes upon It, thereby adding fuel to U.ie«r P w^i“Afffi“‘to^^ItSSffi! kn*’ThliV^o^w'^K^'oM. nn e .^Mfl f eiuLdb^k h Now e mT^wn^mi^ time’peaceor*mlnd. *1 detorataed therefore »op*>twllli ‘he stiletto. Tho queatlon was nance fctarea At no in njniotnrOi And tho ex» | j-®]j one of tneoss—how? vsitiy overrate a most trifllcg’urvlco—ono ‘.ed ©cause—well, to lie perfectly frank, inas much as I dropped it into the North rlror loss than twenty-four hours ago, I am nthor per- plexed to sea it here.” “Yon? Whstdojonmsan? It has never been near tho river. Yon most lie mistaken.' determine, I stayed modesty to, wu so peculiar, to unfamiliar, that studying it considerably longer than . Jnstiflcd. My faoo It wu beyond a peradventnre; and yet. If I hid seen It any where else than In a looking-glass, I should have passed it for a stranger's. It wu modified in hue tod contour. It might have been my twin brother’s, if I had had one. Not give It away. Tho prospect of another man's owning it wu unendurable. Well, tlion destroy it. Bnt again the question—how? As the frnlt of much pondoriug I resolvod to cast it into the river. I consumed a fortnight however in nerving myself to tha act. It was more euily uld than done. Eventually, notwithstanding, I suc ceeded. Biting before daybreak one morning istence. Will yon permit me to examine?’ 1 “Certainly,” she aoquleaced,detaching it from her belt. “No,” I uld, u I studied it, “It Is not mine, after all. Bnt tha umblance it wonderfol. -eyes tho result Ming that my own imtgeunlck- I « Iy shot upward and oil Bnt before I bad started to readjust it, I perceived, slowly Tho same blade, the nine inscription, 'per l’odlo e l’amor,’ the same silver hilt, the same started to readjust it, I perceived, slowly shaping itself upon the blank surface, another face which waa not mine at alb Everybody remembers how, If oh hold aa old-fuktooed ftPP ill yea mt _ —no, not the same Jewel. Mine wu an opal. This It”—I paused, at fault for a name. “A beryl,” the added. “It Is Indeed strange that two should be so much alike. I have had this all my life, Imspoeedltwuquitoaalqae.” ed on It begins to emerge. This was precisely what happened In the present Instance, with the exception that the likoneu which I now confronted did not resemble a daguereotype In the lout. Jnst what the effeot was, It would glAM. And yet it was anything bnt weak or lndo- clalve. A tingle glimpse sufficed to fix my gaze. The exquisitely modeled features tha tow white forehead, the wealth of raven hair, the Itm of tbl self between ns. Be muttered a few aril Into the ear of my interlocntrlce, and bowing stiffly to me, thrusthls arm through hau ana drew her away. My Impulse was to follow; bnt I suppressed II; end set shoot hunting for my partner. The hnnt wu bootless though I persevered i it until I wu quite tired cat Then I re paired to the dressing room, doffed my costnme and started to take my leave. Aa I descended the staircase, the nolso of qnarrelsotnt votoes sounded from below. On reaching the vestibule I discovered that a brace of young men in mask wen administering a violent scolding to a.very harmless old gentle- the* common decency compelled mo to render, delighted, notwithet uuling, to huvo mot lee-l-l bow you to t-’leve that I do m myself in the lout your creditor." “That ie a matter for my own eonsclenco,” he said, “hot now do mo the honor to Insrrlbo ray name upon the list of yoor dovotod allies. Yon are yoang-bo one of my children. I have a multitude. These eurlyfhmdi sSS hereabouts, all regard me u their god I come hare every pleasant afternoon and toll tbt m stories. Perhaps than are other wa' the m ttones. Perhaps there are other ways In which I can makemjsalf equally agreeable to yeti, The doctor had pinioned ray arm and wu troulog along at my aide. I wu pnaaled and somewhat discomfited. I did not know what to soy. “Are yon pressed?” he demanded. "Have yon an objective point? If yon are merely aannt- Willi eriug for nlaunre, I pray that yon pauymeho' ncrene liquid eye*, ware fraught with Individ- 'ieao dona under ami- «nt scolding to a.very harmleu old gt man In plain evening-dress. The old gentleman 1 nality, and most have bean croacope, so fanltleu they were even to the mlnntcst details. It wu tho fee* of a woman —fancy tha virgin of Murillo, infinitely spiritualised, and yon will form a tolerable no tion of her celestial beauty. For myulf, u I looked into her eyes, which inglv.i train i gleln my veins, and’ a tremoraweep overall my limbs. In general I am not an unduly sensitive person; Imt os this occasion I wu u impressionable u a child. The diminutive portrait exerted ■ hardly credible Influence upon me. A draught of strong wlno could not have stimnlatod too to sack a pitch; the tench of a living Madonna amid not hare lifted me to a higher piano of exaltation. I gated upon intil my breath had grown short and con- x ha nation compelled mo to her until my vnlsive, and p close my Who I reopened them I mad*a vary simple | the dock and i ten. A bis of red-hot iron, a ripple, a long breath of rellaf, and I Hal at top speed down the street I ran for dear life, aa If I had come from tho commission of a crime. Bnt in the count of that day I realised that 1 had made things worse. Not for two consec- ntlve minutes wu I free from bar. I would gladly have exchanged my right band for the ability to undo tho morning’s work. If I had taken tha life of a human lining my repent ance eonld not Lave been keener, “Sea here, Boswell,” my partner, Jordan, i bowed and aerspedio the . story manner: but tho wrath of tho young fellows wu not thus to be appeared. What la more, I recognised them in spite of tbeir make u a couple of my own acquaint- ancea. Ho, I had no compunction aboat inter forint. “What's tho row?” I demanded. Damon and Pythiu favored mo with a tu multuous explanation which I wu entirely la competent to understand “Yon, air,” I said taming to their victim, replied, “I don't “why were they abasing you?” "To tell you the truth," he i . ig hare waitiog for my fo tell yon tha tial. know. I wu * tending daughter, who Is in tho parlor getting'ready to come away, whsn^hue two gontlomoa stum » WCp MU lUCD, lOIMWi (It to storm. i;have done my b hot,” lowering his voice, “I have boon drinking rather too I one that caused ms to ex- ..... . I discovered the reams for that odd modification of my own phyeiogno- my "hichl have alluded to above. Because off th* distance at which I held tha stiletto, my reflection is th. mirror wu of the i raid to me, u we were preparing to quit tha office, “there la something the matter withy ... iyou. You’re worried. You’re working too hard. Yoa need rest. Take a vacation fofo a weak cr «o.” “No.” I answered, “the work keep* me from Oginlcf, began li to padfo them, suspect they bar neb wine.” “Now boys, look sharp,” I laid, “yon are king foeda of yourselves In a public pises, tomorrow yon will regret it. This gentle- u la » friend of mine, and I want you to making And ton man is a frlenj of mine, and I want you treat him with proper respect. If yon don't beg hit pardon, I shall toll him your names, and I two exactly i=ked the 2 _ cause their relative measurements were varied; bnt restoring tha foruar condition, the Uses of the lady blended feature for feature Into my I don't know why this dlsooveryihoold have ado at the Academy." tied me u it did. Tha fact la that It took “Boas,” I said refit- but I wUL“ wghtto a little dissipation. Coo* with me to the ball tonight. “Ball? What ball?” “Why the peacock ball—tho gr eat maaquar ■ : am gore yon would be ashamed to have him know thorn.” “Oh, if bo wu a fren’ of mine, all right. Verry eony to have annoyed. G-glad to nuko his acquaintance. See him later,” sod the young men moved off at a sheepish pact. The old gentleman on the contrary seized my hand and gave vent to a torrent of thanks. I was bit benefactor, hit protector; be eonld ma a long tire* to realise how naturally It waa, and that meanwhile I eat stock-still in my refitelivaly. “I don’t know never adequately express hie gratitude. Would I accept his card and baliave that he wu my chair, u domfonndered as though I bad wit- of a mlracte. Eren neared the performance afterward I eonld not shake off a queer sensa tion when I thooght of it, nor quite convince myself that the phenomenon had bean alto gether devoid of supernatural meaning. la betel on Sunday. Pretty The abova evental... nearly tha whole of that day I dovotod to tha dated f ‘ ~ contemplation of my painted lady. Who wu she? No human artist bad rammonad such a ftcauhtrafram kla own ' The idea strnek ma favorably. I want home, pat on my swallow-tail, and rejoined Jordan at a restaurant whore wo dined togothor. H* had procured a disguise for ma—an ordinary domino of black and white. A* everybody has attended the peacock ball, it would be anperfioan* for ma to dseerik* it. It wu a gorgeous apoctaala enough, and did for a white finish ma with tha dUaaatlaa which I bad eons to wok. Many of tho (gores were notable. Two especially attracted my attention. One waa a Udy attired in rich brocade. pair of black eyu flashed eat from her mask aad then wu an extnau grace in Iho uadu- l* fa » foreign country and nambaiteu I lotions of Wr body •• she moved ( ***«• I had been bornja century too late ■ Joined in noaa of the dxncu and tevuiil I wu not surprised to see that tha name on his card wu a foreign one—an American would Dover have bean ao demonstrative. Tho name wu Dr. David i’axlaa. As tha winter dragged oa I plnogod into the thick of sociel gaycty, and my condition stead ily improved. Though I did not ceau to think or the fair foes * ' (flbet upon » of the stiletto, ita nnhaalthful ■ had somehow been neutralised. With tha advent of spring I eenidndid that I il tagafikar my eld eif Hftgtlo, Kov And I then, aho. my mind reverted to tha blaofaovod lady of the Ptaeoek ball; and her eyu had been opportunity to admiratiism. Baton tbo whole 1 wu pretty well contented with ay actual lot, lomo to aoppor. I think I can show you aom* interesting things." I wason the brink of decline whatatraok mo at a premature Invitation. Without allowing me time toget ont a word, however, tho doctor ejaculated, striking a half tragic attltudo, “Do not any no! If yon say no I shall b# dis consolate.”^ Tho tono of his ottenneo, despite his fervor, wu extremely comical. I eonld not represea smile. Thereat teen started to his eye*- Mooaltur at moqus damoi,” ha aid in French. My heart malted. I waa alaearaly aorry to have caused him pain. Thcpathofatonreaaat lay straight before me. “Myd«ralr.’’Iuid, “I oenaldsr that you honor me too highly. But I shall venture to •crent your hospitality, nevertheless; let ns * Bit good spirits retorned on tha Instant. Ha mounted in the elevator to tha topmost atory. length wl its is my sanctum. 1 passage d, l Boorish of Mi band, Tho room In which we stood wu qnlto dark, except for tha light of a single candle. Uy ejea required leisure to actnatom themselves to the obscurity. Then, u they took In Uwlr •uremindings, I waa heartily glad that I hid it wu a mixture of drawing-room, library and curiosity-ahop, tho divan# olamento merg ing barmonlcuily together in the soft glamor of a candle; An armored knight with battle- ax aloft, guarded tbo entrance. Tho traits were hong with tapoatries and bannerets. Great quarto volumes In blackened leather ivory. Ho lighted two other candles and found a seat for hlmsalf upon .a riiaat of carved Ital ian oak. His finely chii excellently with the environment. Ho looked like an Ideal farad Wandering Jaw. “This la my worahop,” hocoatiased. "bit worth tho trouble of a visit?” “It Is Ilk* a rites of tha Arabian Nights,” I replied. “I can scarcely believe that I am still tu matter-of-fact Now York." “Yae, this la my workshop,’’ ha repeated, 'and what gaou yea Is my trade?" sorely.” “ Not a premia eat, aorely.” “Ne, net exactly— do yea liks perfumes?" Is inquired abruptly. Without waiting for an lam not- , "Why should you bo? but stay, I will mike asauranee doubly sun. Ginas your eyu.” I closed them. Twice or tbrioa ho clapped his me, of wl Immediately In front of her arms resting aflbctionately tho ahonldors of my magician, a lady—whom 1 did not need to glance at jour eyes you behold tho aubatanoe, tho ma> toilal. Bnt over and above tho material there la the flavor, the aroma; a quality too subtle to be seen, too volatile to be held in tha band and weighed. Correspondingly, hero is tha univerao’’—tilting his palm, u though tho ob ject in question bad been contalnod therein;— “with their ayes and their instruments tho scientists attack the material of it—analyze It. give It a name. Bat over and above what aroma—tha subtle, elusive essence that deles them. That la the rahlect of tho occult sciences which your repudiate as snpentt- tion.’ twice to identify. Preolsely. In every line and feature, the lady of my stiletto I I dropped upon my knees. Why ahonldl mpt to disentangle " * ' the emotions that over powered me? Amazement, hope, foar, toy, and Incredulity, wore mingled In inextricable con- foston. Finally I wuanmaed by shunt of laughter emanating from Dr. 1’axiaa. ‘ Get up, my young friend," I eonld hoar him •ay, “and mb year eyes, Thi* phantom that I hart evoked for yonr benefit la flesh and blood. A trace to magic. Hr. Mr. ■ ■ Ah, pardon, yonr name?” “Hoawdl/l gasped. “Mr. Boswell, I take plasm re in presenting yon to my daughter, Hiss Elsa I’exlas." She did indeed tarn ont to bo tho doctor’s daughter; aad tbo doctor htmaelf proved noth ing men rcdoubtablo than a venerable Porta- UontoVric-a-brscand music. But as I mt at their aupperboard that evening, I could a feeling that the whole transaction “And tha upshot la?” I asked Impatiently. “That I cannot agree to lot yon marry my daughter nntil Fate has given me a hint to tns efftet that I ongbt to do so.” “But what would yon consider a hint, If lore Itself is not one?” “Ah, that I cannot toll. Iam in re that tha hint will bo forthcoming and that I shall not mitiako It when it domes—provided alwaya yen are tho man,” “And meanwhile?” “Meanwhile, I wish you would not frequent Elsa’s society. I wish you to hold aloof from her nntil I hove made np my mind.” “Ah, Dr, Pexlaa you are crnel. How long am I to remain in this suspense, hetwoeis heaven and ” “A day, a week, a month, all yonr life,” ha interrupted. “Who cun say? Very likely yon will^meantimo foil In love with aomo one ‘'Never." “Exactly tho retort I waa prepared for; It enlylmpnaaeo upon mo your inexperience. Now, Mr. Boswell, calm yourself, come back with me, toll Elm of my doclslon, and then go away snd wait.^ Jf you truly love her you I pleaded with theold min; bnt I might u well bavo pleaded with a stono. He was sub limely Inexorable. I waa in a white heat of re sentment when Anally we retched his abode. Ho called Elm and waa considerate enough to leave ns alone togeihor. The half Joaf had increased wonderfully In admonitions from the doctor, who waa posted In an adjacent room, conatralnod us to bring onr Interview to a clous. “Yea,” aha answered, “I am going to givoyoa something that I have had all myllfo, and that a all m/ll I prize more than I can toll. It belonged to my mother, and to her mother, and go on back not otespe .. was unreal aud that presently 1 should w-iko up to dud that I liud hern drostuiug. duo t, .nir -vat- ill . - fft-'o „is ah 1 ) ac- uuiaicciuntcri'ait of tlie Htiiotto’s, only vastly more beautiful, hocauso it waa fraught with gtiviu ircnukiiui. uuwtuiv its iym ii.mix*** wivii light and youth. Improbable aa my good for tune acemed, there it waa staring mo lu tho eyes. promptneaa. Then I tramped op anexonao for calling again In tha oourae of the same week. Tho following weak I caliod three timer. At tho expiration of a month I had acquiied tho prapogteruua habit of calling about every day. , Toward the middle of July tbo dootor an nounced hla intention of leaving town for tba if his proffer of country, I reminded Jordan ol a vacation, and gufieetod to tho doctor tho propriety of our aammering at tbo tame resort. Ho expremed his utmost approval. Bo wo went to tbo Massachusetts coast and raiualnad there till Into in August. If It wu not for a person, who at this Junc ture talks ominously of tho virtue of reserve, ■ should Ilka nothing bettor thin to reooant Iho happenings of that idyllic summer. I like to toll bow by moonlight Elm and ‘ ‘ the ‘ should i ware wont to wander along the beach to- dashed in at our t— but tho Person, who la daogorously near uy abouldtr, threatens to oonflacate my nan if I continue. 1 should like to toll of a certain hammock stretched beneath appiebooghs In a certain orchard, and to catalogue tho books I read aioad, ea Elm awnog therein. I should like, above XII, to tell how erory day I dls- t’/.rpml tifia haintlM In KIm’m hM..hn*AV*n> ouj luuuiiT) mu it# uui iuubuvri nuu uu ubcjl for I don’t know how many generations. It ig ■aid to bo a talisman, l’orbaps it will bring yon to me whon I need yon.” Bho went out of tho room, ond by-anl-by returning, put tho keeprako into my hind. I leapt from my chair. My wonder knew no bounds. The keopsako was a atilotto with a beryl in Its hilt—tho stiletto that had aroused my Interest at tho peacock ball. “Elsa," I cried, “wore you at the peacock bull last wiutcrV" “Yes/’shcaoswere*! ‘ T „ri* ‘here -rllli my father: why ?’’ “And you wore tilts stiletto ?" “Yes;" her tycu foil of rnyatideation. “And a man in muk cauo up and spoke to yon about it?" “Yes. and said ho had ownod one llko It.” "And Elia, 1—I was tho man.” “Why, how very strange. Why did yon never tall me before ?’’ “How did I know that yoa were tho woman? You too were masked.” "That Is so. I remember yon frightened ma dnadftilly; bnt my father wm right bohlnd tu. d relied aa a CArdiniL” “And In tha midst of our conversation ho parted ns. Bat Bias, there is for morn in this coincidence than you inspect I wu going to tell yon about tho atilatte th ' ‘ ‘ AAl . that I had owned stay way, only wo had so much else to talk covered new beauties in Elm's foes—how every day her eyes grew deeper, her voice more •livery, hor tooch more electrical. Bnt the Person, who claims to be an authority, warns me that to indulge these desires of would but lm] these dcrireg of mlno. . .action of tho story; and to I mutt depend upon the reader’s Imagina tion to anpply tho clepalt In Hepteiuber, after w wo hail returned to ipicrauer, mu town; I induced Elsa to go with mo for a walk ' ~ rial park. Thi ‘ In Cabtral park- There I mustored uy utmost audacity and told her that 1 loved her. Elsa's values inflnllely mere than no bread; and to encourage mo to apeak with the doctor. From him I anticipated no opposition, i had already more than aus- supposed thatha io ted my aiplretiong. Bat on tbo contrary 10 avowed that tha suspicion had not entered hia mind. “Of count,"ht admitted, "It ongbt to have dost so, because yonr partiality for my daughter has been so very marked, Bnt fond ponnta ire blind; and besides, Elm la so that of an elder brother.” Wo were established at a cafe table. Ho called tho waiter and ordered klraohwamcr for two. “Thic will help na to exprea onr thoughts;" belaid. "Bnt now-now that yon know my inten tion P 1 I inquired. “Now I am going to explain to yon my theory of matrimony—with tho aaststanco of two of tho decoction and then wont on, a Ann believer In tho adage that marrlagw are mad# In heaven. At least, I balteva that pecplo are fated for each other. Before I con sent to a marriage between yoa and Elm, I moat ha persuaded that yon are tbs man of Fate’s •election." “Not a hard matter that, b not tha tact that I lava her, aad that aha is not totally In- different to ma sufficient?” "Not altogether. I demand aome patpible token from the quarter of Fate herself, aimc direct indication." That accoa unreason able. I do not under- "Of course yea no not, yon are not a philoso pher. Yoa tako for granted, became you hap- ~ n to fed • tickling In the region of yoor Mrt-tbatyuasrecalealatedto make Elsa a good hnahand. That Isn’t logical. It doesn’t follow. Aa far aa my personal inclinations are concerned, I am very fond or you, and conl-1 not have a aon-in-tew mors to my tuts. Bnt In aoch grave aflUrsu thla I dan not trait 1 Ih * T * "But that is superstition.” "CallIt ao If yon Irish. Superstition Isa noble institution, I am sorry to see it * ing from tho world. My yon: example, here It thla glam of about that It escaped my mind. Now the atory has a double meaning.” And _ I told her all that I havo told tbo reader In the flratfow paragraphs of this ’ "y too reset dial, emphasizing especially the resemblance between the portrait In tho atlletto’s blit and her own faa>."Now,”I concluded,"if yonr father requires a bint from Fate have wo not one “I wonder,”laid Elsa eagerly, “I wonder— perbap* there la a portrait behind this beryl t there waa behind j - - - lerewna behind your opal. Let us see." With trcmblinglingcrelfelt on the atone. It yielded a little in Its setting. 1 at it, it yielded more and more. looklng-gUiS. anrely enough. Elm was clow to my aide. Wo mw ourselves reflected In It, rdl nary mlrr I titled the stiletto. “Yea; I wu right,” mid Elsa, “soo, a picture ' ‘ ' e Itself— tho picture of a man.” distinct. . PI Elm, tbn words trembling on her lips. "Look! Do you soo wbottbr "Who? No; who Is it?” --see, a wu ngos," saw rasa, begins to shape Itself— tho pic Tho picture wu perfectly dii "Loeg, Arthur,” cried Eli "It is yon. You in every line and feature.’ Will the reader believe me? I dare say not. stating the very truth. Traced In pals hm upon the glass, I saw the minute portrait of young man's face; and, unless my unaes wai totally nntruitwortby, the lineaments of that hco presented a marvelous counterfeit of my own. Elu lank Into a chair. Her cheek* wore pale. This waamore than wo bargained for. No wonder It frightened her. I knolt at her side and took her hand and muttered what ever words of comfort and reassurance came to my longue. , „ , “Oh, you need not aj-cak that wa7,’ aha - - - " ■, as though it wore aomo- isjssaat&fihij&M. -it... mlrAcJe—but It la a beautiful, low tl? one* Onljr it AtAitied mo a little. Where is mr father/’ * ifl road The doctor, without our knowing It, had entered the room. Ho was standing Iwhlnd us. Ha had th® stiletto in his hand. U® waa studying it attentively. At Elsa'c question he raised his eyes. “I come, I see, I surrender,” he said. “I cannot disputo the evidence of my soosoa. Children, receive my benediction.” I INDISTINCT PR HIT \ I -i-iii/xo xinwi -