The herald., 1897-10-29
There were gay times afloat that Hal

There were gay times afloat that Hal
loween. Never shall forget!
We had been neighbors SO long that
It seemed as if we were kin. In our house
lived we three girls-Betty, Emily and /;
and next door lived Jack and his sisters.
But this tale concerns Jack and Betty.
We were only spectators. Sympathiz-
ers, it is true, but helpless to comfrot
little Betty when the trouble came.
Such times as we had getting ready
for Halloween. 1t was to be in our
kitchen, and Conny Anderson was to
bring her cousin, ond-haired Eng
lishman, who admired Betty, and Jack
and his sisters and all their cousins and
ours were coming.
Halloween was not to be tame.
That afternoon Jack came to me:
There is to be ring cake" said he; sis
ter Sue will bring it, and when the cake
is cut the ring will fall to one of you
girls. The ring is mine and can Claim
Betty
The secret was out!
Jack had always loved Betty. In
school he had given her the rosiest bite
of apple, and when the sleighing time
came it was Betty who always had a
willing hand to draw her little red sled.
And through the drifts she drove him
until, painting, he would sink down, cry
ing for mercy.
you don't love me, Betty he said
one day, sorrowfully, when she sent him
to the top of shaking walnut tree, and
often he repeated it in later years.
How we enjoyed the Halloween fun
that year! When Jacks sister brought
in the cake, big and round and golden,
with orange frosting, we crowded up to
her and Bettys inquisitive little finger
sought it's smooth surface. II hope the
ring will fall to me-" she said, laughing
and dancing round the golden beauty.
Remember, if it does, Betty" whis-
pered Jack, that you have promised
me-
Nothing at ALL" said Betty, saucily.
talked with the Englishman and popped
chestnuts with him and threw the apple
skin over his blond head.
Jack was sorry enough, poor fellow,
but he wore a happy smile when his
eyes rested upon the cake, which stood
in the middle of the table ready for the
GROWING IedSC OF tne night.
At last we all gathered around the
table, and Sue, Jacks sister, handed
him the carving knife. "Now cut the
cake, Jack" said she, land give each q
piece Of it. In one section the ring will
lie, and it shall be yours to imprison the
finder or set her Free
'She shall be mine!" cried Jack, seiz-
ing the knife.
Two deft strokes brought out gold
en- triangle of it to me, the second came
to Sue, the third to Betty. AS she took
1t the Englishman whispered something
to her. She shook her head and showed
her dimples. Eat it, Betty said
Jack, as he handed the others their
pieces.
The next minute there was a cry and
upon the floor there sounded a sharp
noise. 1t was Betty's piece, and she
had thrown it from her hand. The cake
fell to the floor and the ring rolled out
from it's f1aky interior. ut wasn't
fair. You cheated" cried Betty. you
knew where the ring lay and you gave
1t to me-"
"Allow me, my dear Miss Betty" said
the Englishman stepping forward and
picking up the knife, lit is not fair that
you should be cheated out of your cake
by piece of sleight of hand. Let me
cut another slice for YOU
Jack looked at the Englishman so
fiercely that for minute we thought
he would fly at his throat. Then seeing
Betty. he softened, and said: do not
take his cake, Betty. All's fair in war
and love; and you know you promised
me-"
The Englishman laughed hatefully
"In my country we do not catch young
lady in this way. We ask her and then
give her choice. Will you take this
cake, Miss Betty?"