Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-04-29
A Halloween
Hunch
BY RUBY DOUGLAS

"Shall we take the galloplng roadf"
Constance turned her horses head
into the narrow, soft road that led to
the left. The brown of her riding hab-
1t, the bay coat of her mount, the gold
brown of her hair all blended in with
the autumnal tints of the trees and
brush through which the galloping
road ran.
"Helen-Pve always had a bunch
that I'd meet my fate on this Bride
path" Constance remarked when the
two horses had settled down together
into a comfortable gait.
Helen looked at her companion.
"That's a cheerful thought for such
wonderful morning, dear. I'd certain
ly enlarge on It'll"
"Oh-I don't mean anything tragic"
Constance fastened to explain. Then
the color surged into her cheeks for
moment. "I-I mean, l will meet
ry-here."
"Who said so-the ouija board?"
Constance shook her head and her
bobbed brown curls danced beneath
her sailor hat. "No-just hunch."
Helen suddenly laughed. "Oh-lt's
the Halloween atmosphere that has
taken hold of you. thought you were
beyond that, Con-"
Constance smiled, too. Perhaps 1t
was the spirit of the old-time fairies
that made me think of 1t today. But
Il have always thought should mar
ry man who was fond Of horses and,
If he is, where Is there a better place
to meet him than on this famous gal
Looping roadT
"There isn't-but 1t never works
that way in every day life"
Nothing further was said on the sub
Ject but Constance, born in October,
always felt that the month held espe-
cial happiness for her. The thrill Of
autumn was in her veins, her horse
was just fresh enough to need care
full handling, there was party at the
club that night and-it was Hal
loween. Everything pointed to a ro-
nance for Constance.
"Ill dare you to ride to the party
tonight, Helen" she said suddenly.
There's a MOON"
what of our clothes?"
"Oh-lts 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
through this path In the moonlight
would be great--and 1t would be DIFF
ferent."
an say 1t would" laughed Helen.
"But-Tm game. Let's get Mr.. North
to ride with us-and perhaps Mrs.
North"
81 don't care-the more the merrIer.
Are you on, them"
Helen loved to ride and rode well
and the idea Of going on horseback
to the Piping Ridge Club to a Hal
loween party fitted entirely into her
idea of a good time.
The girls cut their morning ride
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 heav-
ems, they were again on their horses
and had been Joined by three other
equestrlans who were going to the club
to the same party.
isn't 1t wonderfulT Constance
cried as she gaIloped through the bri-
die 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 clubhouse
grounds, the porches were lighted with
dim yellow lanterns, witches with
great brooms were flaming the air,
ghost-llke figures were lodging from
behind trees and, altogether, 1t was
the typical old-fashloned Halloween
party.
rs 1t just l, Helen-or do you feel
queer and spooky2' whispered Con-
stance, as the two girls slipped into
their Disgusting costumes In the dress
ing room.
Everybody feels that way at n par
ty like this" Helen answered.
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 someone 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
they knew that had weird, fantastic
chords, plaintlve themes, minor motifs
Constance was dancing with some one
she could not recognize.
No one spoke. Spook danced with
spook, black and white together. Con-
stance had n partner who was a per-
feet dancer. She tried to dlscov-
er who he 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 a trihe, for air,
and Constance knew that she had new
err seen him before.
Then she was not afraid to speak.
Since he did not know her, there was
no danger Of recognizing her voice.
you are a stranger" she ventured.
The man laughed. II was" he said.
81 do not feel like one since that
dance. Two cannot dance that won
derful waltz together and be absolute
strangers. I did not know 1t could be
waltzed to-"
"LIszts Dream OF Love-, was 10
mot ~ agked Constance