Middletown transcript., 1907-10-26
A HaIIowe en Charm

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The clock was striking twelve Mari
Louise counted The strokes In the dark / /
with ashudaering snrpriae not unapixsd /
With terror The witeEina hour had
really come the time ID try ilef fate and |
learn for certain sure whom she shon' Z |
marry.
Marie Louise had worried good deal
about this. She did not really want so
marry atall Itmade her gasp aud choke,
even To think of going away from ilst
mother and her home and living some
where else. But Jennie Netherail had
sola her that II she didnt marry sls
would be an oil maid. and that was not
70 be thought of ior AZ Instant. Masie
Louise was only seven years old, bns she.
faced tileinevitable with the courage d
forty -and-ssyen.
She could not help, however, being
greatly troubled over it. By the buttons
on her school dress she knew that she siss
destined TO marry rich man. Size ilads
besn perfectly harpy over this until one
lnckless day when she heard some one
say, s.Billy Patterson viii be a rich man
one Of these days. His business sense Is
!. something remarkable. z
Billy Patterson was tile one negro boot
black Of the town. Marie Louise Was
draadfully afraid Of him. Suppose, OH,
suppose, it should be Billy Pattersoul
Just at this stage she had nsw dress,
and, on counting its buttons, shr discoy-
cred that her husband was also to be
merchant. Now, Jimmy Baggs was go
ing to be merchaut--a candy merchant.
Marie Louise had often heard him say go
This was fresh source Of woe. Jimmy
Baggs was the torment of her life. He
pulled her curls. He shrieked oat at her
form dark corners. Hethreatened to set
his cross dog on her, and employed all
the ways OF torture that small boy de-
lights in using on girl just little small.
or. What If she should have TO marry
Jimmy Bags Oh. she could not bear
the uncertainty She must know, surely.
Il only to be enabled to summon all
her fortitude for the inevitable.
The big girls were, all talking of Hal.
Iow'en charms and spells. Marie Lonise
believed every word they said From
them she learned just how TO find out
whom you would marry. Eat an apple
at midnight then take a looking glass
and walk slowly down the stairs. look
ing inthe glass allthe time, and yon would
see in Ii the face of the man whom you
would marry.
Marie Louise had gone to bed with the
apple under her pillow and the looking
glass in her hand. She had kept asske
hours-quite fifteen minutesfor fear lest
when the clock struck midnight, she
should not hear it. And now it WAS
striking and she was awake. Marie
Louise shivered. It looked very dark
ard fearsome and the air was cold
~ wish hadn't woke up" murmured
Marie Louise. II don't believe want
to find out whom I'll marry !" Suppose,
oh, suppose that Billy Paterson's black |
face should look out at her from the siassl
Orthat Jimmy Baggs should give one Of
his blood-curdling whoops on the dark |
stairway "0h, dear; wish | hadn't |
done this" said poor Marie Louise.
But whatever you begin be sure to
carry OUT was the principle on which |
little Marie Louise had been brought up.
She never thought OF giyiBgit up though |
her heart beat in wild terror and her
breath came in gasps. She ate the apple,
forcing down every morsel. Then with
her looking-glass she crept out .of her
warm bed, and started downt the stairway
A little bare footed girl creeping tinid
ly down the stairs makes very little noise,
but there was somebody tlpw who slept |
with his ears open Tor The motions Of |
child. Somebody rose up and went 10
the foot Of the stairway. BY tile dim
moon-lit simmer OF tile night Marie |
Louise saw face that she knew looking
at her from the glass She turned with a
glad cry, Papa, papa; its you-ob, It's
you; oh, I'm so glad" And the troubled /
little girl sprang into his arms and, the
strain being over, gave way at last ID hys
terical sobs
Walking in her sleep" ttougl,t tile
the father. as lie eGmforted llrr and led
her back to bed. He never even thought |
of the looking-gass il her hand, lis own
Halloween days were too thoroughly
over
Marie Louise did not tell, because il
you told, the result OF your Hallowe'en
charms would not come true But Marie
Louise was comforted and her heart
rejoiced. She could pass Billy Patterson
and Jimmy Baggs witIon, pang.
He's all right, whatever he does,
she said. "'m so glad that tried that
Halloween charm, for I've found ont for
certain I'm that Pm going to marry papa.