The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-06
WHOLE NO. 237I.

stairs till just as reached the top q
tall man, clad in gray suit, stepped
out from the room confronting me. A
smothered shrek from Anne was, for a
moment, the only sound that broke
the stiffness.
The light from my candle shone full
upon the intruder's face, and I saw
that he was young, good-looking and
unmistakably n gentleman. Anne,
too, must have seen as much for /
heard her scuttling down the stairs be-
hind me much faster than she came
up, evidently mindful OF her costume.
Curiously enough did not think of
my own appearance, but stood stock
still, staring at the man, who stared
back u. me for fully two minutes, then
lifted his hat and said couTteously:
~ beg your pardon, but have / the
honor of addressing Miss Blake?p
L bowed dumbly, wondering what
on earth he would say next.
"Then," he went on pleasantly,
81 owe you an apology for my most
unceremonious intrusion, but / have
been absent from the little village for
several days. i reached home only a
few hours ago, and had not heard of
your arrival You must have changed
your plans suddenly for was not ex-
pecting you until next week." this
with an inquiring glance.
He expecting US, Was the man
crazy?
'Yes," / stammered, ''the physician,
DIR. Cross, thought il would be best 20
get Bessi my sister-she has been sick
away from the city as soon as posi-
bic, so we came on to-day"
''And the people told u.s." l went on
ineOherently, ''that the house was
haunted, and we thought you were a
ghost, and"
He laughed at this, and drawing
himself up little, "a very subtantial
ghost" he said lightly, adding more
earnestly:
''l really am so sorry for causing you
annoyance. You see, have been Us
ing tais old house as kind OF a labor
atory, making ali sorts of chemical ex-
perimemts here during the uncanny
night hours, so it is no wonder the place
has acquired an evil reputation. / ran
over tonight to put things together bit,
10 prepare for their removal before you
came, but you took me unawares,
and"
But who are your" / interrupted,
unable to restrain my curiousity any
longer
why, haven't I told you? / am
DIR. Deering, at your service"
"Dr- Deering? Why We thought
DIR. Cross said-sureIy DIR. Cross spoke
of you as an old friend" and in my
confusion the candle slipped and went
cut, but not before | had caught the
twinkle in his handsome eyes.
IL am his old friend, inasmuch as he
has known me all my life" he said,
STOPPING to recover the candle, adding
gently, "Dr. Cross has cOnfided you
and your sisters to my care, and hope |
you are not the less inclined to trust
me because happen to be not so old !
in years or wisdom as the good old |
doctor himself"
do not know what reply / made; |
foolish it must have been,
for | suddenly became blushingly con
scious that | was attired in an old blue |
dressing gown, and this man, this !
stranger, WAS regarding me with rath-
Ell quizzieal eyes.
With muttered 'Good nightr / !
fed precipitately, leaving him to find !
his own way out, while recounted 10 |
the girls as much of my ghOstly adj !
venture as / thought it needful for |
them to know.
This was the beginning of our stay
in the old Hardy House. When / left /
it was not to return to the city, for 1
DIR. Deering had persuaded me to re-
main in Admission.
MARGARET FOLEY BLAsHFORD.