The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-03
mas sickly pallor mingled with it, dis

ia 3 Slckly pallOr mingled WITH III, u.s.
solved into it. yielded itself up to ami
hilation, and it was day. For a brief
half-hour Mr.. Whiting yielded to tired
Natures demands and dOzed. When
he awoke the first soft rays of the ris-
ing sun We're streaming in. The nlys-
FERROUS profile at the window was
gone.
Miss Florimel laughed cheerfully
when he related his experience. and
declared lit was the nuts and ale. and
things They had disturbed her own
digestion. she admitted. but had not
carried her the length Of seeing ghosts.
Mr.. Whiting was not convinced. 1t
was the agents business to protect his
tenants against annoyance of this le-
cies. He decided. against Florimel's
discreet counsel, to complain to the
agent. to protest, and otherwise vent
his Indignation.
The agent heard his story in silence.
Last week." he said. briefly. "the own
cr of the manor. the rector. returned
from abroad. He is on his way to
visit friends in Boston. and has stopped
with us Il few days in order that his
daughter. who is not very strong. may
get completely rested before continu-
ing the journey. | had best let him
hear your c~omplaint-he will explain.
All. there is Miss Benton now. Miss
Frances. will you tell your papa there
is Il gentleman here to speak to him,
please!'
y young woman had come languidly
out upon the porch from an adjoining
apartment. She had carelessly taken
up her station in front Of the latter.
standing with profile turned toward
them, her hands clasped in front of
her. and her eyes fixed upon the dis
tant hills.
Still as Il statue the girl stood until
the agents voice aroused her from her
apparent lethargy. The likeness was
complete! Whiting was so startled
that he felt himself growing pale.
For this, with II ghostly difference, was
the very picture that kept him awake
all night.
He was in no mind to be trified with
now, and. by Jovc, if this pale-faced
maid with the white hair and insipid
face thought to play upon his super
stitlon by proving about her old home
maSQuerading as Il ghost to brighten
the tenants off she would pay for her
%prank-he would tell her father! he
would-he would sue the agcnt-he
would move! He would-would-
"please will you step into the other
room? Papa is not feeling well this
morning. and is lying down." said a
timid voice at his elbow.
The agent had vanished. Whiting
was alone, looking silly enough. doubt
less with the flush and frOwn of anger
adding their unbecoming emphasis to
the deep sunburn he had lately ac-
quired. owing to Florimel's within Of
making him TRAMP - miles in the
air every morning after breakfast.
"Ah,' he murmured, sarcastically, on
the impulse of the moment, this is the
young lady, l presume, who had such
a vast amount of fun at my expense
by haunting my window ut Hallow-
cen. I trust you didn't get cold. and
that you enjoyed it more than l did"
~ she faltered. making Il little ges-
ture with her hand-a gesture of scOrn
and hurt dignity. Il haunt your Win
dow. man! L.
The scorn expressed in that soft, con
temptuorS tone of slow disdain would
have il less sensitive MAJ to the
quick. especially her way of saying
mani
Ere he had time to rally from the
attack Il deep voice called from the
other room:
~"E'rances, my love-"
Coming. papa
Miss Benton deigned to turn her
flashing eyeS-heaven knows there
was no lack now of expression in the
angry face she turned upon HMM
his direction as she imperiously waved
him into her fathers presence.
Papa she began at once, this man
your manO t~enant-cOmeS here with
II strange complaint. He SayS-he
darcS to say-that | maSqueraded be-
fore his window last night as a ghost
or something
MY daughter. my daughter, do not
be haSty. You forget the And the
white-haired old rector drew his
daughter to his side and murmured
something.
TO Writings amaZement the *
preston of naughty anger and insult
ed pride Instantly faded from the girls
face. giving place to one of pcnsive
sadness. as when II recalls some
tender memory inseparable from sor-
rOW.
sir said the old rector, cOurte-
ously. you sleep in the little ground
floor bedroom in the back wing. do You
nn+. Dut L I1hau. xu11 10 olro r1A1 I,nL