Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-12-16

wanted him to study law, to establish
himself well before settling down
Then his uncle sent Tor him to come
to California-it was such a goot
chance for hlm-he would come bacl
in two years and claim me. You know
how / waited, Anna. lust before
father died I tried to tell him. but hi
was too Ill, 60, having no mother,
kept my own counsel and no one ever
| knew. Then, when Howard wrote thai
he was coming home and that we
would be married on Christmas Eve,
, made my preparations, sent out my IN
7itations and looked forward to very
| happy Christmas. Christmas came and
went, but no bridegroom! Weeks
later letter came, saying he had been
Injured, had fallen from his horse; he
had also lost his position-he lad
given up the law-he would wait q
year, perhare, then he would have a
home for me. AS time passed, people
whispered that my lover had Tilted me.
I never told them it was worse than
that-that r,y husband had deserted
me! was motherless girl and there
was no one to sympathze, except you
dear, and was too proud to tell you
all. I left the little town that lad
known my humiliation and went to
Radville. where have lived ever since.
where they know me az Miss Rollins,
the little old maid, and they don't
know ever had romance in my life.
Tonight 1t all comes over me till
I am angry with my own weakness.
In the room where I am writing is a
trunk with his initials on one end-a
mere coincidence. Of course, but l
would like to blot out those letters
my eyes keep turning to them and"
Miss Rollins laid her pen down a
moment; her hand was tired and she
stopped to rub it little. Then she
heard a slight noise-was it the closet
door? Oh, how foolish! 1t was nearly
one o'clock and she was tired and
nervous-she would let the letter go
for tonight and finish 1t in the morn
ing.
She took the paper from the desk
and started to rise, then sank baca
with a little scream and the paper
fell from her hand. Before her stood
tall man with smooth shaven face
and iron gray hair; he was very pale
and stream of blood trickled down
one side of his face! He was stand
ing perfectly still, looking at her; he
made no move, and after that one lit
tie scream she could not have uttered
sound. How she reached the door
she never knew, but she managed to
get to her room and lock herself in.
1.-THE ghost!" she whispered to her,
self, "have I seen the ghost, or was
It imagination? My nerves must be
in a terrible state-I ought to have
gone to bed; no, it was not imagination
Il surely saw something, white
faced, bleeding man! Oh, 1t was
dreadful! He never moved-just stood
there looking at me with piercing eyes
and the blood trickling slowly down
his face. I shall never forget it,"
She lay awake for hours and was
too i'll to rise in the morning. Kate
brought her some breakfast and, see
ing her white face. exclaimed:
"Lor', Miss Rollins, you look like
you'd seen the ghost!"
81 havev
The words came Of themselves al
most, but she went on
81 was nervous and tired and i
thought I saw something last night,
but Of course it was all mistake
don't say anything Kate. wouldn't
have any one know l could be so fool
ish Now, go to my trunk. will you
Katie, and bring my gray flannel wrap
per; I think I will sit up here in the
rocker a little while before I dress.
shall be all right at dinner time"
Kate went for the wrapper, but, to
her surprise, the door of the third
story back" was locked. Thinking
Miss Rollins must have locked it and
taken the key, she was about to start
back toward the little hall room, when
she heard groan. With a scream she
ran into Miss Rollins room and shut
the door.
What is the matter, Katie?"
"The ghost, ma'am-he's in there
now. I heard him groaning"
ooh, what an old simpleton I was to
brighten you with what l said! Come
I'll go with you"
But the doors locked, ma'am; we
can't get in, and I know heard some
thing in there"
Just here there was a light tap on
the door and the poor girl fairly shiv
cred until she heard Mrs. Bowen's
voice, then the door was pushed open.
what is the matter up here? I
was on the floor below and l heard
scream"
This foolish girl says she heard
some one groaning in the back room.
She is afraid to go in there for me-"
1.-THE doors locked; l can't get in"
the girl muttered.
"Who could have locked it? I'll go