Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-04
HALLOWEEN:
o X, CHRIssIE,s FATE.


at The Grove that bright October afternoon. and
the mellow light Of the setting sun made Rlory
about the the bright young heads, and Nc the
Rich chestnut braids, bright golden coils, and
raven bands, were alike rsdient for the moment
serene spinster-had been wheedled and
cQaxed until stood committed to give these
madcaps Halloween frolic. TO tell the
ruth, my scruples were not very obstinate, for
sSadow hs sss sal
whence all had passed-to the altar, to other
homes, and to heaven-save just my lonely self;
and from sheer force of habit chung to the
homestead hearth, propping nv dropping spirits
with frequent visits from CHEEKY young relations,
and the determination that the old house should
Thanksgiving and the christmas Week. the
nome band rallied from all points OF the com
pass, and the ties Of kinship gathered new
So It came to pass that my niece Kitty Coles
was spending the month with me- and having
happened upon an old book upon "The Super
natural, had become imbued with frantic de-
sire TO test some OF her new-found theories on
the approaching Halloween" Now as / was
altogether too sedate for such FRANKS, she had
found some fellow-conspirators Of her own age
and the time was at hand which was to test nv
hospitality, as wei as their ingenuity and nerve
And how jolly il was, to be sure, to see the
graceful forms and bright young faces fitting
about, preparing the nights mysteries. I soon
learned that my principle role was Lady Bounti-
tul-ln other words, TO place house and substance
(PTO tenn at the disposal of the marauders Their
Preparations were soon completed, and after tea
the girls drew about the ample fireplace to watch
1.-THE melting of the lead" in a little old iron
skillet which they had unearthed from some un-
known quarter-fOr youth seems to possess a
magielan's charm OF intuition if not of Creation
and those girls certainly made discoveries
that were new to my gray hairs even From
my chair in the corner had the privilege of a
SSpeciator, and watched with curiosity as Kitty
hurried in from the kitchen regions with a tin
Daslh OF clear water In one hand and rusty
iron spoon in the other. Depositing the basin on
:! n So ntaftn, she knelt before it, and with
spoon INTO the glowing embers for the necessary
heatlng; Responding to my look of inquiry
nadge Milton enlightened me with, {" You see
Miss ,IeaEnette, we must drop the melted lead
INTO the water, and whatever form it takes will
snow the occupation of our future husband
IN awfully curious" said Madge, $50 / think
III take my turn, since you're all so modest
bout speaking" Dipping up little of the
often metal, She dropped it in diffusive sort
u way into the water The sharp hiss and sput.
II brought an immediate " clond of Witnesses
nd puzzled silence, which was soon broken
"why, Madge, it looks like a pulpit-bops
you're not going to marry missionary"
Indeed, no, dear; it is much more like a
beer-mug: Guess it's German student"
"Well, it's obscure enough to be ANYTHING ~
sa'd Madge, in tone of dissatisfaction " I'm
not one whit wiser for uGt venture. Who'll
With 81 believe I'm your next nejghbor. !,
Nctta Fame consulted the fiery oracle and peaIs
of laughter arose as one and another traced re-
semblances, until Kitty sprang from her post
declaration that il was time for something new.
al conclude from this trick that we shall just
all marry thinkers. Where are the chestnuts,
Auntie? Frances, just skip into the kitchen
and bring that long handled shovel that stands
by the Dutch oven;' there's a lambkin, for
don't propose to sacrifice my poor hands further
in this cause"
Again they drew about the fire with mock
anxiety, and gszed steadily upon the chestnuts
that bore their names and hopes as they were
placed in couples on the hot shovel, each fair
lassie with a favored swain. Miss Kitty (by
proxy cOquetted in a very characteristic way
hZZing and hopping-unti in a burst of gener-
osity and enthusiasm she revealed entirely her
white heart. Madge sputtered and hissed and
finally left her lover altogether, in a mad leap
into the flames, while demure little Daisy Burns
sighed her life away, nesting close beside her
stolid choice. Meta Fame skipped about in an
uncertain sort OF manner, first to one lover and
cold corner, quite alone.
The pleasures OF " popping being exhausted,
several other experiments were proposed, which
expeditions, and one involved my winters sup.
Ply OF cabbages. So my plea of icy dews and
uncertain routes in the darkness prevailed, and
the wonder book was scanned anew.
There, We forgot the behring's we were to
bring from the village! What shall we do i?
Miss ,eannette, that's such fine trick You
must swallow salt herring in three bites, bones
and all, and not drink drop till the apparition
OF your future spouse comes in the night to offer
you gas OF water. We must have that.
Haven't you herring in the house, no matter
III it's ever so dry %
Tracked my brains in vain, but could find no
compromise between Goldfish and sardines But
meanwhile they had turned to fresh fields and
pastures new. need hardly enumerate the va
rious experiments, though they were many and
tous and inspiring Of all, that which was to show
the true metal.
"My dears," announced Kitty in a serious.
dignited tone, buckle on your arInor now
for i am about to propose what demands
Spartan courage. Leading from the library
next US Is covered way, which communicates
ali actl Wutrh .lfN
inelosed to serve as a study for grandfather.
when be was young man. II is Just the place
for our last, most important charm. One Of us
must take candle and an apple, and having
first let down her hair. must pace along this
lonely corridor, enter this ruined temple and
there find mirror, before which she must seat
herself; and as the clock strikes twelve must
eat her apple and comb out her hair. She will
be rewarded by seeing the face OF her future
though he were looking over her shoulder"
Kitty delivered herself Of this harangue with
great gusto, adding, +" Now don't mind telling
the rest Of for nothing A eou nsG nS s1ssr to
to take that terrible promenade, though / d,d
hang mirror out there this afternoon for sny
was quite q pause when she finished, and for
the moment curiosity as to the relative courage
Of Of. the pretty SrcSp before me KEEP. b.st
this expedition. Tbs girls looked curiousiy
into one another's faces, but all seemed to shrink
from the ordeal, until Chrissie Marstone turned
made up my mind that PH do 1t, just Tor the fun
OF the thing"
go, Christie, dare youq'' burst in sort of
baf-protest from all; and think this settled
brave Chris She was q handsome blonde, .
sm lHe a,ssagsty perhaps, yet With rayishing
smne that oeiied her stately mien, for she car
rle1 hei seventeen years like q society queen.
,,, should nave refused any other, think, but
liked Christabei, and k.ev, 100, that opposi-
ton would be useless II she was really defer
mined. II Is halfpast eleven now, cAeri-s
and Lady Macbeth demands her lamp with the
rest Of her paraphernalia, for i must be in time
undauntedly. -
1--WE shah all wait for you In the library ~
we said; and the lamps were forthcomino
as well as the candle. And then we'll 90
directly TO bed, IL you please. my dears," was
obliged to add Chrissie sat by the fire, un-
Winding the golden glory Of her hair, which