Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-10

>i'liet. MISS Cummings dppTOdcue1
1t, raised the lid over the keys and
struck a chord. The wheezy notes
sounded like groans.
There was something intensely inter
esting In this former home of persons
who had lived and enacted their parts
on life's stage here. They had walked
about, they had been moved by emo
lions, they had been happy. they had
been miserable here Doubtless fair
hands had struck the keys of that
piano now wheezy with age. And
now where We're they? Who were
they? Were their hearts ever OF
bright morning. OF a serene evening.
touched by chord OF memory in
unison with the thin once melodious
piano and did they long for what had
once been to them home?
Miss Cummings was so far interest
ed that she yielded to temptation to
explore the house further. She went
into the hall, stopped and looked about
her timidly, wondering An open door
enabled her to see dimly into the din
ing room. A large oak table stood in
its center surrounded by massive high
backed chairs. Family portraits hung
on the walls. some of them in costumes
that had been in fashion more than a
century before. They looked at her
reproachfulTy, as much as to say,
What are you doing here? Go away
and leave US to stare at each other"
Miss Cummings passed through a
pantry and into kitchen. Pots and
pans. once bright, now rusty. hung on
the wall. On a table was part OF
candle and beside 1t a 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 II she
could light the candle she might per-
sue her Investigations more favorably
since the twilight had nearly gone.
! She struck q number of the matches
before finding one that would Ignite.
With that she lit the candle and, re-
| turning to the hall. started up a wind
ing staircase.
Had Miss Cummings been a timld
| 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 wardrobcs. etageres and other fur
niture now seldom used. In one room
| was bootjack. something the rising
| generation has never seen.
She was standing in a bedroom look
ing at herself by the candlelight in
a pier glass when she saw reflected
from the glow the figure of man
standing in the doorway looking at
her He was in evening dress. on his
head a silk hat and on his arm a 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 vivid
fash OF lightning. terrific clap OF
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 n clap OF thun-
der. Then came something more real
saw by its light the vision OF a few
|
box In one hand and match in the
other. On the floor 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 instinctively 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 your
felt for you and found you lying limp.
l thought / should never find the can
die. don't blame you for being fright
ened."
He assisted her to a 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
| part OF the town they secured a carri-
! age. and the young man. saying that
! he had an engagement for which he
was already late. put her into 1t. 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
a conventional phrase for introduction,
have you met Mr.. WilkinsT'
Both Mr.. wilkins and Miss Cum
miDgs smiled.
Il should think | have" said the
| latter.
| There was no race among the girls
/ for Mr.. wilkins Kate Cummings had
| a walkover. 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.