The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-09
The Result of a
Halloween Party
By RUTH GRAHAM

cara Duncan lived lonely lie
Her mother was an invalid, and Clara's
time was almost exclusively taken up
attending to her wants. Wien Hal
loween was approaching Clara was In
vited to gathering to be held on that
evening at the house of one of her init
mate friends, Edna Stewart, but her
mother was too weak to admit of her
accepting the invitation. This was
great disappointment to the girl. who
after previous Halloween party had
listened to the recitals concerning the
gathering from which two different en-
gagements had resulted.
WELL" said Clara to herself. IF
must wait to meet my fate at a Hal
loween party l shall die an old maid.
l 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 II her
mother wanted anything, she found
her looking comparatively well.
"Clara," said the invalid, II 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 vacant house. 1t had
been prepared for a 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 a
street lamp here and there. Just before
reaching the deserted house she heard
footstep above and for a moment
saw mans figure coming toward her.
The situation for young girl was
not a pleasant one. She could not tell
whether the conner was of high or low
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 a glimpse Of the man coming
across the street She convulslvely put
her hand on the knob of door to
open it 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 a room. There,
trembling like an aspen. she crouched
In 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
injunctions to bring an electric lamp
and had 1t in bag which she carried
on her arm.
Putting out hand. she felt a piece
Of furniture, but could not tell what
1t was Taking her lamp from her
bag, she flashed 1t.
She was standing before a bureau
and looking straight into the mirror
In the mirror was a reflection Of a
mans head and shoulders.
A scream was suppressed at seeing
not the face of murderer, but a young
man In evening dress. Moreover, the
moment the lamp was flashed he smiled.
In twinkling Clara found herself not
only free from her supposed danger.
but protected from real or imaginar,
terrors.
Don't be frightened" said the man
quickly. Aren't you Miss Clara Dun
CAM"
YES"
I'm Fred Stewart l came home III
time for my sisters Halloween party
Some one telephoned from your house
that you had started to come up the
hill, and | thought l would meet you
on the way. l fancied l saw a wo-
man come In here and that 1t might be
you, so H.
"oh. am so thankfulr' interposed
Clara. For heavens sake take me
out Of here"
Whether Clara collapsed in his arms
or not neither Of them ever told. At
any rate, she leaned heavily upon him
as they left the house, he illuminating
the sway with the electric lamp, and
later they appeared at the young mans
home, where they found the party bob
bling for apples.
The only engagement that resulted
from that Halloween gathering was
that Of Clara Duncan and Fred Stew.
art