The Washington herald., 1908-07-03

III doesn't have TO be your own well.
explained old Mrs. Prentiss. with de-
fant glance at her daughter-in-law. 1T
says that II you look into well at mid
night on Halloween you viii see reflected
In the water the face OF the man you are
to msrry-if you are destined to be a
bri5e within the year"
Now. mother. stop putting foolish no
tons into Myrtle's head" exclaimed
Myrtle's mother. i've tried all these
years to keep such things away from her
and now you are filling her mind with
arrant nonsense"
The grandmother made a gesture Of
dissent.
I'VE didn't call it nonsense in our day.
Susie" she protested. I'VE used TO have
lot Of fun bobbing for apples and all
that sort of thing I guess Myrtle can be
a good girl. even If she does bother her
pretty head about the Halloween rites.
It's high time she tried them, anyhow.
We can't 90 back again when we grow
up and find out what we've missed as
children"
The younger Mrs Prentiss shrugged her
shoulders. Her own youth had known no
such foolish fancies She had been
brought up with Puritan rigidness. and
sought TO mold Myrtle's mind even as her
own had been formed In the rigid cast Of
conventionality.
At eighteen Myrtle had never had any
Of the childish diversions. and the advent
Ct her paternal grandmother with this
new lore OF Halloween. was like the visit
Of a fairy godmother. 1t was the first
time she had seen her fathers mother
since, as a child OF four, she had been
brought West, and already the kindly old
lady had completely won Myrtles heart.
The revelation Of the Halloween mys-
teries was the most important disclosure
yet made, and Myrtle threw herself with
interest into the idea. Her grandmother
lamented that there was not time to pre-
pare for a Halloween party, but It was
agreed that Myrtle should prove her fate
by the well test. Wells were few. but In
the orchard was a walled spring. and
this. E. was decided, would answer the
purpo-l
Myrtlo had never had n sweetheart.
Swe-tlearts for very young girls were
frowpsd upon as being frivolous. and talk
Of love had been rigidly discouraged. At
the time even her mother could not pre-
vent Seth Haskin from blushDg redly
under his tan when he chanced 10 en-
counter Myrtle. and though he had been
refused permission 20 make the weekly
call. which in that section was the pre-
liminary declaration of more serious in
tention. the girl was more acuteIy con
scious Of his presence than OF the few
other men she met IN town or on her
weekly visit 20 church
Her grandmother a born matchmaker
had already sensed the situation. and II
Myrtle's mother had known that the old
lady had found opportunity 10 drop a
Hint 20 Seth, her passive acquiescence IN
this frivolity would have become active
opposition. As IL was. she argued that
since Mother Prentiss stay was 10 be
short. IL would be possible 10 regain her
lost ground after the old lady should have
returned home.
In John Prentiss his mother found an
able ally. He gleefully recalled his own
Halloween celebrations. and insisted that
he could stu duck for apples with the
best OF them.
Next year" he shouted. well have
a regular party. mother. / haven't felt
so young in years He bent again over
the tub to plunge his ruddy face after
the elusive apple. and hts wife. grimly
regarding the Unseemly performance,
shook her head in disapprovaL
But Prentiss was too absorbed in his
fun 20 notice the head shake. and he in
sisted upon trying all the tests he knew.
Almost before they knew 1t. the clock
struck II, and then half-past; and Myrtle,
shivering deliciously over the adventure.
bubbling spring.
There was no moon. but stars spanglcd
the sky, and their light made 81 bright
enough % see her reflection in the little
pool. Obedient 70 instructions, she leaned
over the placid surface and began 10 re-
peat the verse her grandmother had
taught her. Her heart stood still as she
heard the approach OF footsteps, but her
blood froze in horror when two men took
their stand on the other side Of the hedge
and began 20 talk OF their plans
THE train will be along IN about thirty
minutes" said the first. "I bet she gets
smashed up some this time"
Best job ! ever did was the re-
Spouse. "Jim's the engineer and he won't
see that the rail- IS out until they're right
on il. They'll be In the gully before they
know what struck 'em. Wen have the
safes an away before they get a hint"
She needed to hear no more Of the con-
versation 20 guess az the identity Of at
least one OF the speakers. For nearly u
year the Southwest had suffered from
the depredati0ns Of a gang Of train
wreckers who operated only when heavy
consignments Of specie were being car
ried by the express companies.
In place of the usual hold-up. they de-
rallied the train. often with heavy loss
Of life. and made away with the express
safes before the first excitement Was
cJer. Half a mile beyond was ravinc
,,ridged by a wooden trestle. 1t was evi-
cent that they had removed the spikes
from one of the rails and that the train
would pitch into the gulch.
Even as she knelt over the spring won
dering what it would be best to do. ,hc
sound OF a bell came floating down from
the house. the signal that it was y
o'clock. In the water Of the pool a second
face was reflected and Myrtle gave a
sigh.
IF it only was you. Seth,' she whis-
pered Il need you So"
1T is Seth" came the answer in a
whisper. What il Il, dear
Even in her excitement My,tle thtilied
deliciously at the word. Il WAS the first
time any one had called her lear in
that tone. She half rose 10 her feet.
There are two men on the OH n side
of that hedge" she whispered, "Dne Is
PHI Logan. and the other me Of his men.
They are going to throw the express into
Cat Creek"
Theis whispering was 60 low tina. it
could not be heard by ths men in the
shadow Of the hedge. Seti, coached by
Myrtle's grandmother. had approached 50
softly that even Myrtle had not heard
him coming and the outlaws. isnogant
of their espionage. talker freely of Their
plans.
From their talk it was evident that they
were armed; Seth was not. But there
We're lot OF fallen branches on the