The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-10-28
Before the Halloween Fire.
BY RUBY DOUGLAS. .

Pauline looked up. ''You' re so serious,
Teddy You re always so serious that l
feel | should almost call you Theodore
not Teddy.
He smiled indulgently at her. What a
child she was in spite Of her 20 years. He
had known her always-for he was about
to be 40
''Don' t, I beg of you Look, child,
my chestnuts are going to pop first
Pauline framed her face in her hands
and rested her elbows on her knees, in
tently watching the chestnuts open wider
and wider.
''Don't forget the names, Teddy I'd
like to know which girl is to have you.
He smiled again; he always smiled at
Pauline He watched the freight two
step through her ringlets and about the
great coil of hair wound gracefully about
her pretty head.
''Oh, Teddy she cried, and dismay
was the predominant emotion betrayed in
her tone. "They all popped at once. y
And it was true-all three of the man 5
chestnuts had popped simultaneously, leav-
ing Pauline without the satisfaction of
knowing whom the Hallowe' en- fai. les had
destined for her companion wife,
The man laughed '''Watch your own
That fat one on this end seems ready to
jump.
Pauline, shawdow of disappointment
still on her face, studied her chestnuts
81 can venture guess as to who that
end man is, little girl.
''Can you?' she asked saucily.
Eyes, and he seems to know he is to
pop first. He Is a confident chap, at
least
Pauline ignored his remarks. The first
chestnut was ready to burst, and the mid
die nut looked ready to follow any min
ute, but the one on the other end was
opening slowly A frown lodged into the
space between Pauline eyes What did
Hallowe en- fairies know about it, anyway?
She moved her stool back and slipped
to her knees on the hearth, bending close
ly over the chestnuts
Pop OF course You would pop first,
she scolded, talking to the innocent chest
nut that had just found its proximity 10
the flames too trying,
The man sat back aud watched the ex-
pressions come and 20 on her face
'And you are not glad that one popped
6rst?' he asked Il fancy could name
him.
at was he-George Bidwell-but |
don intend to marry him, she retorted
with determination.
The man raised his brows quizzically. 1t
was what he had come to accept as ineyi-
table, that Pauline his dear little friend,
would marry this boy. Certainly it would
not be the young man's fault if she did
not.
''You silly chestnut, Pauline began.
talking obviously to the nut on the Far
end 'Why are you 50 slow when you
know you should have popped first She
did not turn her face toward the man. but
kept her eyes on the nuts.
And the man supposed it was the heat
frcn the flames which heightened the color
in her cheeks. How pretty she looked
He had never realized before how lovely
Pauline really was
Popl The middle nut had Jumped
away. Only one remained.
That was John Darlington, confessed
Pauline, looking up shyly into the face
above hers. Now wouldn' You like to
know who this third, slow one is?'
II would, indeed, but he seems to have
little chance
Perhaps it is his own fault. He has
been lying there SO indiferently, hardly
~seai to realize that he was near the
49,, and not seeming 10 care 10 jump aud
pop like all the others Pauline was
again leaning over the last chestnut, talk
ing half to its inanimate shell. half to
herself, aud not at all to the man nov sit
ting up straight in the chair behind her
''Aren't you going 70 tell me who il
is? he asked
''No. she retorted over her shoulder.
Silently they both watched the chestnut.
1t was opening slowly. very slowly, but
surely, and the deep yellow heart was be
ginning to show through the cracks.
"You re silly chestnut. said Pauline.
shaking her head at if, YOU are 50 slow.
You deliberately let all the others get
ahead Of you. She paused while the
flames danced about merrily, trying to urge
the nut on to jump.
All uneonsciously the man was bending
closer to the girl, trying not to lose any Of
the conversation, which was not addressed
to him. Somehow it was an interesting
soliloquy Usually he let Pauline ramble
on and on, unmindful Of her chattering.
treating her almost as Il child dear.
lovable child Now he had an unaccount
able curiosity to know for whom she had
named the last chestnut There were 20
many young men whom she might have
chosen.
'You-you think you are old, = Pauline
was saying, still to the chestnut, but you
aren' { at ALL And you are 50 serious,
and you fancy your hair is gray. Her
tone was very low, confidentially low, and
she bent more closely over the nut
I'm afraid you aren' going to propose
at all. I'm beginning to think YOU will
never understand that-that you love me,
you funny chestnut, she laughed nerv-
ously. The nut was on the verge Of jump
ing, and she was perilously close to it.
"Be careful, dear said the man. at
might strike your face And Pauline
thought he had never spoken to her 50 ten
derby.
She lowered her eyes quickly. "Oh,
chestnut, you are-yOu are going to pop
You are
Pop! The slow nut had jumped, and
Pauline excitedly reached out for it and
caught it.
"Ohr' she cried, dropping it.
The man slipped to the stool beside her
"Why did you do that, child? You We
burned yourself, y he said, taking her hand
in his.
For moment he held it silently, look
ing into its pretty pink palm.
Pauline, who was the last mantle
man who hurts you?'
She looked up into his eyes.
Dearest, can it be? Oh, Pauline and
to think have never realized until tonight
what you are to me Her head dropped
IL. Lnoa