Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-11-08

happened to the girl and synlpathized
with her In being obliged to suffer the
raillery OF her companions. Young
people are not very thoughtful about
such matters. Indeed, | suppressed
some indignation at what had oc-
CURED. When the noise had some
what subsidized | yentured to suggest
that whatever had induced Miss Da-
man to leave the table ii was some
thing sacred and should be respected.
All the thanks | got for this sugges-
ton was a volley Of guys hurled at
me, such as '.You are the man.
Hurry up the weddingr' Lets have
1t over before we separate.'' coming
mostly from the younger people. Truly
lot of boys and girls are iucorrigible
While this was happening | noticed
that Mrs. Crowell was looking at me
with that same singular uninterpreta-
bic glance. Surely there was a mys-
terry here in which the participants
were Mrs. Crowell and Ethel Damon,
while was the only one cognizant of
II. As we We're leaving the table /
said to Mrs. Crowell, 81 wonder IL any
thing could have occurred during the
night that Miss Damon mistook for
a sign?" But the lady simply gave
me another of those strange looks and
made no reply.
There are fine grounds about Green
leafs house-I think he has some
eighty acres-and during the morning,
my mind being occupied with what had
occurred at breakfast, / took fancy
to stroll out into wood for medita-
ton. 1t was one of those bright. crisp
mornings we get only at the turning
point between summer and winter
The season was late. and many varie-
gated leaves still hung upon the trees.
Presently | espied ahead of me girl
walking alone among the trees. In an
other moment | recognized the figure
of Ethel Damon. | was delighted at
the opportunity of meeting her. was
sure she was there TO be alone, but
realized also that people who wish to
be alone also desire eonhdant IL the
right person Is available. / caught up
with her, called to her. She stopped
and turned.
1t is some years since saw that ex-
preston on her face, but 1t is as clear
in my memory as then. Indeed, 1t is a
picture that never can fade There
were slight blush smile and the
words, How glad / am that you are
here" Then when l reached her she
laid her hand on my arm, seemingly
with that sense of possession q girl
: feels on being just betrothed to the
man Of her choice.
What did it mean?
II am glad" | said when | felt that
/ must speak. ''that my presence does
not disturb you. l thought 1t possible
that after the scare at the breakfast
table this morning you came here to
get away from every one"
Except YOU
"You mean that l was more thought
full than the rest in respecting your
feelings?"
She did not reply to this. She
stopped. picked up a crimson leaf that
had fallen and pretended to admire Its
beauty.
Would 1t be too much to ask your
confidence as to why you did not reply
to our hosts question? | am sure that
during the night you saw something
that you interpreted as a sign"
She turned and looked at me with On
expression of surprise. Then suddenly
another look came upon her face, one
Of mingled disappointment and morti-
fication.
Can Ii be possible" she exclaimed,
that it was, after all, only dreamT
What dream"
She turned away, muttering to her
self: ooh, heaven! What have !
doneT
| caught her hands in mine, turned
her toward me and begged for an ex-
PLANTATION. / was some moments get
ting it, and when it came It came
haltingly.
Last night" she said, Il went to
bed and to sleep, much affected, adj
NIT, by the Halloween stories to which
l had listened. During the night
awoke on hearing my name called
softly. A window in my room opens
on to a balcony. 1t was moonlight,
and you stood with one hand on the
easement. You said to me, Meet me
tomorrow morning in the wood west
of the house Then you went away.
l took 1t for granted that your coming
| was a Halloween sign and that you
were aware Of your own presence.
But now since you are not / suppose
! it was only a dream"
made no reply for few moments,
but | still held her hands in mine.
Then, saying, Dream or no dream, 1t
Is a Halloween sign, and a Halloween
sign you cannot resist; am your fate.
and you are mine" drew her to me
and kissed her.
| Later I told her that during the pre-
vious evening ! had noticed Mrs.
Crowell go and sit beside her, and ]
| asked her II she had felt any unusual
sensation. She told me from that
moment she had felt that during the
night she would get Halloween sign.
She would not join in the agreement
to tell in the morning IL she had -
ceived one.
Before leaving the place where q
sudden happiness had come to me
took Frank Greenleaf aside and asked
him who was Mrs. Crowell
why do you Ask be said, with Q
quick exhibition Of interest.
I told him the story as have told Il
here. he opening his eyes wider ever
moment to the end.
Mrs CroHeI.s he said nffer hak