Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-25

ton. But We women are made OF I'LL
ferent stuff from men, and / could rely
ON Myra to believe In anything that
had the appearance of being super.
natural, especially if it pointed to
mate. A few days before Hallow-
cen, when she came to deliver milk to
me, / said to her:
'tMyra, are you going to try to get
glimpse OF your future husband on
Halloween"
81 haven't thought Of doing So she
replied consciously. "You don't believe
In that do you7"
"Why not? There are lots Of queer
things in the world. Is it any more
wonderful that q girl should see the
man she will marry than that mes
sages may be sent through the air
without even a wire to conduct them?"
Il never thought OF that"
"Tf l were you, coming as you are
to q manageable age, I would try
to get glimpse Of him."
"How"
"Oh, at II o'clock on Halloween
night start somewhere. The first un-
married man you meet you will mar
y."
"Where shall I go?'
II have it Go out on the water. l
have q small motorboat, which will
lend you. You can run it, can't you"
eyes, ma'am."
"Well, come here just before II
o'clock. The moon will be nearly full.
I will start you out on the water. You
will pass but one persona man in
boat. He will be your husband"
The innocent creatures face beamed
with pleasure. She regarded what ]
told her as probable, as l had myself
many years before considered it posi-
BILE that with a bit of wedding cake
under my pillow l would see my own
future mate.
"He will be working at something"
continued. "but l can't just tell you
what You shall see for yourself"
"Oh, dearr she gasped, putting her
hand to her heart. DO you really
mean it,"
"Come at half past TO-"
The next afternoon l saw Ned, who
had just awakened from his days
slumber, and stopped to ask him how
many mackerel he had taken the night
before. He told me, and led the con-
versation about through various
themes till / finally broke away from
what I was speaking of, saying:
"By the bye, Ned, do you know that
tomorrow night is Halloween"
II didn't know it." he said.
"You don't believe in such things,
do you?" @G*
"I'm not child"
"Well, child or no child, on Hallow-
cen the girl you are to marry will ap-
pear to you while you are working
with your nets"
He smiled with the look Of one who
took but little interest in the matter
Of Halloween. but would not be
averse to seeing sweetheart.
Remember" / added. moving on.
~ tell you your future wife will sail
past you tomorrow night"
Mermaid on a seashell" he called
after me.
I gave him no reply. All was work.
ing well Tor my plan. I only hoped
that the weather would be propitious,
for should it storm or the sea be bois-
ferrous all would be spoiled.
AS I expected, when Myra came to
me on Halloween she was as be-
comingly dressed as her scanty ward
robe would admit. I had procured 4
flower during the day, which put in
her hair. and replaced her tawdry wrap
with a white sweater. The nights
are chill on Casco bay. even in sum-
mer. and in October they are cold But
Myra had the warm blood Of youth In
her veins, and l knew sweater
would keep her perfectly comfortable.
Fortunately there was no wind, and
the sky was covered only by broken
clouds that rendered the heavens more
beautiful, lighted. as they were, by
the moon.
/ took my charge down to q stony
beach, where, there being only long.
low ocean swell, had moored it. She
got in, and as I pressed her hand at
starting l noticed that she was thrilled
with emotion. pushed off the boat.
telling her to steer for the north point
of Ragged island 1 could myself see
Ned's boat between NE and the point,
but Myra was so excited that she was
obliyious to it. AS saw her sail out
into the moonlight sent prayer after
her that she would find husband and
happiness.
Of her appearance to the fisherman
learned afterward from himself.
81 confess" he said. that until got
to work setting my nets I thought of
what you had told me. though l did
not dream Of its coming to pass, but
as soon as was busy I forgot all
about it. Then heard the explosions
of a motorboat. Boats are rare out
there except in summer. and I Won
dered who was coming. When the boat
came Dear me T looked Nd and there