Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-07-10
JTNCLEPAUL'SG GHOST STORY

LET tell GnOSC StOrleS, tnen, Salu
Gladys.
"Aren't you tired of them? One
hears nothing else nowadays. And
they're all authentic really vouched
for, only you never see the person
who saw or heard or felt the ghost.
1t is alweys somebody's sister or
cousin or friends friend" objected
young Mrs. Snowdon, another OF the
guests at the Quarries.
Il don't know that that is quite
reasonable ground for discrediting
them en- masse," said her husband.
at is natural enough, indeed newt
able. that the principal or principals
in such cases should be much more
rarely come across than the stories
themselves. a hundred people can re-
peat the story, but the author, or
rather hero, OF it can't be in a hun
~dred places at once. You don't dis.
believe in any other statement or
narrative merely because you have
never seen the prime mover in it?'
But didn't say l discredited them
'on that account" said Mrs. Snowdon.
"'You take up so, Archie. Pm not
logical and reasonable don't pre-
tend to be. II l meant anything, it
was that ghost story would have a
great pull over other ghost stories if
one could see the person it happened
to. One does get rather provoked at
never coming across him or her." she
added, a little petulantly.
She was tired; they were all rather
tired, for it was the first evening since
the party had assembled at the large
country house known as the 1.-THE
Quarries. ON which there was not to
be dancing, with the additional ia
tigue OF "ten miles there and ten back
again. and three or four evenings OF
such doings without intermission tell.
even on the young and vigorous.
Tonight various less energetic ways
of passing the evening had been pro.
posed. Music, games, reading aloud,
recitation-none had found favor in
.everybody's sight, and now Gladys
Lloyds proposal that they should
''tell ghost stories" seemed likely to
fall flat also.
For a moment or two no one an.
sswered Mrs. Snowdon's last remarks
Then, somewhat to everybody's sur
prise, the young daughter OF the
house turned to her mother.
Mamma" she said, ''don't
be vexed with mel know
careful how l spoke OF it; bu
wouldn't it be nice if Uncle Paul wout
v.lI us OF his ghost story? And then
Mrs. Snowdon." she went on, "yot
could always say you had heard on
ghost story at or from-which should
Isay?-headquarters."
Lady Denhoime glanced round hal
nervously before she replied.
Locally speaking, it would not b
at headquarters, Nina" she said
1.-The Quarries was not the scene o
your uncles ghost story. But l al
most think it is better. not to speal
about i'll am not sure that h
would like it mentioned, and he viii
be coming in moment. He had onl.
a note to write"
81 do wish he would tell it to us,
said Nina regretfuliy. Don't yo,
think, mamma, l might just run t.
the study and ask him, and if he di
not like the idea he might say so
me, and no one would seem to kno,
anything about it? Uncle Paul is S
kind, I'm never afraid OF asking hir
amy favor"
''Thank you. Nina, for your goo
opinion OF me; you see there Is no ru
without exceptions; listeners do SOM
times hear pleasant things of then
selves" said Mr.. Marischal, as he a
that moment came round the scree
which half concealed the doorwa,
"'What is the special favor you wei
thinking of asking me?"
Nina looked rather taken aback.
How softly you opened the doc
Uncle Paul." she said. II would nc
have spoken OF you ii l had know
you were there"
"But, after all, you were saying n
HARM" observed her brother Michae
''And for my part don't believe u
.ele Paul would mind our asking hi
what We were speaking or"
"What was it?" asked Mr.. Mari
'chal. II think, as l have heard {
much. you may as we'll tell me IL
WHOLE"
ut was only" began Nina, b,
her mother interrupted her.
i have told Nina not to speak
A. Paul." she said anxiously; "but
1t was only that all these Young be
pie are talking about ghost sforie
and they want you to tell them yo
own strange experience. You mu
not be vexed with them.'
"Vexed?' said Mr.. Marischal; "n
in the least" But for q moment
TWO ne SAID no more, and even prett
spoiled Mrs. Snowdon looked a lit
uneasy.
"You shouldn't have persisted. !
.na." she whispered.
Mr.. Marischal must have had nm,