The Norfolk weekly news. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1888-1900, 1899-11-09

iblo to those who live in tho lane. II
ought to- have turned in hero. Wcro
you fortunate enough to have been
awake Mt that moment and To have seen
this spectral appcnrancop'
She s%huddorCd. | was not mistaken
in believing | saw this sign of emotion,
for | was looking Mt her very closely,
and tho movement was unmistakablo.
81 have never soon anything ghostly
III my life, " said she. 81 am not Mt all
, suporstitious.
II | had been i'll naturod or If | had
thought it wise to press her too closely,
| might have said:
"Thon why do you look So pale? Why
tremblo SO visibly, you whom | havo
never before seen disturhcdp"
But my natural kindness, together
with an instinct Of caution, restrained
mo, and | only remarked:
"Thcro you are sensible, Miss knollys
-doubly SO rs "A dcnizcn of this house,
which Mrs. Carter was obliging enough
to suggest to mo was considered by
many M haunted"
ih' H'itibi''iiiIiB VI "iNN iNii'iiyh
lips augurcd no good to Mrs. Carter.
"Now | only wish it was" l laughed
dryly. 81 should really like to meet u
ghost, say, in your great drawing room,
| which l nm forbidden to enter.
"You are not forbidden, " she uttered
hastily. "You may explore it now if
you will excuse mo from accompanying
you, but you will meet no ghosts. Tho
hour is not propitious."
Taken abacl by her sudden amcnity,
I hcsitatcd for II moment. Would it be
worth while for mo to search II room
she was willing to have me enter? No,
and yet my knowledge which could be
obtained in regard to this house might
be of uso to me or to Mr.. Gryco. ! de
cidod To embrace her offer, but first ]
must test her with ono other question.
would you prefer, y said /, that l
should steal down these corridors Mt
night and dare it's duslIy roccsscs Mt n
time when spccters arc supposed to walk
tho halls they onc fitted through in
happy consciousness?'
Hardly" Sho made tho greatest
effort to sustain the Jest, but her con.
Germ and dread were manifest. Il think
] had better give you the keys now than
subject You to the drafts and chilling
discomforts of this old place at mid
night.
/ rose with a scmblanco of eager an
t%icipation.
Il will take you ut your word" SAID
l. "Tho keys, my dear. am going tc
visit n haunted room for the first time
in my life"
l do not think she was deceived by
this fcigned cbullition. Perhaps it wa
too much out of keeping with my ordi
nary manner, but she gave no sign o
surprise and ros III her turn with n
air suggestive of relief.
excuse me-" said she, eff / preced'
you. l will meet you at the head Of the
corridor with the keys"
/ was in hopes she would be long
enough in obtaining them to allow III,
to stroll along the front hall to he open
ing into the farther corridor, in which
felt "A special interest. But the sprynes
l showed seemed to have u correspond
ing effect upon her, for she almost flew
to"h th' IhnShS'"ty WI hhp ''''
was back at my side before | could taxi
a step in the coveted direction.
"Thcse will take you into any room
on the first floor, " said she. "You viii
meet with dust and Lucctta's abhor
renee, spiders, but for these ! shall
make no apologies. Girls who canno
provide comforts for the few Dom
they utilize cannot be expected TO keel
in order the large and disuscd apart
mcnts of a former generation"
~ hate dirt and despise spiders, bu
/ am willing to brave both, " | assurc'
her, "for the pleasure Of satisfying IN.
love for the antique" At which sh
handed me the keys, with "a calm smil
which was not without its element o
sadness.
Il will be here on your return, " sh
murmured, leaning over the banistcr
to speak to me as ! took my first step
down. ~ shall want to hear whethe
you are repaid for your trouble"
/ thanked her and proceeded on m
way, somewhat doubtful whether by s
doing l was making or not the best us
possible Of my opportunities.
ITO be Continued Next Week.