The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-05-07

and not by the state of his affections.
The latter would certainly have given
the self made man much concern.
He meant, when he had accumulated
money enough, to marry Mabel into
family with blood.
Mabel had never taken Jimmy's
devotion seriously until young Barndt
appeared on the scene. Then some
thing in the misery which she read in
the face of her long devoted and much
tried admirer appealed to her more
womanly nature, and, though North
GLASGOW never dreamed of it, Mabel
was really thinking. deeply of the
future.
Matters came to head on Hallow-
cen night. With young Barndt at
her side, Mabel had driven through
the crisp autumn aid to the Hallow-
cen frolic at Myrtle Graham's home.
Brandt's roses were fastened under
her cloak, and on the table at home
the box of bonbons he had ordered
sent to her each Saturday lay uuopen-
ed. He had tucked her into the car
riage, but now he sulked openly.
These country social affairs are
such bore, don't you know. sup
pose we shall bob for apples and ruin
our clothes, and come home deucedly
tired. I'd much rather have the
evening at home, with you at the
piano and the lamplight falling on
your hair.
Mabel smiled in the dark. Would
he always be satisfied with that do
nestle = IpictuIee It she : wondered;
"Now, each girl must walk down
to the spring, quite alone, and look
into it for the face of her husband to
be-" announced the hostess in the
tones of an oracle. She held up
white fascinator, for the night was
cool, and Mabel's hand was the first
to reach for it.
81 hope you are not going to en-
danger your health by such non
sense"
Mabel turned to look into young
Barndt' S scowling face. He had been
greatly bored, as he had predicted,
and this was the last straw in his
load of misery.
II thought you had too much sense
to be superstitious.
Perhaps" answered Mabel, with
an odd laugh. And then she was
gone. While the merry party await
ed her return Mabel walked slowly
through the moonlit garden to the
spring. She was thinking of them
both-Jimmy Crawford who, though
the life of the party, had seemed
somehow to be watching her all the
evening, and Barndt, with his polish
ed manners and his sulky eyes. Then
she bent over the spring and smiled.
She had felt it all along-that his face
would look over her shoulder and
their reflections would be side by side.
"It was dreadfully silly, Jimmy
she said softly as they walked slowly
back to the house. "And you must
not think that it is just because I
trusted my decision to foolish SUI
perstition. But it's becauseithe little
things make up our lives-at least
they make woman happy. Some
men" "-she delicately refrained from
mentioning Barndt-' would have
stayed in the house and let me look
into the empty pool. And want
some one who understands me, who
thinks of the little things for me.
I've been thinking for other people so
long"
Jimmy held her trembling hand
tight in his big, strong one.
"I think / understand, dear"
II know you do" she whispered
softly. "I've known it for ever so
long, only couldn't quite"
And again he put his seal on the
uncertain words. But all North Glas-
cow thinks to this day that it was just
because of the Halloween supersti-
tion that Mabel accepted Jimmy and
fought the good fight against her
fathers pride and disappointment
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