Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-02-04

was wrapped in darkness and ST.
lence.
l had been asleep, l don't know
how long, when suddenly I felt a
rush OF cold air and heard a sound
like low, sobbing sigh.
ooh, Kitv walled Loo under
her breath, and clutching my arm
convulsively, did you feel it? Did
you hear it What was it p
Il felt the wind blowing through
broken window l answered
courageously, for though | was on
ly 20 and a girl, l had not been the
head Of the family so many years for
nothing.
Anne Duty came rushing in with
a sheet wrapped about her and a
lighted candle in her hand, just as
Bess. awoke, asking in her weak
voice what we were sill doing in the
middle of the night. While / slip
ped on my dressing gown and light
ed candle on the stand near the
bed, / told her as calmly as l could
for my heart was beating violently,
that / thought a door or window
upstairs had blown open, and Anne
and | were going up to see while
Loo remained with her.
Then ] went out, Anne following
bravely, though / could hear her
teeth chattering and the candle
shook so had to take it from her.
AS we shut the door behind us |
heard the scrape of a match, and a
bright light flashed out from a room
at the head of the stairs.
Ghosts don't usually carry
matches about them,' / said to poor
trembling Anne in a would-be sar-
castle tone, which my own terror
kept from being a success. Better
a dozen ghosts, | thought than one
live burglar
Slowly we mounted the creaking
stairs till just as l reached the top
a tall man, clad in light gray suit,
stepped out from the room con-
fronting me. A smothered shrek
from Anne was, for a moment, the
only sound that broke the still
ness.
The light from my candle shone
full npon the intruder's face, and |
saw that he was young, cookbook
ing and Enthusiastically gentleman.
Anne, too, must have seen as
much, for heard her scuttling
down the stairs behind me much
faster than she came up, evidently
mindful of her costume.
Curiously enough, did not
think OF my own appearance, but
stood still, staring at the man, who
stared back at me for fully two min
utes, then lifted his hat and said
courteously:
Il beg your pardon, but | have
the honor of addressing Miss
Blake:'
bowed dumbly, wondering what
on earth he would say next:
'Then, he went on pleasantly,
Il owe you an apology for my most
unceremonious intrusion, but have
been absent from the village for
several days. reached home only
few hours ago, and had not heard
of your arrival. You must have
changed your plans suddenly, for
was not expecting you until next
week.-Mrs. with an inquiring
glance.
He expecting us? Was the man
crazy?
YES | stammered, 'the physic-
ian, DR.. Cross, thought it would
be best to get Bess, my sister-she
has been slck-away from the city
as soon as possible, SO We came on
to-day
and the people told us, | went
on incoherently, that tho house
was haunted, and We thought you
were a ghost, and
lie laughed at this, and drawing
himself up little. a very sub
stantial ghost, he said lightly, add
ing more earnestly:
Il really am SO sorry for causing
you annoyance. You see, l have
been using this old house as a kind
of labratory, making all sorts of
chemical experiments here during
the uncanny night hours, SO it is no
wonder the place has acquired an
evil reputation. | ran over to-
night to put things together bit.