The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-15
The Euening Story
Midnight Magic.
(By Catharine Canmer.)

(By Catharine Canmer.)
Madge smiled in pleased anticipa-
ton as she found in her morning
mail an invitation to Mrs. Allisons
Halloween house party. Of course,
she accepted. Nobody refused an in
vitation tc Mrs. Allison's pre-Revolu-
tionary country house at ordinary
times, and Halloween would be no
| ordinary time. With characteristic
thoughtfulness, Mrs. Allison added to
her invitation the following para
graph: There will be only twenty
people and no formalities. So your
simplest frock and your outing
clothes will equip you fully for all
needs and reduce your baggage to
minimum"
Madge wondered how many of the
twenty people she knew OF course.
Mary Ellis and Tom Barnett would
be there, Tom being Mrs. Allison's
brother and Mary being his ffancee.
Stanley Parker, being Toms particu-
lar chum and a good friend of the
family, probably would be there, too.
On the supposition that he would
hinged most of Madge's indecisipn
about which of her several becoming
evening gowns to take, and whether
to take her serviceable corduroy out
ing suit or her smart new Scotch
plaid, with it's killed skirt and trim,
scant coat, topped off by a saucy
Highland cap. She finally decided in
favor of the latter, and for evening
wear took a simple gown of soft
cream olored silk, with her topaz
jewelry for ornament.
When the party assent 1ed the day
before Halloween there were nine
teen guests. one of whom was Mrs.
Stanley Smith, a sister of the hostess,
and rumored lately to have become
estranged from her husband. AS they
sat down to dinner Mrs Allison re-
marked that everybody had arrived
except Stanley, who would be there
in time for the party next evening if
possible. More than one besides
Madge wondered whether she re-
ferred to Stanley Smith or Stanley
Parker, but, owing to the rumored
break with Stanley Smith, nobody
ventured to ask.
After dinner on Halloween the big
ballroom on the third floor, which had
been mysteriously closed during the
day, was opened and there was re-
vea1ed all the paraphernalia for the
many kinds of Halloween games and
fortune telling. Grinning jack o. Ian
terms, tubs of water containing shin
ing red apples, rows of candles on the
manteb love potions for the cauIdron
on tripod in the corner and many
other mystic devices were there. Ser
wants disguised as witches moved
noiselessly about and served cider
from punch bowl concealed in a
huge Jack-o'-lantern. From a corner
of the room, concealed by great banks
of autumn foliage, came suddenly the
rouslng music for the Virginia reel"
which was to start off the evenings
dancing.
There was one man lacking to make /
the couples come out even, and Just
as Mrs. Smith was protesting that she !
much preferred to remain out so that
she could take a flashlight of the |
dancers there was a general exclama-
ton of surprise man in travelling
clothes appeared in the doorway and |
looked bit uncertainty toward his /
hostess Mrs. AlliSon'S surprise was so |
great that 1t was hard to tell whether
it was pleasant or therwise, but she |
quickly regained her composure and, |
with side glance at her sister, who |
was busy arranging a jack-o'- lantern, /
she moved toward the door, exclaim- |
ing in an unnecessarily loud voice, |
Why, Stanley Smith! You're better |
late than never
Mrs. Smith turned at the name, and |
even in the dim light her face looked |
ashen pale. As her husband was be- |
ing greeted on all sides she looked /
about as if seeking some means of /
escape before he reached her. Then |
he walked straight to her with a look /
of such penitent pleading in his tired I
eyes and with both hands extended, |
so expressive of his desire to take her |
again to his heart, that she almost /
fell into his arms. Those who stood /
near caught the sound of a sob in |
her voice as she said: Much better !
late than never / couldn't have I
spared you much longer"
As the couples began to take their /
places for the reel there was a happi- |
and his wife which neither of them