Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-12-27

everything that is poetic, substituting
all that is practical. But In nature
nothing ends-it is simply transfgur-
ed. And now those things which were
formerly called superstition are COM
ing up again in a new form. There
are societies for psyehical research
whose members are investigating phe-
nomenal appearances, and people pos
sessing keen scientific minds are ac-
tive In the work.
After dinner on Halloween we all
sat chatting by the freight. / was
able to give the party talk on Hal
loween customs that / had gathered
from folklore. / noticed that one Of
the party, Edith Damon, fair haired,
blue eyed girl of nineteen, listened to
the stories / told with rapt atten-
ton. | fancied her one OF the kind
that in the olden time would hold up
u mirror with perfect confidence Of
seeing in it the face Of one who was
to be her husband.
One person, noticed, was observing
her as I was, Mrs. Crowell. During
the evening this woman arose from
seemed to me from that time that
Mrs. Crowell was exerting some infu-
ence over Miss Damon. / glanced at
the others in the circle to see IL they
observed anything unusual. but they
were all intent on the stories that
were being told, not one Of them pay
ing attention to anything else.
Before retiring we tossed apple
skins over our heads, looked into mir
rors and did other things usual on
Halloween. The girls all made COM
pact that In the morning IL any OF
them during the night got glimpse
Of the man she was to marry she
should tell all about It, / think some
Of them had dim fancy that some
thing might happen, but only the
youngest ones. can myself remem-
Der when youth going to sleep with
a piece Of wedding cake under my
pillow, fancying that / would really
dream Of the girl would one day
marry. We parted with raillery and
laughter and were some time quieting
down after we got into our rooms.
The next morning as we were as
sembling for breakfast there were
many questionings. some Of the party
using the Halloween that had just
passed as a means 10 tease one an
other about some supposed fancy for
mate. At the table the host asked
each one Of his guests in turn II he or
she had had vision during the night
Perhaps 1t was what | had noticed In
Ethel Damon that led me TO fix my
eyes upon her. She seemed stirred by
some unusual emotion. which increas-
ed as her turn to reply to Greenleafs
question drew near | glanced at
Mrs. Crowell and noticed that she was
intent upon Miss Damon
Just as / was about to withdraw
my glance from the former she looked
at me. There was a singular express
sion in her eyes that could not faith
ON. But / interpreted 1t to mean that
she knew ! suspected her OF exercts-
ing an influence on Miss Damon.
Finally, when the host said, Ethel.
did you see the man you would marry
last nightr' the girl turned rosy
red and, covering her face with both
hands, dropped her head on the table.
All the circle were on the tiptoe OF
expectation. Calls Of Tell us" "Out
with IT," Confess" Don't be
afraidw were made to the poor girl,
who, after enduring the fusillade foI
q few minutes, pushed back her chair
ard ran out Of the room amid babe
Of shouts and laughter.
kBsw that something unusual bad