The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-03
Eoening Story
A Halloween Hunch.
BY RUBY. DOUGLAS.

into the narrow, soft road that led to
the left. The brown of her riding
habit, the bay coat of her mount, the
gold-brown of her hair all blended
in with the autumnal tints of the trees
and brush thru which the gailoping
road ran
"Helen-rve always had a hunch
that I'd meet my fate on this bridle-
path" Constance remarked when the
two horses had settled down together
into a comfortable gait.
Helen looked at her companion.
'That's a CHEEKY thought for such a
wonderful morning, dear. I'd certain7'
ly enlarge on it,!
S"Oh-I don't mean anything tragic"
Constance fastened to explain. Then
the color surged into her cheeks for
a moment. Il mean, 1 will meet
the man who I shall eventually marry
here"
''Whe said so-the ouija board ?'
Constance shook her head and her
bobbed brown curls danced beneath
her sailor hat. 'No-just a bunch"
Helen suddenly laughed. "Oh-it's
the Halloween atmosphere that has
taken hold of you. I thought you
were beyond that, Con-"
Constance smiled, too. perhaps 1t
was the spirit of the old-time fairies
that made me think of it today. But
Il have always thought l Should
marry a man who was fond of horses
and il he is, where is there better
place to meet him than ON TINS famous
galloping road?'
''Fhere isn't-but it never works
that way in every day life"
Nothing further was said on the SUBJ
ject but Constance, born in October,
always felt that the month held espe-
cial happiness for her. The THRU OF
autumn was in her veins, her horse
was Just fresh enough to need careful
handling, there was a party at the
club that night and-it was Hallow-
cen. Everything pointed to romance
for Constance.
''rll dare you to ride to the party
tonight. Helen" she said, suddenly.
There's a MOON"
What of our c1othes?"
"Oh--it's a spook party and we can
get SOME of the other girls to take our
black dominoes and We can put them
on after we get there. A ride thru
this path in the moonlight would be
great-an1 it would be different"
s'Pll say 1t would laughed Helen.
"But-I'm game. Let's get Mr.. North
to ride with us-and perhaps Mrs.
North"
II don't care-the more the merrier.
Are YOU on then?"
Helen loved to ride and rode well
and the idea of going on horseback to
the Piping Ride club to Halloween
party fitted entirely into her idea of a
good time.
The girls cut their morning ride a
little short in view of the prospective
jaunt in the evening.
And when the moon was just show
ing her slender silver self in the
heavens, they were again on their
horses and had been joined by three
other equestrians who were going to
the club to the same party.
~. isn't it wonderful" Constance
cried as she galloped thru the BRIDE
path.
ut is" agreed Bert North, who was
nearest to her. But look out for the
fairies tonight, Con. This is going to
be some party"
When they arrived, the music was
being waited out across the club
house grounds, the porches were
lighted with dim yellow lanterns,
witches with great brooms were
tanning the air, ghost-like figures
were lodging from behind trees and,
altogether, it was the typical old
fashioned Halloween party.
us it just !, Helen-or do you feel
queer and spooky? "-whispered Con-
stance, as the two girls slipped into
their Disgusting costumes in the dress
ing room.
Everybody feels that way at party
like this" Helen answ cred.
But Constance had a real premo-
milton of impending fate. She knew
there was nothing in those silly, child
like games of seeing your lovers face
in the mirror. but she felt that some
where, somehow tonight, she would
meet some one who would mean much
to her future. ~
The orchestra was doing its best to
add to the gayety of the occasion, and
the musicians were playing everything
1t knew that had weird fantastic
chords, plaintive themes, minor motifs.
constance was dancing with some one
she could not recognize.
No one spoke. SpOok danced with
spoek, black and white together. Con-
stance had a Partner who was a per-
rect dancer. She tried to discover who
ne was by his step. his size At last
the music stopped and he took her out
on the porch. There, he raised his
black hood trifle, for air. and Con-
stance knew that she had never seen
him before.
fhen she was not afraid to sneak
since he did not know her. there was
no danger of recognizing her voice.
: GU are stranger" she ventured.
The man laughed. "I was" he said.
Il do not feel like one since that
dance. Two cannot dance that won
derful waltz together and be absolute
strangers. l did not know it could be
waltzed to-
Liszts Dream of Love- was it
not?" asked Constance
The man nodded. 81 am a guest of
Mr.. and Mrs. North and they pointed
you out to me-they knew you, it
seems, even in your disguise. and said
I should enjoy this dance with you.
May consider that our introduction p"
IF you think we need one" Con-
stance replied. ITO me your presence
at this party is enough"
The music was beginning again. "I'd
rather ride than dance tonight" Com
stance said as she reluctantly left the
porch.
"Ride?' exclaimed the man. do
you rider
Constance looked at hing thru the
Sits in her hood. Foolish question.
was almost born on a horse
$50 was l. Let's" he stopped
suddenly as If he had foreoften him