The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-01-13

tne edge or wood and adjoining the
wood on the hillside there was a small
farm. Miss Leddon remembered hav-
Ing seen some ripening pumpkins ly-
ing on the vines not far from the en-
trance to the farm. She wondered
who lived In the tiny farmhouse at
the top Of the hill She wondered, too.
as she sat there dejectedly, why the
person who did live there did not re-
cefve the mental messages she kept
sending across the woods longing to
have those pumpkins offered to her
for the Halloween party.
At list she got up, put away her few
books ead pencils, closed and locked
the windows and stepped out into the.
crisp air. She would stop such inef-
fective methods and go and ask for
some of the pumpkins. 1t was not for
herself that she wanted them; 1t was
for all the children Of the countryside.
Perhaps some of them lived in that
very farm house though Cora Leddon
hoped MOTT was such a tiny house
that 1t would scarcely enclose fam
Lily Of children.
She tramped along the path through
the woods kicking the autumn leaves
beneath her feet and gaining courage
for her mission with each step.
When she reached the gate leading
up the hill to the house she opened 1t
with some of her old-time confidence
and began the ascent On one side she
saw the golden pumpkins peeping out
here and there from among the with
ering vines and fallen cornstalks; on
the other side of the road great feath-
cry asparagus fern swayed In the gen.
tie fall breeze. The farmer must have
made speciality of corn and aspara-
gus, the little schoolma'am decided
spring speciality and an autumn pro-
duct.
AS she reached the small plateau on
which stood the diminutive stone farm
house a grizzled man came out to
greet her.
Greetings" said the stranger. pleas
antfy. His voice. the girl thought. was
far more attractive than his appear
ance.
How do you do she replied, smil-
ing. Il have come to beg Of you," she
said
''Sit down and get your breath" the
bearded man said, offering her a rus
tic chair near the door.
Miss Leddon sat down and explained
her plan and then asked him for the
pum9h; ms. AS she talked to him she
observed his eyes; they were as blue
as the sky overhead and seemed the
bluer for the mass Of sandy whiskers
he permitted to grow all over his
lower face and the heavy shock of san
dy hair on his head His clothes were
Of dull tan corduroy and his skin
was tanned to almost the same shade
thus leaving the intense blue of his
eyes the only spot of color In his
entire makeup.
Suppose l say I can not let you
take them" the man remarked with
almost twinkle in his eyes. Sup
pose I tell you of a scheme that pre-
sents itself to me even as you unfold
yours to met"
Cora Leddon's face fell. "of course
If you refuse"
Il haven't refused" he fastened to
tell her Il merely suggest another
plan. May II" he asked. looking down
at her
Certainly" acquiesced Cora with
out enthusiasm.
Let me gather the pumpkins for
your party and give you and your pu-
pills the use of my little stone farm
house for the occasion. 1t would be
much more like the real old-fashioned
spooky Halloween parties l remember
as a child. Leave 1t all to me-oniy
come and bring your school. Will you
MISS Leddon?"
That really seems like asking too
much of you" she demurred.
He raised protesting hand. mot
at all I've lived hermit's life here
for two years and 1t will be a delight
to me to have you. All ask is your
promise to come
VERY we'll promise" said the lit
tie schoolma'am. rising to go.
On the walk home to the farm
where she boarded Cora Leddon's
thoughts were full of the personality
of the man in the stone house. He
seemed so unkempt, so grizzled, so
unconventional-and yet his voice and
his kind blue eyes made her think he
had not always been So
When school opened Monday morning
she told the pupils of the Halloween
party abe was giving them and asked
them to dress in sheets and pillow
cases and to meet her at the school
house on the following Friday evening
at o'clock. She told them she had
surprise in store for them. The
week passed quickly and the thought
of the approaching gayety spurred the
boys and girls on to good work and
obedience.
Halloween was a crisp, cool oven
ing and the twenty-odd pupils of the
little country school assembled
promptly at o'clock. The teacher.
similarly clad but wearing a great
witch cap on her head to distinguish
her from the children, counted her
mock and helped them to secure their
garb before the tramp through the
wood
They arrived at the farm to see
perfect fairyland of lights and Ian
terms. The trees about the old stone
mouse were hung with gay lanterns
and restocns Of gay trimmings were
everywhere. A table groaned with
good things to eat from mince and
pumpkin pie-which Miss Leddon
knew only man would have provided
Tor children-to nuts and raisins. AS
each child passed the gate he was
presented with tiny swinging lantern
and the evening was merrily spent
around the bonfires toasting marsh
mailows. singing and popping chest
nuts
Inc strange part of 1t all was the
absence Of the host and as the even
Ing wore on and Miss Leddon made
merry with the children she began to
wonder why he did not appear.
When the bonfires were burning
low and the Spirits OF the young folks
began to show evidences OF the hour.
young man In evening clothes. an