Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-01

is it?"
The next night he went round to
the side of the house and watched pa
tiently for the coming of the ghost.
Presently he heard it tapping ever
SO lightly and making its usual moan
ing plant.
Collecting all bis powers for a
spring, he bounced round the corner,
and before the apparition had time to
escape he clasped 1t In his arms and
carried it, spite of struggles and
smothered cries, int o the hall.
When there he proceeded very
leisurely to uncover the head and face,
and disclosed the blushing counter
ance of pretty girl.
WELL" he calculated, you're a
nice young weman-you arer'
The young lady looked at him from
under her long dark lashes.
please let me goa" she pleaded.
''No, no; | haven't taken all this
trouble to catch you to let you 60 SO
soon"
"Oh, please it was foolish trick
forgive me?'
What do you mean by frightening
us out of our wits?"
"Wont you let me go?" she begged,
putting her bonDy head on one side
like bird.
Il will if you'll give me KISS" he
replied.
81 won't" she said dccisively.
''Then / shall keep you here TIL you
do" he said la calm content.
"I'lI owe you one If you'll let me
out, /" she said, coaxingl y. do please
or shall get into such a scrape.
''Ah, you little WITCH" Keith an
swered, seeing the spell of those dark
eyes. "Wel, you may go, but you
must pay me some time, with interest,
mind"
He let her go and she was off like
shot before he could see which way
she went.
He told none OF the rest about his
adventure with the ghost.
The young men had grown quite
intimate and friendly with Mr.. Leon
ard and his daughter Kate. So when
Christmas came they were all invited
to spend it at their neighbours.
Keith took in some trinket to put on
the tree for the young lady.
She was II the parlor gazing up at
something. A grayish- green bunch
of stuff hung where the evergreens
joined in an arch between the two
parlors.
cts mistletoe!" she cried with a
radiant face, ''and whoever stands
under it-oh, what a lovely bangle
bracelet! Edith, come here and see
what Mr.. Nugent has brought"
A tall young lady who stood behind
curtain at Keith's entrance was
obliged to cone forward.
my cousin, Miss Ogllvie, Mr.. NJ
gent" cried Kate.
Keith bent low before-the ghost.
The young lady flushed painfully.
do you know Sandford well?'
asked Keith, enjoying her distress.
''1-live with my uncle" she STAN
mered, "but I've been away some
weeks"
Keith attempted to talk to her, but
the very subject seemed to die away
At last he left her, but watched her
from distance.
She was of slender figure and grace
full movements burnette face,
crowned by a coronet of dark hair
She had pair of lustrous dark hazel
eyes, bewitching mouth and gleam-
ing pearly teeth. Ii he could have
read her thoughts.
All" she was thinking. chow he
despises me. | see it every look and
gesture. Oh, why did I do it such a
bold, unladylike, mad thing? What
wicked spirit tempted me to spoil my
whole life? He might have loved nae
else"
By which it may be. seen that
Keith, the blond giant, had made
an impression on the heart of the
ghost.
Not many moments after Kate
called her and she found herself
standing under the mistletoe near
Keith Nugent.
You don't forgive me, [ see, "
he said in low voice. ''You avoid
mer'
"I-cannot forget, she stammered,
''that night, you know"
We'll, why should you?"
But" she cried in distressed
tone, sit was so unladylike, so horri-
ble!''
1.-The only thing is that the ghost
should bonorably pay all debts SAID
said Keith as he took her hand you
owe me one"
And under the mistletoe he bent his
grand head and kissed her.
Edith started back.
you are rather premature, [
think p she cried with flashing eyes
Yet her heart beat fast with blissful
sensation.
But it is under the mistletoep he
cried; "and, besides, ghosts should
not be so conventional. Let me tell
you I have been haunted by that APP
partition ever since, and feel convinced
that [ love it as | shall never love
anything else in the whole world -
He did not expect an answer then,
of course; but it came in time, and
the kissunder the mistletoe was only
the beginning.