Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-03-24
An Old EashIoned Love Story.

Why it was that George Edmunds, who had
been known as the nerviest man in football
game, aud the best boxer at college, could not
summon up courage enough to propose to lit
tie Airline Phillips was u mystery.-But it was
so. He could not do it.
George had arrived at his twenty-forth year
without falling a victim to any feminine faci-
nations; but now he was badly in love, and
t hat little blonde, Airline Phillips, was the only
physician who could help his particular COM
plant.
| The time was Halloween, and George was
to take Airline to party at the house of q
| friend. He knew at the Hallowe' en- games,
and he decided that tonight. of all nighte,
was the time to make the plunge If he ever
were to do so.
He stood in front of his mirror, surveyed
himself, and wondered how it was that a six
foot man, with the notwithstanding chin
that he had, could not propose to the little
girl who stood five feet nothing in her high
heelcd boots.
..Hallowe'en is the time" he said, as he
| turned from the glass, aud I'll settle it to-
night forever.
He got into the cab that had been Whiting for
him, and ordered the driver to go to the house
of Arline-his airline he hoped she would be
before the night was over.
Miss Phillips received George with the care
less, almost sisterly familiarity which is as
much of a setback to lovers as decided
| GOODNESS would be. He would have liked it
had she been a little more distant with him.
As it was already late they went at once to
the house were the party was to be, and were
received at the door by Miss Kate Edmonston,
their hostess.
Miss Edmonston, q little girl with frcckled
face and red hair, whom no one conld call
pretty, but whom all called attractive, rcceiv-
ed them at the door, and told them TO hasten,
as the games were already in progress.
In the parlor was large crowd of young
men and women, busily engaged in the sport
of diving for apples. In this sport. as every
one knows, a lot OF apples, each bearing the
name of u man, placed in a tub of water, and
the girls try to catch them in their teeth. The
name on the apple caught is sure to be the
name of the future husband of the young
woman who dives. There was another tub
filed with apples on which there were the
names of the girls, but that was for the men,
interest.
| 1HcEC WIS 4uuhhtCif huu
much disgust when it was found that care
fully curled hair was, owing to the water;
hanPing down before the eycs of the owners,
straight and stiff. But no one cares about
hair at Halloween party and so that disgust
was short-liyed in deed.
At last it came Arline's turn to dive and,
while the laughing crowd of girls were busy
dragging her to the tub, George Edmunds
slipped into it five apples, each bearing his
own name.
He thought that should Airline get an apple
with his name on it, she would then expect
the proposal that he was mastering mp his
courage to make.
Airline leaned over the tub, and bit at an
apple but it fioatcd away from her, and so
she tried again, but with no better success
than before. She was persistent, however,
and in about five minutes, dripping and tri-
um phant, she stood up with an apple held
fast between her teeth.
An inspection revealed the fact that the
apple bore instead of the name of George Ed
munds, the name of Frederick Hopkins. This
Hopkins was dapper little fellow whom all
the girls said was "nice," and he sat in the
corner ard smiled hinge smile when be
heard the fair Airline read his name. To
make matters worse, the festive Frederick
had been frequent visitor at Miss Phillips
bouse, and George had often been jealous OF
the attention she paid him.
The evening wore on, and poor George was
in evident agony over the fact that airline bad
not chosen him for partner in any OF the
games, and had, on the contrary: taken the
the dapper Hopkins more than once.
l hot
young Hopkins was playing full-back to bis
end on rival football teams.
.oh, wouldn't down him!r he muttered.
Bnt fortunately for Hopkins it was Hallow-
cen, and that young gentleman wouldn't have
played football anyway 1t was too rough.
Midnight struck, s'the witchipg hour when
graves give up their deadl" Aud now was the
time for the final and positive test.
4 girl took a candle in ono hand. and in the
other looking-gIass, and walked backward
up the stairs. 1t was supposed that at the
( top of the flight she would see the face of hen
future husband in the glass, but under no cir
cumstances was she to turn around, for thai
would break the spell.
Several girls tried it each one solemnly de
clared that she had seen a face in the glass
and tn en- came Arline's turn.
81 suppose shell see that fellow Hopkinsi'
: muttered George, as airline went to get a ligh
for her candle
Just at this moment Kate Edmonstos
rushed up TO George. aud said, ''Be quick
run up the back stairs and look over ArIine'
shoulder when she reaches the top. HurrI
up, now, or she'll see you
George hesitated but moment, aud theI
: obeyed. He reached the dark top door, ant
+ then groped his way to the head of the from
stairs. There be paused.