Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-19
The Ghost Of VaIeythOrpe,

"Well, I think it's a pretty good
gale," said Mr.. Moneypenny, rubbing
his hands. every good, considering
the dull state of the real estate market
and the bad condition that Valley
thorpe has fallen into"
"Have you sold it?" said Diana Dart,
suddenly dropping her needle and
turning pale.
Eyes, I've sold it," said Mr.. Money
penny, ''for $4,000"
But it was mine," said Diana. "Old
Mr.. Thorpe gave it to my mother in
reward for the care she took of him in
his last days"
Eyes, | know know said Mr..
Moneypenny, soothingly, as if he were
speaking to a fractions child. sBut,
you see, you can't prove it. There
amt no papers later than the old will
of 1880, and that leaves everything to
Rufus Miner. And it amt either yours
nor his'n, now. It's Charley Fon-
taine's."
II hate Charley Fontaine," said Di-
ana, with an oblique flash out of her
superb Andalusan eyes. "Heis always
crossing my path"
'Oh, come, now, don't be unreason-
able" said Mr.. Moneypenny. ''Fon-
taine's a good fellow as ever was. It
amt no ways to his discredit that he
knows a bargain when he sees it."
Diana Dart made no reply. She went
on sewing with dark frown outlining
her level black brows.
Mr.. Moneypenny furtively observed
her as he ate his dinner.
stI ~ thnTOhf hn
''that Mrs. Moneypenny hired that girl
to sew for her by the month. She's
right smart with the needle, to be
sure; but she's got that gypsy way with
her that nobody ever knows what she'll
do or say next. Anyhow, I'll be glad
when her times up"
"Dianam
The sun had just disappeared behind
the purpls spurs of the Berkshire hills.
Diana, at last released from the drudg-
cry of the needle, was standing under
the fragrant silver-gre blossoms of
the grape-vines, watching the slender
curve of the new moon above her head.
She started at the sound of Charley
Fontaines voice.
''What is it?"
Il want to speak to you, Diana"
you can't have anything to say to
me-"
''But l have. A great deal. I've
bought the old place, Diana"
''You have bought it-yes. But who
had any right to sell it to you? Its
mine. Mine by Inheritance from my
mother
at shall be yours, Diana, if you will
marry mel" he pleaded.
81 won't marry any man who is an
impostor."
Charley Fontaine WINGED little at
this extremely plain speech.
eff | had not become the purchaser,
DIANA" said he, someone else would.
And it was for you, dear"
Diana imprisoned her red lips firmly
between her white teeth.
Il decline altogether to receive it."
said she. "What! receive my own at
the hands of any man alive? I've too
much pride for that. 1t is mine! 1t
was my mothers before me-"
You cannot prove it." he urged:
Truth ought to need no proofs"
There is no use in talking" said
Fontaine, little impatiently. ''What
j want to know is, will you marry
meP"
NO" Diana promptly answered.
''Not as portionless beggar."
''Dianar'
i mean it." said she; and so they
parted-certainly not enemies, but not
quite friends.
Charley Fontaine took possession of
the old Vallevthorpe mansion with a
deal less pride and happiness than he
Il 4
young wife upon whose presence he
had counted, old Aunt Valencia came
to keep house for him-a fantastic,
wincing little parsonage, with a IL
year-old head upon 70-year-old pair
of shoulders, a combination which is
by no means so rare in this world as
one would think. She was at once
rheumatic and romantic, sensible and
snperstitious.
'.Such a dear old place, Chartr said
she, as she followed her nephew
through the halls and corridors, her
skirts held daintily up, her eye-glassed
orbs glancing here and there like those
of an elderly sparrow. s'Only little
stuffy though, isn't it? BY the way,
what's this story that that very re-
spectacle woman the housekeeper
tells me about a counter-clalm set up
by one Miss Dart to this property"
Charley listlessly explained the
complication.
What nonsense" chirped Aunt Va
lencia.
''She believes firmly in it, said her
nephew.
s'But she can't prove it"
mo. She has only her mothers
word for it, and Mrs. Dart wasn't al
together right in her head at the time
of her death. 1t is more than likely
that the whole thing was delusion on
her part"
''What nonsenser' again repeated
Aunt Valencia. .'Chart. dear, did you
ever hear that this house was-haunt-
ed?"
mo, aunt"
''It's the very place for ghost"
twittered the sparrow-like old lady.
''This delightful corridor here, with
the suspicious stains on the staircase
that lovely vestibule with the colored
glass sky-lighti And, oh, Chart, look
out of this window. Do you see those
white mists floating up from the lab
urnum walk down therep Exactly
like gliding, formless ghosts. Cook
tells me they come up every night,
like speeters, from that very spot,
when the sun, goes down. Do you
think, Chart, that murder could pos
sibly have been committed there?"
81 think" Charley Fontaine absent