Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-08-31


meeting.
We had been friends until onr walks
In life widened apart. He became an
architect and decorator and had
chosen medicine.
When the cab stopped before a hand
some house and Ben sprang out. was
silent with Amusement. He led me
through halls and rooms that seemed
old and grand to my American eyes,
and then closed the door Of coy den
and we were alone.
why Ben. old fellow, you must have
struck 1t rich," I ventured. and he
looked at me, paling little. 4
Haven't you heard?" he asked.
mot a word since the old man was
cut up In the wreck, and Dan Ward,
being the next of kin, came in for the
fortune that should have been yours"
replied, hesitatingly, knowing what
blow all this had been to Ben.
He laughed softly, and his hands
moved in the old, restless way had so
often noticed when he had something
important to tell me.
"You came away before took the
contract to restore the old placer? he
said.
YES" l answered. with something
like q gasp. Had they added insult to
injury? Had they dared
Eat first the offer hurt me, and then
the man in me gave way to what you
used to call the artistic instinct. Hadn't
been thinking of It's possibilities all
these years."
"But to do 1t for another man-for
him. Benz l interrupted.
"Well, he really couldn't help it, you
know, though 1t was not until later that
i was able to take that philosophical
view of 1t. 1t was only that l loved
Lakewood too well to have 1t spoiled,
and-and wanted to get away from
the city, for Dolly's father-well, he
liked Lakewood and all that goes with
1t, and so Dan, and not l, was In high
favor with him."
"It was hard when you had every
reason to expect it for your own"
persisted.
"Yes, but there was the bigger trou-
BILE using me up" he said, smiling
softly.
He sat still then; still, except those
restless hands; slender and white as
woman's they were, and l knew by
their moving that Ben's story was a
hard one for him to tell.
you don't believe In ghosts-in the
return Of the disembodied spirit, do
you, Dick?"
well, no, Ben. suppose l am ma
terial. My profession"
"But you'll believe my story" He
looked up with his sweet, calm smile.
Certainly 1 will. Am I to hear it
now?"
He glanced at the clock. Eyes. I'll
tell you now, before Dolly comes"
'Dollyr'
"You have the last Of the story first.
The married and happy ever after
you know. Well, you see, we went
down to Lakewood, and the men lived
at the village hotel. But l put up at
the old place, with CASTOR and Hannah
to take care of me. Poor old things!
Over and over they described the hor-
rible scene to me. l had only reached
home in time for the funeral, you
know, and for tbe-the will, which
could not be found.
"For a year, n whole year, worked,
never once growing tired Of the ex-
quisite woods, metals and fabrics. A
year, and the anniversary of my
adopted fathers death was at hand
All. the place was q wonder Of beauty
now!
at happened that was at work In
the old mans room, the long one along
the south wing. 1t was midnight, and
/ was busy with my drawings. Now
and then a splash of rain came with
the wind through the window, and the
light, the only one In the room, fiickered
and cast strange shadows on my pa
pens.
IT had measured the wall and was
turning away when something on the
pillow caught my eye, and stood still.
NV blocd froze as the horror of 1t came
upon me, and my feet were like lead.
ION the pillow lay the head OF Mr..
Guthrie The fine grim old face, with
its inscrutable eyes and thin lips, the
brow aud shining white hair-all this,
but the hend only-the, head severed
from body that did not see.
II heard a voice, low, sobbing
voice, but my soul was faint with sick
ening fear. and l did not hear the
words. staggered to a chair, my fas-
einated eyes on the face that lay upon
the white pillow. But only my eyes
were alive. could not hear II there
were words The light on the table
flickered and went out and was alone
with that
Hannah came with the coffee l al
ways have Mt midnight when am at
work. She relighted my lamp and
moved II out Of the draft. l glanced
Mt the bed. There was nothing on the
pillow. Hannah looked sharply at me
and went away. swallowed the black
coffee, and went over to the table
where my work lay.
Presently. as sat listening. I heard
slow. halting step. knew the sound.
A hesitating, heavy step-th step Of
an old man whose feet are tired of
earth's ways. turned my head. and
/ saw crossing the room the lower
limbs OF a MANTLE feet and legs to
the knees. They were going from me.
.Neor tba will at the side OF the bod