Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-03-05
LEWIsBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, THURSDAY

jealous OF tne attention she paid him
The evening wore on, and poor
George was in evident agony over
the fact that Airline had not chosen
him for a partner in any of the games,
and bad, on the contrary, taken the
dapper Hopkins more than once
George wished for some time that
young Hopkins was playing full back
to his end on rival football teams.
"Oh, wouldn't l down him !" he
muttered.
But fortunately for Hopkins it was
Halloween, and that young gentle.
man wouldn't have played football
anyway-it was too rough.
Midnight struck, "the witching
hour, when graves give up their
dead J" And now was the time for
the final and positive test.
A girl took candle in one hand,
and in the other a looking-glass, and
walked backward up the stairs. II
was supposed that at the top of the
flight she would see the face of her
future husband in the glass, but un-
der no circumstance was she to turn
around, for that would break the
spell.
Several girls tried it; each one SOL
emnly declared that she had seen q
face in the glass, and then came Ar.
lines turn.
81 suppose she'll see that fellow
Hopkins ?" muttered George, as Ar.
line went to get light for her can.
die.
Just at this moment Kate Edmon.
ston rushed up to George, and said,
&C Be quick run up the back stairs
and look over Arline's shoulder when
she reaches the top. Hurry up,
now, or she'll see you"
George hesitated but a moment,
and then obeyed. He reached the
dark top floor, and then groped his
way to the head of the front stairs.
There he paused,
"Suppose," thought he, "that
this should give her a fright from
which she could never recover p
Shall do it?'
He had almost decided in the mega
tive, when he heard Airline coming
slowly up the stairs. Up one flight
che came, and then on up the next.
Very slow work it was, and George
could hear his heart humping wildly
as she came on.
But a few steps remained for her,
and then George bent over, and al
most touched her shoulder with his
chin.
Airline sighed in pleasant sort of
way and then, without turning,
commenced her downward trip.
He rushed down the back stairs,
and when Airline Phillips reached
the lower floor George was leaning
against the wall trying to look un-
concerned, but only succeeded in
looking as If he had committed petty
larceny and been caught in the act.
Miss Phillips was besieged with
questions. "Whom have you seen ?"
" Did he look natural ?" "Just tell
us his first name, or even the color of
his hair"
But Airline refused, but said that
he was very nice young man.
George and Airline did not ride
home that night; but as they were
walking along he told the story that
for so long had troubled him, and
she, with just the proper amount of
diffidence, said, " Yes"
The wedding took place with the
beginning of the new year, just two
months after AllhallOws Eve; and
as George Edmunds walked down
the aisle, he saw Miss Edmonston
looking at him from the corner of
her eye, and as he passed her seat he
bowed and murmured, Thanks -
Once in the carriage with Airline,
George grew grave.
Arline," he said, 81 have a
question to ask and secret to tell
you. Didn't Halloween night in
fluence you little in accepting me ?"
After a moment she answered, re-
luctantly. eyes"
"Well. Arline," he said, 81 stood
at the head of the stairs, and looked
over your shoulder that night. Now
don't get angry" he continued, as
she raised her handkerchief to her
face.
She remained silent while one
could count ten, and then said, with
laugh. Why should 1 be angry
when it was 1 who told Kate Ed
monston to send you up the back
stairs ?"