Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-28

ali dong up in the middle of the .ight
While I slipped ON my dressing gown
and lighted a candle ON the stand near
the bed, told her as calmly as l could,
for my heart was beating violently,
that thought door or window up
stairs had blown open, and Anne and /
were going up to see while Loo remain
ed with her.
Then went out, Anne following
lrayely, though / could hear her teeth
thattering, and the candle shook so /
had to take it from her. As we shut the
loor behind us heard the scrape of a
match, and a bright light flashed out
from room at the head of the stairs.
"Ghosts don't usually carry matches
about them, said to poor trembling
Anne in would be sarcastic tone which
my own terror kept from being a sue
cess. Better dozen ghosts, thought,
"than one live burglar"
Slowly we mounted the creaking
stairs till just as / reached the topa tall
man, clad in light gray suit, stepped
out from the room, confronting me. A
smothered shrek from Anne was for
moment the only sound that broke the
stiffness.
The light from my candle shone full
upon the intruder's face, and saw that
he was young, good looking and unmis-
takably gentleman. Anne, too, must
have seen as much, for heard her scut-
tling 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 stock
still, staring at the man, who stared
back at me for fully two minutes, then
lifted his hat and said courteously:
81 beg your pardon, but have the
honor of addressing Miss Blake?"
| bowed dumbly, wondering what on
earth he would say next.
"Then," he won't on pleasantly, "I
owe you an apology for my unceremo-
nious intrusion, but I have been absent
from the village for several days. I
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." this with an inquiring glance.
He expecting us! Was the man crazy?
| "Yes,"I I stammered, the physician,
DR.. Cross, thought it would be best to
get Bess, my sister-she has been sick
away from the city as soon as possible,
SO we came on today.
"And the people told US, went on
incoherently, "that the house. was
haunted, and we thought you were a
ghost, and''-
He laughed at this and drew him
self up little. ga very substantial
ghost, - he said lightly, adding more
earnestly:
81 really am SO sorry for causing you
annoyance. You see, I have been using
this old house as kind of laboratory,
making all sorts of chemical expert
ments 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 a bit, to
prepare for their removal before you
came, but you took me unawares, and"-
"But who are your" 1 interrupted,
unable to restrain my curiosity any
longer.
"Why, haven't I told you? am DR..
Deering, at your service"
"Dr. Deering? Why, we thought
DR.. Cross said-surely DR.. Cross spoke
Of you as an old friend" and in my
confusion the candle slipped and went
out, but not before I had caught the
twinkle in his handsome eyes.
81 am his old friend, inasmuch as he
has known me all my life," he said,
stopping to recover the candle, adding
gently, cdr. Cross has confided you and
your sisters to my care, and hope you
are not the less inclined to trust me be-
cause happen to be not so old in years
or wisdom as the good old doctor him
self.
1 do not know what reply I made;
something foolish it must have been,
for I suddenly became blushingly con-
scious that was attired in an old llue
dressing gown, and this man, this an
ger, was regarding me with rather
quizzical eyes.
With muttered "Good nightr' I
fed precipitately, leaving him to find
his own way out, while recounted to
the girls as much of my ghostly adven-
ture as I thought it needful for them to
know.
This was the beginning of our stay in
the old Hardy house. When I left, it
was not to return to the city, for DR..
Deering had persuaded me to remain in
Admission. Margaret Foley Blashford
in New York Journal.