Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-02
CHAPTER III.
Halloween, a NIGHT o teen,
A candle and a custock;

Doonducks has gotten a wife
And they ca her Jenny Lustock!'
This was the shrill cry that ushered
In the eve Of All Hallowmas, or the
Festival Of All Saints, on this 31st day
Of October, and the merry children
VENT tripping through the streets, sing
Ing gaily with their candles and GUS
tocks and gay-colored lanterns. And
truly the fairies were not more spright-
ly that these happy children in their
innocent glee keeping their Halloween.
Bright lights shone from the win
dows Of Captain Cameron's villa. Twice
had the purple bloom been on the
heather: twice had the daisies BLOSSOM
ed on the lea, but no tidings had ever
been heard of Colin. Janet mourned
for him in secret. The roses in her
cheek had faded. Her step was less
sprightly than Of yore and her happy
song has ceased. Her father had ask
ed In her young companions and a few
Of his own cronies for this night Of all
nights. He wanted to see his Glass;
as he fondly called her happy; she was
too young to give way to sorrow. And
Janet tried her best to please him.
Fires We're burning brightly In the
CRATES and lights shone brilliantly from
the windows. The great kitchen was
the scene Of merriment. In one end
was the large fireplace. A kettle hung
over the glowing Goals singing a merry
tune. In the middle Of the floor stood
n Io,.~n t,,h f311o1 y,r,r1v -, Slo l.t.~
with clear, cold water; beside it stood
a hamper full Of rosy-cheeked apples.
Around these were grouped young men
and maidens fair to see waiting their
turn to duck for apples. On the white
tables vas the great bowl of the steam
ing toddy-no wonder the kettle sang!
Currant loaf, farls of oatcake and a big
'whang" cut from a big cheese g1aced
the board, which, together with the
toddy, helped constitute the good cheer.
The merrymaklng now began in ear
nest. Aunt Jean brought out a bag
full of nuts and a great scramble en-
sued to see who should burn theirs
first. Their fates were soon decided by
that charm, and then away they all
scampered to try something else. Janet
tried to be happy with the rest, but low
Ing thoughts Of Colin would creep into
her mind; II she only knew whether he
were still in the land Of the living or
rolling at the bottom of the sea!
LET us try some charms" said a
young lad. Come, Janet, and help us
pu' the stocks" Out they go hand in
hand, with eyes tightly closed. and
slowly grope their way to the kailyard,
pulling the first they come to. Some
are tall, some short, some are sweet,
some sour, some have lots Of earth
hanging to the roots-ndicative of a
large fortune. With shout and laugh
ter they scampered back to the house
to place their kailrunts above the door.
One wanders of alone to try some spe-
cial charm. Meg goes to the glass to
eat an apple, but hearing a gruesome
noise somewhere, she starts back in
fear. LET us sow the hempseed"
cried Willie. "Yc daurna," said Jock.
The bag of hempseed is brought out
and each one takes n handful and with
beating heart and shaking limbs goes
some lonely spot to SOW it.
A little bit of the Scotch superstition
clings to Janet. She had the hempseed
in her mind and resolved to try 1t. She
has no fear as she goes into the garden
and rakes the ground. She scatters
the seed, and as 1t falls to the ground
she repeats to acknowledgement, I
SOW thee; hempseed, I SOW thee; and
him that Is to be my true love, come
after me and pu' thee" She looked
over her left shoulder and saw some
one at the end Of the garden in the at
titude Of pulling hemp. Janet stood as
II petrined for q moment, then uttered
n long scream which brought the old
folks running out of the house, to lind
Janet in the arms Of q nan
"Losh pity me" said the captain,
whats a. this" ITS the dell" ex-
claimed an old lady in tones Of horror.
'Guid preserve us; It's Colin Campbell
or his ghost said Aunt Janet. It was
indeed Colin in the flesh, with the same
lovelight dancing In his zee"