The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-03-01


fculty.
"Harrisl' he exclaimed, grasping
that geutlemau's hand with elfusive
cordiality, and speaking quickly and
nervously, you're just the fellow L
want. I've lost my key don't like to
10 disturb the house-would 1T be
convenient to have me spend the night
with your"
"Certainly; come right along; but,
good gracious Van Vleet," he said.
as the street light shone on Forman's
face, "you look as if you had seen a
ghost"
"Only tired out from running and
the concert" he replied. "A nights
sleep will fix me all up"
And so it did. 1t is remarkable
how brave we can be in the broad day
light and away from the object of our
fears. The next morning he could
not understand his cowardly fight of
the previous night, though, like Kittie,
he was perfectly sure he had seen
something with which ne did not care
to come in contact again. He longed
to have the matter investigated, but
he dared not mention it to Miss Van
Vleet, and so there was no one to turn
to but Kittie, and he determined to
tell the girl at the first opportunity,
never stopping to consider that it was
unkind to awaken her fears.
Not until Saturday afternoon did the
longed-for chance occur; then he saw
her take chair and mcnding basket out
into the garden to make the best of
the lingering warm days. As he ap-
preached Kittie he noticed for the first
time in his life that she was pretty.
Her toilet, too, was now all that could
be wished.
"Kittie," ho said bluntly, "I saw
the ghost the other night"
"Oh," she said with tue slightest
hint of triumph in the sweet voice,
you've seen in yourself, have you?
Then. Of course, there must be q
ghost.
"Thore is ho answered soemnly,
"and l don't wonder you wero fright
ened. I never knew what real fear
was until that moment" and then he
sat down On the grass at her feet and
told her the whole story.
1t was little wonder that, as they
entered the dark hall together, Kittie
turned to him with the appeal:
"Pleaso don't go out tonight, For
mau, and leave us alone; l shall DO sc
frightened"
"No, I WON'T" he answered, sooth
ingly. SIT was awfully selfish of mt
to want to tell you."
That was the first OF many pleasan
evenings that they spent together, fol
he did not like to think of the girl n
home frightened aud nervous. and
only business could succeed in get
ting him to leave her. Even rehear
sails were made as short as possible
and he hurried home, knowing tina
she was lislcuing for his footsteps
and sure of meeting her glad face ant
warm welcome at tho door.
Neither had again seen the appari
ton, but it was not forgotten. The,
subjected Miss Van Vleet to series
OF questions about their ancestors
but in vain. The career OF none o
The family had been marked by Grim,
or tragedy. But some one else hat
seen the ghost, for it began to b.
rumorcd about the neighborhood tha
the house was haunted. One Sunda,
morning as Miss Van Vleet and Kitti
were returning from church loud tai k
ing reached them from the side of TIL
hill below the garden, where groul
of rough-looking boys had gathered
Boys" said Miss Katherine, as
she approached, 81 am glad to have
you come up hero if you enjoy it, bu
you mustn't be SO noisy"
"We was just talkin' about til
ghost" was the reply.
"What ghost?" she asked. in amaze
ment.
"Thc ghost that haunts the hill u
here"
"Nonsense," said Miss Katherine
"Oh. yes, there is ghost" put i
Bob O'Leary; my pop he SEQ it.
was tall and w'ite and had big hole
} where it orter have eyes, and it wen
along quick.
"Pshaw." answered Miss Van Vlee'
you know there is no such thing q
ghost"
, "Oh, yes, there is," said Tom, star
ing in round-eyed wonder at such be
; lief; "why, my pop says in Irelan
: -" And then there followed sue
| induhitable testimony that the lad
D stood silenced.
every WE'LL" she said; "if there
a ghost up here it is my ghost, and
l don't want it interfered WITH" an
r then she walked away, while the boy
Q gazed after her too astonished TO L,
7 ply.
1 Kittie repeated tho talk to Forma
that evening.
"Aunt Katherine was so annoye
t about it that 1 am sure she know
: something about the ghost, sho addeC
, One evening as Kittie was return
ing home she met one of Forman
; friends, who jokingly asked her whi
; had become of him in these days.
e ''He says Tvs bad for his voice
/ go out much in the night air, but
t guess there aresother reasons, eh?"
: The remembrance of the secret b
/. tween them brought hot flush
: Kittie's face.
8 'He came here for his health, yo
: know" she answered evasively.
D 'And finds both health and happ
ness" was the playful reply.
: There was no mistaking the woman