Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-30
ItEI'I.ECTiONS.
q IInllnwccn Sinrrl

iA liblIpWttn -lbI..l
.Mothcr." said i5-year Old Patsy
Fridge. "IIeicn Wcstin2ha;n told I'VE
,dRy that II you'd take two candies
nd 70 at midnight ana stand before
mirror Ton liailowccn) YOU wiz!
GO witches ana ehosts and maybe
our future husband In IT, I'm gon3
Q try !. tonight. There's been
aough mystery about ghosts and
itches on Halloween for me
Mother and daughter were seated
n easy chairs In the llvlnE-roum
hen Patsy made the startling AN
ounccmen,.
why. Patsy ElriLgc." her mother
aid. gazing at hor out of her glasses.
what has come over you? or course.
want you to be brave and not fear
nythinG. but, Patsy. what you say
I exceeding, the limit Of bravery or
nythinG elsc. You're jug, little
lri and silly like the rest"
But I'm In earnest now" said
ISatsy. and I'm not scared, either"
Sha added. Btoutly why. mother. IL
fill he tho greatest fun. and to think
lott to my friends. Why, mother.
til be q perfect advcnturc!'
There. now. you've been reading
4eprimnndcd her, l1nd Bhc wns right.
or about "A month before. Patsy had
cad the opera. "Faust'D, with all the
everity sho could muster. but then
,Hdcd. giving In to Patsy weakly, aB
no always did: Try it. Patsy. for
u the good II viii do YOU u do IL.
nd III bet that b. morning you'll
.e scared so sun that you won't be
bic to so to school. Sow just see II
on don'tr
THANK you for conrcutinE. moth
r." patBy said. you'll never regret
hat you let me try il
After the days excitement Gas Ia
isual on liallowccn). Patsy was more
han glad TO retire Tor the night.
Don't forget TO set tho alarm for
1nldnight. please" she said. as her
IM5ther kissed her good night
For few minutes Patsy lay IN
,cd. idly watching the ghostly sha-
lows on the wall. but finally she fcll
INTO n deep sleep.
She jumped Al tho peal Of tho
.!arm clock fell ON her unwilling ear.
md got brnvely on; o. bed Taking
wo candles from the table near her
led, she proceeded To light them.
hough an intent observer would have
cen her hands shake 80 she could
hardly light the candle.
But, shaking the scared feeling or,
no brayciy walked out Of her room,
Dough her heart was heating Ike
|sAhammcr. down the long corridor
nd Into the dark. spare room.
She STROBE up TO the mirror ana
!, eld the two candles In front of her.
| IA her chum, Helen Nestingham had
old her to do.
It made ghostly picture The
I;lim, white hgure In nlghtdTess.
Holding The candies before her, ana
hc face as white as chalk. LOOKING
nto the mirror, she thought ..
|Faust" that she had read. ANA IN
lie mirror she saw Mcphistophclee,a
,tdeous, grinding devil OF tho story,
|rtessed in red. staring at her from
but of the mirror. It was the deri.
n Faust" tho Mephisiiphclc..
Her hands shook. but she stu held
he candles bravely. Soon, beside The
|ievr. appeared "A witch. stirring
'ramed the words. behold. your ru-
.ure husband!"
Ghosts and other witches appeared,
pointing finger at her, and then,
|,uddenly Patsy uttered q shrek ana
|.ell TO the floor. unconscious
The last she knew was that some
.ae, had picked her UP in their arms,
|lrds she WAS lntd between cooi
sheets. Then che went of INTO
blissful unconsciousness when
|lnally the veil OF delrium had lifted,
Patsy awokc. She sat up, anu Gee
ing only her mother by tho bed.
;he broke down. sobbing.
When she lifted her face again,
h was n much sadder and wiser
|'atsy Elridge, who looked squareiS
tt her mother.
She weakly told her mother of the
|iileous nightmare OF the las; night
and then added: And it can oe
ruthfully said, no more Fausts' Tor
inc. No more midnight exploits. I'm
hunbled, mother, but lots wiser IMAM
h was Halloween, before saw those
|nideous reflections. Ohl | see them
|loW!'
she was laughing and crying ut
lance, as her mother said: Patsy,
ali that you saw is not real. your
hsad was full Of tho stun you han
|taSd in tho book. You just I'M
h sined It, little girl!'
tOriginnl)
(The IIend)