The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-05-02
CLINTON, N c., THURSDAY MAY E. 1880

puSneS open the door and, mold
ing her candle high above her
head, bends anxiously forward
and intently gazes into the room.
Her eyes at first, naturally, seek
the window. through which a
sickly moon peeps and casts a
faint semblance of light. Then
a slight movement brings her
eyes suddenly a little to the left,
and lighted by the dim rays of
her candle she perceives with
horTor-a man.
She had not 5argainsd for a
burglar and she is paralized with
fear. She makes not the faint
est attempt to move, while the
young man, for he is young and
apparently the candle gives but
d fluctuating light good-look-
ing. is as motionless as she.
He vas lounging on the sofa,
but started up as she appeared,
and now, leaning forward, half
standing, with one hand grasp
ing the arm os the sofa and the
other shading his eyes from the
light flashed suddenly in his
face, he is staring with all bis
might at the fair apparation.
For fully two minutes do they
gaze at each other with distend-
ed eyes. aud no sound breaks
the intense stiffness that sur
rounds them. Then a frank
smile lights tue young mans
face and with a slightly embar-
rassed air he advances a step
aud says:
"I beg pardon. Iquite thought,
until l caught sight of your red
slippers, that you were the
ghost"
Inez breathes a relieved sigh
and the color retdrns to her
cheeks as she becomes convinc-
ed, by his gentlemanly manner,
that she is mistaken in her sus
picions Of the young mans char
acter.
"Let me explain my presence"
he resumes, as he strikes a
match and lights tue gas. 81
am afraid l have startled you
awfully. [ had heard the old
place was haunted and although
1 knew, of course, that it was all
nonsense, still there must be
some reason for these mysteri-
GUS noises, etc. So persuaded
the gardener, who has known
me ever since I was a boy, to let
me occupy the tower every night
until 1 discovered the cause.
This is my second night here;
and do not find it particularly
lively, as from eleven or a little
after [ remain in darkness so
that the spirits will not be
frightened away"
Inez laughs, as she begins to
rather enjoy the situation, and,
with a little glance at him, de-
murely asks:
"And you really thought I was
the ghost %
"Wel1," he answers, "for the
moment | certainly was a little
startled. You were all in the
regulation white, your face was
collorless, and you looked misty
and unreal enough to deceive
any one. BIT when I caught
sight of your red slippers l was
brought to my senses"
"And how did you ever get
there? And why did you not let
us know what you were doing in
our behalf ?" asks Inez.
"The gardener suggested my
using the outside staircase, which
leads from the old kitchen-gar-
den to this room, on the princi.
pie, 1 suppose, that sw here ignor.
ance is bliss, tits folly to be
wise He evidently was not
aware you had heard your house
was haunted"
ri suppose not" she returns
eve do not speak of it tat all, but
treat the subject with the Goa
tempt it deserves. However,
privately determined that
would come up here some night
and by so doing prove how ut
terly without foundation these
reports are, Er--I suppose yo,
have had no manifestations, al
it were?"
"Not a signw gloomily.
She laughs, and a short paus,
ensUes.
81 must co." she says, finally
"It is so late.">
"Oh, don't co." iInpulsively.
But Inez has come to a sens
of the hour, and, ignoring hi
plea, says with dignity:
ri bid you goodnight. / hop
you will succeed in your searcl
and will let us know the result
And she turns to leave.
"But are you going to give i
up ?" he aslls.
"Certai3ly. One person i
enough to pursue a phantom,
think"
eyes; but you must be so in
terested. I will vacate and leav,
the field clear for you."
ooh, mop with suspicion
haste. "I would not think O
spelling your fun"
Then their eyes meet and eac,
breaks invo a broad smile at tn
absurity of it. Inez turns agai