The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-28
Miss Brejetta' $ Hallowe' en-
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

hadn't you decide school again after
Christmas? The teacher doesn't seem to give sat
isfacton way, and the folks all asking for
You'd better say now. that you will take 1t and
have that with"
Well" answered Miss Brejetta, hesitating, 'maybs
will Squire Brown. I'll think it over"
As Miss Brejetta walked homeward over the sum
burned grass under the crimsoning naples her
thoughts were busy Yes she would doubtless be bet
with the school to look after than she was alone
her quiet cottage 1t had seemed at first when her
mother left her that she could never stand the lone
illness of coming every night the empty house,
But she beginning think that she could not
endure the lonely andessness of these uninterrupted
days and nights. Tears dripped over Miss Brejettafs
delicate. spirited guessed of by her
friends.
From his yine-covered porch Richard Dayton. her
life long friend and neighbor. watched her
approach with the tender interest he felt in all her
doings How dainty and sweet she looked so fraii
and incompetent yet so supremacy sell m
most far back he could remember ne had ionsei
for her. protect her To let his love SHOW
itself yet In any smallest way had she allowed
him to approach her
This strong man. capable OF making the world yield
him his honest rights. stood rresoute and defeated
before the spghtiy indifference OF this pretty but IN
dependent woman.
Unwilling 0 allow her TO pass without word. the
man sauntered to his own front gate in time to IN
dried her eyes coyery. while there little added
emphasis to the coated sharpness with which
she always treated him born of her fear lest be should
upon her face traces Of her recent weakness
Just been pulling my last beans renarsed Dayton.
you let fix yours for you this evening Miss Bre-
1etta?'
He glanced over the dividing his neighbors
Indeed no thank yous refused Miss Rrejetta
phaticals. Il shall, enjoy doing them myself It Is
just play for that tiny garden. and il gives
something be interested In. you know"
1T must lonely for YOU now" remarked the man
with solietude that made Miss Brejetta staen with
resentment Do you never feel nervous at night all
alone in the house"
why should / be afraid And besides. Mr. Dayton.
what cannot be cured must be endured am aione
world
Dayton lonsed With his whole heart to tell her ee
solution her difficulties that would bring her
devoted but the tilt Of her pretty head warned
him to desist. and he merely suggested iameiy:
"You know my housekeeper would be glad 70 60
and sleep IN the house. and really think you
ought have her, Miss Hrejet,a with many tranps
there are about just now Won't you let her come
to night. anyway? The boys viii he PLAYING FRANKS
that may be unpleasant. for you"
Miss Bretetta smiled serenely and esasperatingls-
into his pleading face
THE boys Will do nothing annoy I sure.
Mr. Dayton she remarked. pressing ON to her own
Bat when her own front door had closed with
quiet precision Miss Breettass camness vanished ard
she herself with angry and undFnihed haste into
Wish he would stop H." cried storrniy. Il will
not have him plying me and looking after me all the
will Fostering about them, can
Just imagine the remarks that would be made in this
And Miss Bretetta having eaten hasts supper.
pinned her spotiess linen skirt put her stoutest
garden gloves and, tnwardiy consumed with wrath.
sought her difninutive bean patch
self fashion of lonely people. because II vii
be too wet In the morning ard during the
day. But 1t Just makes me furious TO be breaking my
back out here when haven't even cut the leaves %
that magazine yet
The sun baked earth seemed loath To part with
vines had carefully nurtured through long months.
and Miss Brejettas strength was net great Her own
cosy piazza beckoned entieingly bur the CLEAN of
cigar end the neighhorine porch held her to her
task
In the dusk she stole into the house, bar
ring doors and windows carefully.
you are tired" she cried dehantly her reflection
in the hall mirror, and you Just hate gardenny You
lonely too. and know nearly die OF fr!gh.
every night Of your NE Why don't you own up 10 it
and let people help when they want to-
The neighbor had watched Miss Brejetta &c
her bean pulling with almost angry impotence.
Il wonder why she does it-ecrtansy not because She
enjoys t. And she splits her Finanss In The shed $"
cannot see her-as IL could not heart And she locks
the doors and windows and nearly smothers herself
these sultry nights
fond OF If she allowed herself To be. She has al
ways managed pretty Well by herself far mt there
And, by jove. almost wish something would happen
to take down her pride ttle. poo. girl
For long time he quietly thinking. Then Rich
ard Dayton one Of the most respectable and highly
honored men Of his town. did strange thing
Up the close. clustered attic he stole with tiny
nckering candle for light, and when he down
noiseessy, he carried some dark shapeiess garments
Long after Miss Bre1etts had retired she lay awake
seemed haunting the darkness but she comfor,ed
self thinking II was boys their midnight Halloween
pranks Unaccountable night sounds caused her to
shrink nervously hut at last she slept in tfnl snatches
Suddenly she sat ny, every sense alert The vihra-
hall For u she covered among the pillows
then the thought of in trouble nerved her
action Trenhlingly she lighted q lamp, slipped on
some clothing and hurried To the door. Without wait
ing for her fail. she slipped the bolt swung
back the door and let the light shine vacant
porch. But down by the gate stood siouching figure
with hat pulled low
Mr. Dayton-Richard'" called Miss Breietta family
almost dumb with
"IIerei" called familiar voice reassuringly tho
neighbor sprang the end of the porch
rail and took the lamp from her trembling hand Draw
ing her to the Swallowed piazza aud into his arms
he held her breathessy.
81 heard the bell" he explained land feared you
would be frightened See, In that
just Halloween joke, But you do need me. don't
you. Brejetta ?"
OH" she sohbed, her face against his Then
with Intoxicating sweetness she surrendered rom
pletely
Dick, you to hoe the garden split the
kindling, tld do the whole miserable busnessi And
perfectly hate living alone, and have been lonely
and afraid. and I'm glad I've been into my
senses."
And do you love a little. Brejetta?. anxouslv.
do you suppose" she cried in exasperated TENDER