The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-05


asking i'll her weak voice what wc We're
all doing up i'll the middle Of The night.
While slipped on my dressing gown
and lighted a candle on the stand ncnr
the bed, told her us calmly rs | could,
for my heart was beating violently,
that | thought Il door or window up
stairs had blown open, and Anne and L
were going up to see while Loo remain
cd with her.
Then L went out, Anne following
bravely, though 1 could hear her teeth
chattering, and the candle shock so 1
had to take it from her. AS we shut the
door behind us L heard the scrape Of u
match, and bright light flashed out
from room ut the head Of the stairs.
"Ghosts don't usually carry matches
about them, l said to poor trembling
Anne i'll Il would be sarcastic tone which
my own terror kept from being IL sue
cess Better dozen ghosts, thought,
than one live burglar"
Slowly we mounted the cracking
stairs till just as | reached the top Il tall
man, clad i'll Il light gray suit, stepped
out from the ROOM confronting me- A
smothered Shrek from Anne was for Il
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 IL gentleman. Anne, too. must
have seen as much, for heard her scut-
Ting 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 ne for fully two minutes. then
lifted his hat and said courtcously:
Il beg your pardon. but have L the
honor of addressing Miss Blallc?''
bowed dumbly, wondering what OH
earth he would say next.
"Then, he went Oil pleasantly, 81
owe you an apology for my uncercmo-
NOUS intrusion, but [ have been absent
from the village for several days. [
reached home only Il few hours ago and
had not heard of your arrival You
must have changed your plans suddenly,
for L was not expecting you until next
week, y this with an inquiring glance
He expecting us! Was the man crazy?
Yes, " | stammcrcd, ''thc physician,
DIR. Cross, thought il would he best to
get Bcss, my sistcr-shc has been sick
away from the citya soon Us possible,
so we came on today.
And the people told us, - / went OH
incohcrcntly, THAT the house was
haunted, and WE thought you were IL
ghost, and "
He laughed ut this and drew him
self up Il little. "A very substantial
ghost, he said lightly, adding more
earnestly:
Il really am so sorry for causing you
annoyance. You see. | have been using
this old house as Il, kind of Il laboratory,
making all sorts of chemical expert
ments here during the uncunny night
hours. so it is no wonder the place has
acquired an evil reputation. l ran over
tonight to put things together IL bit, to
prepare for their removal before you
came, but You took me unawarcs, and'-
But who are YOU" ] interrupted,
unable to restrain my curiosity any
longer
Why, haven't l told YOU: 1 am DR..
Decring, ut your service. "
DR. Dccring: Why. we thought
DR.. Cross said-surely DR.. Gross spoke
Of you us an old friend, and i'll nv
confusion the candle slipped and went
out, but not before ! had caught the
twinkle i'll his handsome eyes.
Il am his old friend, inasmuch us he
has known me al my life, y he said.
stopping To recover the c;lndlc, adding
gently, "Dr. Cross has confidctl You and
your sisters To MY care, and hope You
are not the less inclined to trust me he
cause happen TO be not so old in years
or wisdom as the good old doctor him
self
do not know what reply [ made;
something foolish it must have been,
for ! suddenly became blushingly con
scions thar | was attircd in IN old blue
dressing gown, and this man. this strun-
ger, was regarding me with rather
quizzical eyes
With IL muttered Good night" /
fled precipitatcly, leaving him to lind
his own way ont, while l recounted to
the girls us much of my ghostly advcn-
ture Az thought ii necdful for them to
know.
This was the beginning Of our stay i'll
the old Hardy house. When | left, it
was not to return to the city, for DR..
Deering had persuaded ne to remain il
Admission. -Margaret Foley Blashford
i'll New York journal.