The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-11-07
THE IMAGE IN
THE
A Story For AllhaIlow Eve
By ADELAIDE BURNHAM

BY ADELAIDE BURNHAM
Edward Dix was u sportsman FROM
the crown Of his head to the tip Of his
great toe. One October evening. when
he had been hunting in the woods all
day, he came to u little lake nesting
among the hills. Its surface covered
with fallen leaves Of every color from
the lightest yellow hue to the deepest
crimson. And looking down u valley
he saw q landscape that filed him with
delight.
What a place for q summer cot
tage." he exclaimed. ''Some day I'm
going to build one here"
And he did. Now. I'm going t tell
You how he came to carry ont what
was but u thought.
Looking to his right. he saw the deep
red Of a brick chimney against brown
limbs Of trees. He knew that where
there was a chimney there must be
q house and started to 60 and make
IN Investigation. He came upon q
very pretty cottage. with a broad piaz-
"a around 1t. a Queen Anne roof and
dainty windows.
And I'm jinged IL I don't build a
match to that" he added to his first
assertion.
There was not a living thing In or
near the cottage. and 1t was evident
thot ~ Wync sntovn1oH or1u Fno n
use. Mr.. Dix went up ON the piazza
and looked into the living room
through a window. The apartment
contained cottage furniture. but the
chief attraction was a large fireplace.
i've a good mind to sleep there to-
night" he said to himself and tried the
window to see II it were securely lock.
ed. 1t q but Mr.. Dix hunted for a
place Of ingress as energetically as he
had hunted for game and found one by
getting on the piazza roof-a window
not well secured. Going downstairs.
he opened u door from the inside. ad-
hitting him to the wood house, and in
a few minutes had a fire blazing on the
hearth. Then he settled himself down
in an easy chair before It. and. look
ing at his reelection in a mirror on the
mantel opposite him. he remarked:
"Y0ur comfort is only equaled by
your assurance"
And straightway he fell asleep.
Now. 1t happened that this was
Halloween. and a party Of girls were
coming to spend 1t at this very cot
tage. Flora Stebbins. a daughter Of
the owner. was the hostess. and the
|. others were her guests. Mr.. Dix went
to sleep about dark, which comes early
at the last OF October. and the young
ladies arrived about 8 O'Clock.
my goodness graci0us!' exclaimed
Miss Stebbins. There's some kind Of
a light inside. 1t looks as II there
were a flre on the hearth. Wait q min
ute till l reconnoiter." She went to a
window and saw the slumbering Nj.
Dix sitting before a dre that was still
blazing merrily. She 'beck0ned to the
others. They came and saw the same
sight.
Girls" said Flora. there is the best
chance to celebrate Allhallow eve !
ever heard Of. Let one of us 60 In
stealthily. make just enough sound to
waken him so that he'll see her re1ec-
ton In the mirror on the mantel and
get away before he can catch her"
The idea was eagerly caught upon.
and Flora was urged to play the part.
The others returned to the vehicle that
had brought them and waited for the
play to be over and her to join them
In q retreat.
Mr.. Dix was awakened by the fall.
ing Of some article behind him and.
opening his eyes. saw q girls face re-
lected In q mirror before him. But
only for an instant. If he had been
wide awake he would doubtless have
arisen from his chair Immediately and
made an investigation. AZ It was, he
delayed just long enough to allow the
conspiratOrs to make good their es-
cape. he did not even hear the sound
Of wheels. for the carriage had gone
far enough to prevent that. Flora get
ting into It near the gate.
When MI. Dix got fairly around be
| OlU WO0s OG WVuVu 10 OSEn OAP~~sSO
to do. He went to the hall and out
through the front door. He encoun-
Iteged nothing. and allshs hoard vas =
distant sound Of laughter. but 70 dis
tnnt that be was not sure whether Il
was Of was not laughter. he was
very much pushed.
Nj. Dix had q job Of hunting on his
hands far different from following Up
game. He was . methodlcal chap and
began by learning TO whom the cottass
belonged. Then he went to the whites
residence Of its owner ostensfbly g
peddle books. he could not BE- driven
away until be had caught sight q
Flora stebbins. whom he It once reccg'
mixed ~ the reality Of the inDa9e he
had 9 IN the mirror on AllhaIlow
eve. She recognized him. but prstsn0
"a ignoranee Of him.
-You ne my fate. ~ said. \ ~