Smyrna times., 1895-10-16
Bachelor Macs Party.
BY POLLY POND.

OhE II Idl itl9t OCtOOtI. dUl going
to describe it to you; perhaps you may
gain few hints for your own Hallow-
e'en celebration, the time for which is
fast approaching.
Mr.. Marlborough lives alone in a
delightfully."- quaint bouse, near a big
cliff overhanglpg the river. He isn't at
all grumpy, after you come to know
him; his dark eyes light up with a
beautiful smile when he is pleased, and
he looks 50 distinguished in that quaint
dress coat of his; the finest of cloth, so
papa says.
We received our invitations two davs
before HalloWe en-; they were written
in Mr.. Mac DOnough's quaint penman-
ship. We were one and all surprised
when we found We were actually in
vited to a party to be given by Mr..
Mac, at Rock Castle. The poor man
has lived in so secluded way that we
had come to think that he did not like
our friendly advances.
The house is beautiful Eva King
says it reminds her of real castle. the
walls are so massive, and the ever
greens surrounding it have grown so
tall aud thick. Eva never saw real
castle in her life, but she aways was a
romantic creature.
do not think there was one invita-
tion declined. Even our fathers and
mothers went, as anxious as we were
to get peep inside those grim stone
walls.
Bachelor Macs cousin, Mrs. Meal
pine, had just come from Scotland, and
played the part of hostess; a dear.
sweet, silvCr-haired little body she is.
Even now her blue eyes dance with
fun. She says she means to stir Mac
into having little jollity about him,
and think she will succeed.
Our mothers were delighted with the
quaint old furniture, which is all solid
real mahogany. black walnut and
oak. l can't stop TO tell you of the
china, brass candlestickS and heavy
silver plate, but will say it was a poem.
romance and picture all in one, to look
over a number of the beautiful dresses
worn years ago by the MacDonough
ladies. Mrs. McAlpine promised to
lend us these costumes when we had
an other festival.
or course, we tried u variety of
spells" One 10y enc we went out
into the kitchen garden to pull a cab
bage stalk, which was left standing
purposely. The evening was cloudy,
and there was great laughter when
any one of us brought in a cooked. i'll
formed stalk, denOting that our life
partner would also be crooked and
homely.
Miss Cicely Penn. who is almost 80.
think, and quite plain, but good as
gold, drew the straightest stalk. We
girls pulled hOrrid-looking ones.
How Mrs. McAlpine did laugh at
our rueful faces when we displayed our
prizes
We threw a ball of yarn from the
window, keeping hold of one end and
winding, chanting loudly: II wind:
who holds?'
1t may be imagination, but some
thing did catch my ball; l peered out
into the darkness and thought | saw
the outline of a face-really Eva thinks
she saw the same face. She is very
conceited.
We melted lead, which, after being
poured into cold water, formed into
odd shapes. Mrs McAlpine was mis-
tress of the ceremonies. To some the
lead promised money, others a carriage:
every ybody had something desirable in
store, according to her reading.
Burning chestnuts was the best of
all. Mrs. McAlpine tried Mr.. Mae
Donough and Miss Penn together. and
they (the chestnuts representing them)
burned to ashes without one little
move.
Significant, Cousin Mae" said Mrs.
McAlpine, laughing slyly.
Then Eva whispered in nv ear: "As
if Mr.. McDonough would look at an
old maid !"
l felt indignant, for Miss Penn is
good and sweet. l said sharply:
Mr.. Mac is not young, Eva"
1T doesn't matter about the groom's
age. But an old bride-ridiculous
It's just lovely here. | suppose he is
rich, and his wife could have every.
thing she wanted"
Just then three "pigginsu were
brought into the sitting-room and set
before the fire. The persons who de-
sired to know their fate were in turn
6lindfolded ard led up to the piggins;
then dipped their hands into one of
them. If they touched the one con.
tanning the soapsuds, their partner was
to be widow or a widower. Those so
fortunate as to touch the piggin of
water We're to find bonny young com.
panion, while the empty piggin meant
single-blessedness.
Eva touched the empty piggin, and
accused some one of cheating. We al
lowed her another trial. Alas her
dainty white hand again sought the
empty vessel, end our merriment
brought the tears into her eyes.
Nobody save Miss Penn and Mr..
MacDonough touched the clear water
piggin.
Mrs. McAlpine sought to comfort Eva
by telling her she had quite a number
of companions in distress, as the emptv
piggin had been touched by two.thirds
of the guests.
At 10 o'clock oyster soup was served
Baskets OF late peaches, grapes and
apples were handed round, and nuts
were cracked and eaten while we lis
tened to some of the old Halloween
stories told by Mrs. McAlpine in her
merry style.
lookeu anout Tor ava, and saw the
silly girl sitting close beside Bachelor
Mac, gazing appealing into his face in a
way that vexed me, and made Tom
laugh,
Really, Eva has studied beauty papers
and thought about herself so mneh
that she has come to fancy that all men
must admire her.
Al fifteen minutes before midnight
we began to prepare the dumb sun.
per-" Mrs. McAlpine informed us that
those whose sweethearts were sen.
arated from them by stream of water
need not expect them at their table.
"Speerits Gamma cross runnin' waterv
Is an old superstition. WV"
Inc men Rege unesremoniouslv
tugasd out OF the dining.room. while
we each carried to the table, walking
backward all the time, two cups, plates