The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-12-01

went around the table he blushed fu
rlously,
Capt. Aymer put in a word OF in
quiry. "Please tell us about thes,
charms. Mrs. Bliss" he said in his dl
rect sailor way,
All eyes turned TO the handsome
white haired and sea-bronzed naya
officer who had been quiet listener
II anyone had glanced at Grace Ger
rick he would have noticed tina, theil
hostess had flushed to the soft waves
Of her snowy hair.
AS Capt Aymer listened with grave
attention Mrs. Bliss gave him a viva
cious account OF how the festival oi
All Hallows Eve should be observed
All the time-worn charms were re
lated and lastly the one which bids
the eXpectant maiden walk feariully
around the house. with hair unbound
and mirror held in her hand. timtdly
/ hoping to see the shadowy face oi
her future husband peering over hei
shoulder and reflected in the glass,
THAT would give a chap a fair
chance" observed the captain Sc
riously. when Mrs. Bliss had conclud
ed ANY fellow that really wanted a
girl. you know. could arrange It so that
he might peep over her shoulder Just
as It struck eight bells"
THAT wouldn't be playing fair,
cried Kitty Gerrick. You wouldn't be
giving the fates their due.
Then there is hope for me" re
turned Capt Aymer, with mock
solemnity, and as they laughed no one
saw the lightning-like glance that he
shot at their hostess If they had seen
1t nobody would have wondered, for
they did not know that Grace Gerrick
and the handsome captain were old
friends, and would have been more
than friends had not some misunder'
standing arisen between them They
had not met for years until. recently,
and the captain had joined the house
party more as a distant relative OF
Tom Bliss than as a special friend Of
Miss Gerrick. Not even the Blisses
suspected a blighted romance between
the two, although many wondered why
two such handsome and altogether de.
lightful people should have remained
unmarried.
After dinner there was music in the
drawing-room and the topic Of Hal.
lowe'en was not brought up again. AS
a long motor ride had been planned
for the next day and an early start
was essential, the company broke up
shortly after midnight
Capt Aymer went out on the YER
anda for a final cigar before going
vi to his room The first quarter of
the moon was rising above the distant
mountain. and the broad path thai en-.
circled the house lay revealed. The
captain was thinking somewhat bitter
ly of what might have been II the
fates had taken a kindly hand in his
affairs, when suddenly there was en-;
acted - little scene that wrung his
heart-so poignant that his memory OF
his first and only love
Kitty Gerrick was tiptoeing cautious.
ly around the house with her back
toward him, a silver hand-glass held
before her face, the skirts of her ul.
tra-modern gown he'd above the damp
ness of the path-twentieth century
assurance and practical common sense
hand in hand with ancient supersti
tion. Coming softly behind her, TAX
ing her by surprise, was youns Hazen.
With little sigh. he tossed away his
cigar and Capt. Aymer stole into the
house
The great hall was deserted and
one dim candle burned on a distant
table. Standing near the stairway,
with her back toward him, was Grace
Gerrick, adjusting wave of her beau
tiful white hair before a looking glass
that hung over table
Capt. Aymer hesitated one Instant
and than with several quick steps he
stood behind her and their eyes met
in the glass, and were held until
Grace turned the full glory of her lov
ing glance to him. ''If / had only |
done this years before!" he sighed as
their lips met
1T was my fault that you did not"
she cried softly. THAT is why ! stood |
waited for you to come in
i wanted you to have your chance!"
Kitty Gerrick and her lover looked
through the side lights of the front
door and saw the two beautiful white
heads so close together Young Ha.
zen's arm tightened about his sweet
heart
Il shall never CAL It Jack O. Ian.
tern night after this" breathed Kit
ty softly. as they entered the house.