The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-12-23
The Result of a
Halloween Party
By RUTH GRAHAM

|
vited TO gathering TO be held on tina
evening at the house of one of her init
mate friends, Edna Stewart, but he
mother was too weak to admit of he
accepting the invitation. This was ;
great disappointment To the girl, VIII,
after previous Halloween party haC
listened to the recitals concerning tn,
gathering from which two different ell
gagements had resulted
Well said Clara to herself, IF
must wait TO meet my fate at a Hal
loween party | shall die an old maid
1 suppose"
The party convened at the Stewart
home ION the hill" as the principal
residence portion of the town was
called, in the afternoon. The guests
were to remain for dinner, after which
they were TO tell ghost stories by the
freight and occupy themselves with
other appropriate Halloween special
ties. The day was a typical October
one. and when night fell Clara thought
of the party of young persons sitting
around the fireplace listening to the
| ghost stories. Going TO see if her
mother wanted anything, she found
her looking comparatively well.
Clara said the invalid, Il am feel
ing so well this evening that | can
spare you. Go up to the Stewards and
join in the festivities. Get what pleas
ure there is left of the gathering and
don't hurry home. You'd better take
the electric light"
Midway between her home and the
Stewards stood a vacant house. 1t had
been prepared for bride and groom.
but just before they were to have been
married some trouble arose between
them and separated them.
Clara was obliged to pass this house
while going TO the Stewards The way
was lonely and dimly lighted by
street lamp here and there Just before
reaching The deserted house she heard
footstep above and for q moment
saw mans figure coming toward her.
The situation for a young girl was
not pleasant one. She could not tell
degree.
1t occurred to her to go into the
yard Of the deserted house and re-
main in darkness till he had passed
Standing beside a box tree that had
been planted thirty years before, she
waited. The man came on and stopped
before the place where she was hiding. |
Clara, terrified, ran to the house, which |
was back some distance from the side |
walk, and up on to rear porch. Peep |
Ing from her new hiding place, she |
caught glimpse of the man coming |
across the street She convulsively put |
her hand on the knob of a door to |
open 1t and was surprised at being able
TO do so. The wood had rotted away !
from the iron receptacle into which the
bolt was shot.
The poor girl was less frightened at
being alone in the deserted house than
she would have been at facing the
man who seemed TO be bent on finding
her. He had doubtless seen her enter
the premises, and the house and its
surroundings were lonely and desert
ed. There was barely enough light
for her TO see an opening through
which she passed. and, feeling her way,
her hand rested on banister. Ascend
Ing staircase. she saw the light of
the sky through an open door and
window and entered room. There,
trembling like an aspen. she crouched
In q corner.
Meanwhile a wind arose, and the
easements of the windows, which were
loose, ratified, and the few blinds that
had not been shaken off by other winds
began to slam. Besides, the sky had
become covered with clouds. and the
poor girl could not see her hand before
her face. She had needed her mothers
lnJunctions to bring an electric lamp
Ind had 1t I'm bag which she carried
IN her arm.
Putting out a hand, she felt a piece
If furniture. but could not tell what
t was. Taking her lamp from her
bag, she flashed it.
She was standing before q bureau
ind looking straight into the mirror.
N the mirror was q reflection of q
mans head and shoulders.
A scream was suppressed at seeing
lot the face of a murderer, but young
nan In evening dress. Moreover, the
moment the lamp was flashed he smiled.
n twinkling Clara found herself not p
My free from her supposed danger, e
ut protected from real or imaginary
errors.
Don't be frightened" said the man
uickly. Aren't you Miss Clara Dun
anT" a
Eyes" |
I'm Fred Stewart. l came home In S
line for my sisters Halloween party.
ONE one telephoned from your house
hat you had started to come up the
III, and thought l would meet you #
n the way. l fancied l saw a wo-
ian come In here and that 1t might be
on. so r.
"Oh, l am so thankfulr' interposed -
lara. For heavens sake take me
ut Of here"
Whether Clara collapsed in his arms
+ not neither Of them ever told. At
ny rate. she leaned heavily upon him =,
, they left the house, he Illuminating
lie way with the electric lamp. and
ter they appeared at the young mans
ome, where they found the party bob
ng for apples.