Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-29

Tom took up the task of questioning
with tender soothing In his manner.
1--WE are asking you to tell us what
frightened you so badly, Ollie, dear, so
as to punish him or them or 1t. You
see, we want to be doing something
about 1t, but we are all in the dark SO
far"
She shook her head mournfully.
ooh, there is nothing to be done,
Tom; nothing you can do, nothing;
nothing anybody can do. Sell the
place, Tom, and let strangers live in
it. You can never be happy here. Oh,
papa, papap'
Her father had himself we'll in hand
now. Then she had seen it too! But
neither she nor Thomas must suspect
that her experience was a repetition of
his own. He maintained his stern at.
titude even to the point of disengaging
| her clinging arms from about his neck
and holding her hands in firm clasp.
"Olivia, insist upon your acting
more nationally. What brought you
down stairs ut such an hour of the
night?'
Why, you made me go to bed at
such q ridiculous hour Of the day that
by midnight was wide awake. with
no more sleep left in my eyes. Try as
might, l just got wider awake ev-
cry moment So l thought l could
Slip down stairs Without anybody
knowing it and get d book out. of the
library. stole down just as softly. as
one of those mice Tom talks about, for
was afraid Of the steps creaking and
waking you up. And then, oh, father,
oh. Tom. just as | stepped over the Ii
brary doorsill saw. just as plainly as
see both of you now, a tall figure in
| white standing by Colonel Broxton's
desk! Whoever it was stood with his
| head bent low over the desk A faint
light that seemed to come from the,
bosom of-of-the thing shone on the
desk. screamed and dropped my
candle and didn't know anything more
until heard Toms voice, papa, and
felt your arms about me. That is ALL"
Her story told, she began to weep so
Historically that further questioning
would have been cruelty Her father
wrapped his arms about her and pour
ed soothing endearments into her ears.
| Then she had seen it. too,' was the
unspoken thought of both men. The
sound Of Olivia's sobs nearly broke
Toms heart. His voice shook little
as he asked briskly:
Wouldn't a glass Of wine be good
for her. Mr.. Matthews?"
No wine, thank you, Thomas; lit,
tie bromide now, ifSyou could find. such
! a thing about the house,
There is medicine cabinet in fae
theirs room. I'll explore it,"
Oliviaeraised cher head and listened
until his footsteps could no longer be
] heard. Then she said:
Papa, 1 would rather not have told
tkat4story in poor Toms presence, hut
you made me-" Her teeth were chat
tering, and she chung to him convul-,
siyely. Father, do you believe there
are such things as ghosts?'
"ofscourse do not. No sensible per.
son does her father answered, with
explosive violence @
NOT even after people have seen one,
papa, with their own eyes?'
No one ever has seen one, Olivia.
You we're unstrung by your accident,
and pTowling about at midnight in this
gloomy old house did the rest" ~
Il was not at all unstrung, father.
I slept like baby until had all tho
sleep needed"
And having become sleepless in a
strange bed, you grew fanciful. Rest
assured, my love, you did not see a
ghost"
4 Then what did see, father, there.
right through the open glass door!
You know am not, fanciful and 1
knowswhat sawa faint light shining
OH the ceiling of the study and some,
thing tall and white, as tall as old
Colonel Broxton, leaning over his
DESK
! The lawyers tongue felt dry and
hot as'it Glove to the roof Of his mouth
Clammy moisture stood in great beads
on his forehead. He cleared his throat
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