New Britain herald., 1926-09-10
A STRANGE HAPPENING

A STRANGE HAPPENING
 I have told how wrapped up in the church my mother always had been, long before Mir. Hall came to New Brunswick. and how it all be- gan with mere friendliness which gradually-oh. hot for a long time was it anything but friendship-be- came something more.
 Mother was always an admirer of Mrs. Hall because, as I have also said, Mrs. Hall was very much of a lady, very refined, very reserved and very much respected even though not so very much loved.
 For a good many years my moth CT used to make presents to Mrs. Hall, of fine needlework. Mother was an expert in embroidery, Mexi- can drawn work, eyelet work, all sorts of beautiful and difficult pat terms. My aunts and my dad often would say:
 "Why do you give all those things for Mrs Hall? She has so much. You work your fingers to the bone, and never keep any of 1t for your self.
 And mother would laugh and promise to keep some of it in the family" But always when she made a new piece, off 1t would go to Mrs Hall for a Christmas present, or Easter or birthday, and mother seemed to enjoy it more that way than by keeping 1t. Mrs. Hall seem ed to enjoy it more that way than by keeping 1t. Mrs. Hall seemed pleased, too, and always said nice things.
 She knew mother was crazy about flowers and used to invite her to her gardens, for she had every kind of flower and shrub there, and sometimes gave garden fetes and had lots of guests. A strange thing happened about year before mother died-
 Mrs. Hall invited her to a small garden party. I remember how tried to make mother dress up, for once, and put powder on and a touch of lipstick and rouge. She said she'd let me play around" with my makeup and put it on her. I had tiny box of rouge and lip- stick. And once in wild burst of adventure mother had bought a box of face powder: up to that time she had always used talcum, which every woman knows Is worse than nothing on your face. It doesn't take the shine off. and it always shows and looks silly. But mother wouldn't have anything else-until she got reckless and bought the box of face powder for us both. She made that box last three years, till 1t was a family joke.
 Well, anyhow, she let me fix her up for the garden party. but when she gave one look at herself in the glass, she wiped off every bit of stuff I had put on. and went just plain, like I am." That's how she put 1t. She had a new cotton voile dress, though, that she had made herself, and she started off as gay as anything.
 After a while she came home In one of the Hall cars. with MT. Hall-and she looked like a ghost MT. Hall almost lifted her out of the machine, and she walked sort of tot tery and lightheaded.
 She had no more than got inside the. house than she was taken vio- lently sick and we were nearly scared to death. Between spasms she told me not to worry. that she'd be all right In little while, but she looked queer and I didn't know what to make of 1t all. MT. Hall stayed downstairs a few minutes with father and then went home, with a queer expression. I thought, on his face. I felt like rushing and putting my arms around him and asking him what 1t was all about, for he was always strong and kind, and you felt he could help you, no matter what was happening. Moth- CT stayed sick like that for three days.
 It seems that when mother had been shown around through the flower beds, she was invited up on the porch and asked if she would like something to drink-iced tea or coffee I think it was-and Mother caiI Shh ty,rvo t,un three sips, turned dead white, and dropped in faint.
 They had a hard time bringing her to, and when she got her senses again she had a feeling of death- that's what she told me after.
 There was an odd look about Mother for days-quiet. and fright ened sort of. and dazed. We didn't know, what 10 make of 1t all. Mir. Hall called up very often, and came around two or three times the next day and the next, and Mrs. Hall telephoned, I think.
 Even my Dad had nothing to say for once. I thought he would say 'I told you 50" or something like that. But I think he was too pug zled and upset to say anything,
 We all tried to put 1t out of our minds as soon as possible. Mother got all right at last and never spoke about it again after she explained to me what had happened and how she felt.
 This whole episode was testified 10 by my aunt and is in the court records. I only mention 1t here for what it is worth, Whatever I might think would be brushed aside in court as mere prejudice and sus- picion.