The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-10-29

pans, once Drignt. now rusty. Rung on
the wall. On a table was part of a
candle and beside It few matches.
both probably left there more recently
than the date at which the house had
been left vacant Miss Cummings was
pleased at the discovery. for if she
could light the candle she might per
sue her Investigations more favorably
since the twilight had nearly gone.
She struck a number of the matches
before finding one that would Ignite.
With that she lit the candle and. re-
turning to the hall. started up wind
ing staircase.
Had Miss Cummings been a timid
girl she would never have enjoyed
that spooky experience. AS 1t was she
was fascinated with the old four post
bedsteads with curtains and valances
the wardrobes. etageres and other fur
niture now seldom used In one room
was bootjack something the rising
generation has never seen
She was standing In bedroom look
Ing at herself by the candleIight in
a pier glass when she saw reflected
from the glow the figure of a man
standing in the doorway looking at
her He was in evening dress. on his
head a silk hat and on his arm light
overcoat. He stood there looking at
the girl reflected In the mirror as she
was looking at her own reflection.
At that moment there was a vivid
oh nf Hohf nfra f.x.K Hn oil RH
thunder; the candle dropped from her
hand and she sank unconscious on the
floor
When Miss Cummings came to her
self all was still and all was dark
The young man in evening dress had
evidently vanished in clap Of thun-
der Then came something more real
the scratching of match, and she
saw by its light the vision of few
minutes before with silver match
box in one hand and a match In the
other On the door stood the candle,
and the man was holding the lighted
match to its wick.
This commonplace scene served to
restore the girl to her senses. She
sat up and instinctiveIy put her hand
to her back hair Then. having light
ed the candle. the young man turned
to her and said
"Oh. you're all right. are you?
felt for you and found you lying limp.
| thought | should never find the can
die. l don't blame you for being fright
ened."
He assisted her to lounge whose
frame would endure for centuries, but
the upholstering OF which gave way.
She said she would like to go home
On comparing notes they found that
both had entered the house to escape
the storm, though at different times
They went downstairs together and.
the rain having stopped. they left the
house together. Reaching the business
TART OF the town they secured a CARR
age. and the young man. saying that
he had an engagement for which he
was already late. put her into it. and
she was driven away
Miss Cummings did not find the
strength nor the inclination to go
down to the Halloween party till near
ly 10 O'Clock. The first person she saw
on entering the room was the young
man she had met at the Hammond
house. The two stood and stared at
each other
Katherine" said Aunt Sarah. using
conventional phrase for Introduction
have you met Mr. Wilkins?'
Both Mr.. Wilkins and Miss Cum
mings smiled
81 should think have" said the
latter.
There was no race among the girls
for Mr. wilkins Kate Cummings had
waIkover. and when the others heard
the story of their meeting all vowed
that Kate had chosen Halloween to
show her friends her future husband
And they were right.