St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-16
A MIDNIGHT QUEST.

girls?" queried Uncle Ze&e from the
chimney corner.
81 saw" responded Cleo, "tnat |
wouldn't be afraid to go down to the old
Wiley house at midnight, st. Valen-
tines eve, and walk down cellar back
ward with looking glass and candle"
Expecting to see the face of her fut-
ure husband" interpOlated Sue. IL
should expect to see old Willey's ghost
peering over my shoulder"
Pm not anxious to see the face of my
future husband" Cleo retorted smartly.
III only want TO prove my courage, to
celebrate st. Valentines day i'll ap-
proved fashion.
''T'll wager $40 you dasn't CO." re-
marked Uncle Zeke.
''l'll stake my amethyst ring that
dare. Here's my hand"
"You must fetch one of them mangel
wurzels in the bar'l side o. potato ben,
SOS We'll know you went clear down
cellar" SAID Uncle Zeke.
Not a word of this" Cleo cautioned
in a whisper, as they heard hand
fumbling for the latch in little dark
entry.
"Captn Luke" said Uncle Zeke,
with sly glance at Cleo. The next
moment the young man opened the
door. 1t was quite the custom in this
Cape Cod town to omit the ceremony OF
knocking.
An impressive element seemed to have
entered the room with this good-looking
young captain. The usual witticisms
did not flash around. Cleo was absorbed
in the long strip Of wOrSted that made
crimson line down her white apron. Sue
fidgeted in her seat and proposed game
of euchre.
Cleo's mind was running upon that
sleigh ride with Capt. Luke the last
evening. He had come peril0uSly near
to a PROPOSAL of marriage. Had she been
wise or foolish to ward it off so inditfer-
emily? His manner made her slightly
uneasy.
PshaWI What did she care, anyway?
She knew she had fiirted with him lit
tle-this Cape Cod town was so poky In
the Winter-but that was no excuse for
his preSuming to think she would marry
him.
When her fathers reverses came she
had been sent there to spend a few
weeks with these relatives, OF whose
existence she had been scarcely aware
before. They had welcomed her with
| open arms, and she had found much
! diversion among them.
| 1t was not pleasant TO be almost lg-
| nored tonight by Capt. Luke: She
| thought of the wealthy sutton she had
left behind in the city. albeit old and
! ngly, and was half-inclined to write
| that very night and accept him.
The eve of st. Valentine was mild for
the season. Shortly before midnight a
woman in dark garb issued from Uncle
| Zeke'S shed door and walked off towards
the old Wiley house.
Cloe took the path to the left, where
the old Wiley house stood dark and
| lone, and stood upon the fiat stone be-
fore the low red door.
The windows were all boarded. Cloe
had explored the place with Sue by day
| light, and knew all its hooks and cor
| ners.
She unlocked the door and stepped
| into the entry. Her heart was beating
| quite evenly She had been in daring
mood ever since that night of the sleigh
ride, and this occasion had furnished an
| escape valve for her feelings.
She lighted the candle and pushed
| open the kitchen door. On the thresh-
old she stopped in establishment In
! the cavernOus fireplace opposite the
! door q huge fire was roaring and crack
! ling, flooding the room with light and
eclipSing her candle.
She walked up to the fire. A big
round kettle hung from the rusty crane,
bubbling and Kissing like the witches
| cauldron in Macbeth"
Her usually calm common sense was
| held in abey ance. She seemed to be
| breathing an enchanted atmosphere.
| Yet she was far from fear.
inDntb che TpaOllpptp6 her GRAND.
| and opened the cellar door. A gust of
| damp air made her candle flicker.
She did not waver. She peered down
into the darkness, then adjusted her
| glass and candle and commenced the
backward descent. the cobwebs cover
ing her cloak with fantastic tracery.
She kept her eyes upon her own re-
| Election in the glass until she had
reached the bottom of the stairs. AS she
stood there a moment face appeared in
the mirror beside her own, then van
| ished suddenly.
Something like faintEess came over
| ner. But she resisted, found barrel
| of mangel-wurZels, snatched one up,
assembled the stairs quickly, and set
| down the candlestick.
The lurking superstition which beats
with the blood of every one of US, deny
it as we may, was tightening its hold
| upon her. She did not feel in hurry
| to leave the place. A dreamy influence
enVeloped her. The agencies we call
supernatural seemed the only realities.
She half expected to see band of
witches appear and join hands around
| the cauldron.
She could scent some presence near
| her, and when rather fantastic old
woman. bent with age, in a red cloak
| and huge poke bonnet. stepped from
recess behind the fireplace, and, with
| out CHANGING at her, stepped up and
stirred the cauldron, mutterlng to her
self as she did so, Cleo was not mucn
surprised.
She had not bargained for anything
half so weird and romantic. Perhaps
this was Peggy Piper, the fortune
| teller, who, it was reported, held mid
night conclaves with the powers OF
darkness.
Can you read my future for me?"
Cleo asked abruptly.
The crone turned towards her. with
ewes burning darkly in the depths OF
the cavernOuS bonnet.
"You seek to know the future?' she
| queried, in thin, high-pitched voice
and with a tremulOus quaver. 81 will
read your destiny" and she turned
again to the cauldron, while Cleo drew
nearer, strangely fascinated.
PROUD" the sybil muttered, sam
bilious, selfish. Your fortune is not so
bright, young lady, that you need be
anxious to forecast it,
Haven't | as fair chance for happi-
ness as other people?" Cleo demanded.
mo. You're going to sell yourself for
a fine house in the city and a carriage
and diamonds. You are mercenary and