The morning call., 1892-10-17


over slowly at first. but gradually her eyes
few over the closely written pages, the
words ard thoughts were filling her with
an interest that she had seldom felt in
printed pages. She finished at last with
sigh of relief
perfec. stick" she said; 'if she had not
said such stiff. silly things, one could feel
that the story was beyond criticism"
she sat a moment IN deep thought: II
will do it." she said at last; Il believe l can
do it; at all events l shall try; but not
now"
She got UP. arranged the papers and chair
just as she had found them, and crept
down through the little door into her own
room.
The next day Miss Psschall surprised the
fashionable stationer on the corner by or
dering whole ream Of .foolscap
Richard Blount opened the door Of his
bare little study" put down the armful OF
wood he was carving and knelt down upon
the hearth to kindle FIRE. He was what
casual observer would have called an ugly
man. but he had a good. well-knit hRnre. q
fine head and strong though irregular fea-
lures.
There was a tired. troubled look In his
face as be sat down at his wrlting-table and
bent his head upon his folded hands. he
was weary in mind and body. His days
had been always days of toll, his life had
been one long struggle. with heritage OF
a good name that had come to him from his
fOrefatherS, there had come from his father
q legacy of debt which be had striyen for
yeals 10 pay.
"My task IS almost DONE" he said to him.
self. 'If | could only get MY story accepted
| feel sure there are good things IN IL, but II
l only knew what to make the girl say.
When fellows acquaintance with women
doesn't extend beyond knowledge OF his
own grandmother, he couldn't have very
clear idea Of what young girls converse
ton would be Ike. Well, I'll try once
more and see what / can do with 1t.
He picked up the MSS, which was folded
carefully and still in the place where he
had left it.
Slowly he turned over the first few pages,
lisilessly, reading them.
Suddenly he held the paper up close to
the lamp. The handwriting had changed.
There was no break in the story, but as he
read on he found whole pages which he had
not written, and gradually it dawned upon
him that these additions were giving his
story life. sparkle that it had not had
before.
"Who can have done itP' he said, when
be had finished "NO one knows OF this
den but myself-not even grandmother.
Perhaps IL IS a ghost come back from our
]
witty ghost she Is, toe" looking at
the beautiful. w0manly writing thai
was mingled with his own, "and fee
! deeply Indebted to her for her interference.
it is published, that will make my assistant
show up if she be not a ghost In very
truth" be said, by and by.
81 have brought you the magazine con
| tanning the new story that Is creating suel
a sensation" said Polly's father To her ont
/ day Nobody knows the author. but an
told he has made the greatest hit NJ the sea-
/ SON"
"Oh," said Polly, when she had cut the
leaves, 81 believe l shall pay another visit
TO my ghosts apartment" she added Ia
herself on her way to her room, the maya
zine tucked under her arm.
She scrambled up on the bookcase, opened
| the door and went into the room beyond
Her dress caught on the door rs she passed
| through and pulled ii with click. Before
| she had time to extricate herself she heard
| a kew inserted into the lock on the othel
| side, tue door opened and man walked IN
| Polly leaned back against the wall fright
| ened.
! The young man regarded her with star
/ lied expression in his big gray eyes.
"How-did you get 10 here?" he asked
length :,
Through the little door here" said Polly
| breathlessly. ut has shut to behind me.
| thought you were a ghost"
II think 1t Is you who are the ghost" sait
the young man smiling.
Wont you open the door for me?" asked
Polly.
Tie ghost came up to her.
you are Miss Pasehall," he said. -
have heard my grandmother speak Oh you
Ny name is Richard Blount."
Polly turned her beautiful eyes for mo
ment up to his good. ugly face and held GU
| her hand to him.
He blushed as he took it, and fox mo
meDt neither spoke.
81 fear / cannot open this little trap
door for you from this side" he said at last
'There is a long hall which leads over you
house to the one grandmother and occup
now. Come, / will take you out that way
come over here so that my light may no
disturb grandmother at night Ii you
apartments are near this l fear | have dis
tnrbed you," he added. as he held the doc
open for her and she passed out into tn
"Oh. no." she answered. 81 think
heard you once. and then l was so in hope
you were a ghost!"
$50 you were caught by that odd littl
spring lock-" said old Mrs. Biount, wbel
they had found her and Polly's Dresenc
was explained. II remember being fast
ened in the little square room once" SAIL
the old lady, gently. ut was when | was
young girl and here on a visit TO your Aun
| Ellen. 1cDaTu. our REdU01dtueE lHuuce(
me to climb through the little door, and theI
he fastened Ii behind me. He said he would
not let me out until i had promised TO MARI,
him. / stayed in that night and half TIL
next day before l promised him. But come
Richard; we will take Miss Paschall through
the side door of the library and she will b
at home In moment" said the old lady.
''There was time when / was in hope
you were a ghost, too" Richard said Z
Polly as he held the door open for her I
pass through.
"Wby? ?" asked the girl.
$50 that might hope for further assist
ance In writing my stories." he answers
with smile.
Not many months passed. however. be
fore he was telling her that be could no
write without her-that he could not liv
without her, in point of fact.
"Well, l suppose l must make the sacrl
fee and marry you, Richard DEAR Tn
young lady answered demurely, IF 70
nothing else in the world but to preserv
you from manufacturing such heroines a
your first one was before redeemed her.
Richard smiled.
You are not very complimentary, Mis-
Paschall," he said. but l am glad to &c
you upon any terms"
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THE G0I IIMpHC CnI;NTlIM