The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-20
The Result of a
Halloween arty
By RUTH GRAHAM

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 a
great disappointment to the girl, who
after a previous Halloween party had
listened to the recitals concerning the
gathering from which two different en-
gagements had resulted.
We'll" said Clara TO herself, "if l
must wait TO meet my fate at Hal
loween party 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 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 vacant house. 1t had
been prepared for II 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 Il
street lamp here and there. Just before
reaching the deserted house she heard
n footstep above and for Il moment
saw mans figure coming toward her.
The situation for a young girl was
not 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.
Aaa IN Tho hn1tGn which
was back some distance from the side
walk, and up on to a 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 door tC
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 a
being alone In the deserted house thar
she would have been at facing thu
9 man who seemed to be bent on finding
: her. He had doubtless seen her ente
y the premises, and the house and 1t
surroundings were lonely and desert
ed. There was barely enough ligh
for her to see an opening through
which she passed, and. feeling her way
her hand rested on banister. Ascend
n ing a staircase, she saw the light o
the sky through an open door ant
window and entered room. There
y trembling like an aspen. she crouche'
u In corner.
"a Meanwhile wind arose, and tn
easements of the windows, which wer
loose, ratified, and the few blinds tina
had not been shaken Off by other wind
began to slam. Besides, the sky ha
become covered with clouds, and til
poor girl could not see her hand befor
her face. She had needed her mother
4 injunctions to bring an electric lam
b. and had It In bag which she carrie
,c on her arm.
Putting out hand. she felt a pieC
OF furniture. but could not tell whit
1t was. Taking her lamp from ht
bag, she flashed 1t.
She was standing before a burea
and looking straight into the miro
In the mirror was a reflection OF
mans head and shoulders.
n A scream was suppressed at seein
he not the face of a murderer, but youn
, man In evening dress. Moreover, Il
moment the lamp was flashed he smile
In q twinkling Clara found herself N
only free from her supposed DANCE
but protected from real or imaginal
n terrors.
TX Don't be frightened" said the ma
WON Miss clara On
no can"
Eyes"
- I'm Fred Stewart. l came home
us time for my sisters Halloween part
Some one telephoned from your hou
that you had started to come up Il
hill, and | thought l would meet "
on the way. / fancied | saw W
man come In here and that 1t might
II you, so r.
.cy "Oh, l am so thankfulr' interpos
Iey Clara. For heavens sake take I
de- out Of here"
mo Whether Clara collapsed in his arr
or not neither of them ever told.
any rate, she leaned heavily upon hi
rts as they left the house, he illuminate
let the way with the electric lamp, a
WIS later they appeared at the young maj
ate home, where they found the party be
bling for apples.
The only engagement that result
from that Halloween gathering W
that of Clara Duncan and Fred Ste
ing art.
or.
it'll