The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-14
Che GHOST OF fbe Wegf Ding.
BY SHIRLEY RAYNARD.
% % 30. % ~, % %
John Strange sat in his chambers in the

John Strange sat in his chambers in the
| inner temple. Ee pushed on, one side q
pila of papers which he had been examin-
ing and turned to mend the fast-dying
fire. 1t was dreary night, the wind
sighed in the keyholes and rain beat
heavily against the window. He shivered
more from imagination than from cold,
as he took up letter which had been
delivered by the last post. He read IL,
then cast it carelessly on one side. 1t
was of no Importance.
80 there Is no letter from JEAN" he
exclaimed. II suppose I must accept my
fate though I could have sworn she loved
ME. She might at least have written and
told me it had all been a great mistake.
No doubt I've been a fool to think a girl
of her stamp could care for a man like
me, and yet 1 should have made posi-
ton in a year or two; and now-well, I
| won't stay here for Christmas, at any
rate" He drew pen and paper toward him
and hastily wrote accepting an invitation
to spend Christmas with his friends. the
Belmonts, at their place in Buckingham
shire. Then locking up his papers and his
desk he went off to bed, little dreaming
VI lu0 uSHCdl0 lllll0 uOte, WHICH Was dL
that moment securely caught inside the
door letter box
| Now, it so happened that among other
guests the Belmonts had invited both
Jack Strange and Jean Graham to The
Towers for Christmas. Jack had mentions
ed the fact of his own Invitation, in his
letter to Jean, but was hoping to remain
in town at her bidding. She, on her part,
started for Buckinghamshire with light
| heart, after writing to tell Jack she would
give him his answer when they met at
The Towers.
The next morning Strange packed his
bag, called a hanson, and drove off to
Paddington. He had slept little, and was
feeling tagged and anything but happy.
The weather, too, was cheerless and desc
lutte. Snow had fallen during the night,
and the streets were in an uncomfortable
state of slush. The tradesmen were try
ing to give to their shops a festive ap.
pearance, but the streets looked uninvit-
ing, and people We're hustIing one another
| about in their attempts to get through
their business at the earliest possible mo-
ment Strange felt a relief as the train
steamed out of the station 1t was pleas
ant to. see the open country, in spite of
the bad weather. Change of scene was
La help, though he did carry his trouble
! with him.
He arrived at The Towers In time for
luncheon. and was heartily welcomed by
his host and hostess. He found there were
several other guests besides himself. The
greetings and introductions over, Mrs.
Belmont drew him aside
II have ventured, Jack, to put you into
the west wing said she smiling: 81 hope
you don't mind. 1 cannot fancy you being
afraid of ghosts. My other sparerooms
| are all occupied. The only real objection
to the west wing IS its being so far away
from everybody else
| "Oh, don't trouble for a moment" said
he lightly; ut is the proper thing. to
sleep in a haunted room on Christmas
| eve"
81 suppose you have seen nothing OF
Jean Graham by this train. She wrote
saying we We're to expect her last even
4 ing, but cu1iously she did not come. and
1 SO far have received no telegram. No
doubt something has delayed her at home,
and she will come in by the o'clock train
this evening".
Strange went to his room in the west
I wing. He found it a picture of com
IQTt, out lnoT0 were long and WlnUlH5
passages between it and the inhabited
part of The Towers 1t had been built
several hundred years ago, by an eccen-
trio owner, who wished to live his life in
retirement. Being inconveniently dis
tant. it had become disused with the
inevitable result of being haunted" No
servant could be persuaded to go along
those passages alone after dark
81 could give them the reason why
| Taaya hoe ,aiJ h. I'M
self "Of course, she would not meet
me- after her scornful treatment of my
letter. When she accepted Helen's invi-
tation, she did not know that l was
to be at The Towers. No, we shall sot
see Jean Graham here by the ; train. -
John Strange was a pro.sd and sensi-
tive man, and he felt BStterly the way
in which he had been Stcated by the girl
he had honOred above all other women.
He had poured cut his soul to her in a
long letter, IN which he had asked her to
be his wifa True, he had said, in con-
clusion: If you cannot love me, [ shall
know by your silence" but for all that,
he had expected to have some words OF
/ regret, and he had. hoped, with all the
strength of his manly nature, that he had
not been mistaken in believing that she
loved him. But now it was over; she
} had taken him at his woodland silence
was her only answer to his passionate
appeal!
: The Towers was a pleasant house to
visit The domestic machinery worked
smoothly. Visitors never felt that an eff
fort was being made for their entertain
ment. You felt tree to go and come as
you liked, and you seemed to be living
in an atmosphere of cherry good nature
The Belmonts were blessed with much
, of this worlds wealth, and they knew
how to make use of it, for Others well
as for themselves.
Tea was served in the drawing room
on the day of Jacks ARRIVAL coy
room, with a large log fire. and shaded
lamps Helen was in the center of 9
group of guests, pouring out tea. Strange
was chatting with a pretty girl at the
other side of the fire. Their conversa-
ton was bright and sparkling, and nc
one noticed his depression of spirits. He
was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the
, | train, though he did not believe for q
moment that Jean would appear. Pres
emily, wheels were heard on the gravel
and Helen went out into the hall to re-
, | ceiye her guest. There was a hurried
e conversation. in low tones. and then she
returned to the drawing room, looking
e slightly disturbed
Miss Graham has not arrived" she
said. eve begin to be a little uneasy
We. felt certain that she would come Ii
by this train. OF course; something mus
have prevented her at the last moment
: but don't understand why people do not
> telegraph at once in. such cases.
d George Belmont entered, not feeling il
| the best of humors with his missing
I guest. He had had various journeys te
:. the station which was two miles from
The Towers not to speak of the constant
turning-out of the horses A cup of tes
y soon set him to rights, however, for he