Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-12

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describable nose, lor 6, pinched and
pointed, giving the face look of gro
tesque horror. 1t passed, the light
died away with it and he stood there
before the darkened house. shaking
from head to foot in abiect fear.
''Kittie's ghost" he whispered,
hoarsely, and then, as if anxious only
to put space between the thing and
himself, he turned and fled till he
came uron the friend he had left few
minutes before. The meeting gave
him sense of his ridiculous position
and also way OF relief from his diff
ticulty.
Harris" he exclaimed, grasping
that gentleman's hand with effusive
cordiality, and speaking quickly and
nervously. you're just the fellow I
want. I've lost my key-don't like to
to disturb the house-would it be
convenient to have me spend the night
with you?"
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
ghost"
"Only tired out from running and
the concert" he replied. ga 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 flight OF
the previous night, though, like Kittie,
he was perfectly sure he had seen
something with which he 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 mending 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," he said bluntly, "I saw
the ghost the other night"
"Oh," she said with the slightest
hint of triumph in the sweet voice,
you've seen in yourself, have you?
Then, of course, there must be a
ghost"
""There is" he answered solemnly,
"and l don't wonder you were fright
ened. [ 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:
''Please don't go out tonight, For
man, and leave us alone; / shall be so
frightened"
''No, 1 WON'T" he answered, sooth-
ingly. cit was awfully selfish of me
to want to tell you"
That was the first of many pleasant
evenings that they spent together. for
he did not like to think of the girl at
home frightened and 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 that
she was listening for his footsteps,
and sure of meeting her glad face and
warm welcome at the door.
Neither had again seen the appari-
ton, but it was not forgotten. They
subjected Miss Van Vleet to series
of questions about their ancestors,
! but in vain. The career of none of
the family had been marked by crime
or tragedy. But some one else had
seen the ghost, for it began to be
rumored about the neighborhood that
the house was haunted. One Sunday
morning as Miss Van Vleet and Kittie
were returning from church loud talk
ing reached them from the side of the
hill below the garden, where a group
of rough-looking boys had gathered.
Boys" said Miss Katherine, as
she approached, 81 am glad to have
you come mp here if you enjoy it, but
you mustn't be so noisy"
eve was just talkin' about the
ghost" was the reply.
LAT Suosl' sle aSEeu, III amaze
ment.
"The ghost that haunts the hill up
here"
Nonsense" said Miss Katherine.
"Oh, yes, there is a ghost" put in
Bob O'Leary; my pop he see it. 1t
was tall and w'ite and had big holes
where it orter have eyes, and it went
along quick"
"Pshaw, answered Miss Van Vleet,
"you know there is no such thing as
a ghost"
ooh, yes, there is" said Tom, star"
ing in round-eyed wonder at such be-
lief; "why, my pop says in Ireland
-" And then there followed such
indubitable testimony that the lady
stood silenced.
every WE'LL" she said; "if there is
a ghost up here it is my ghost, and 1
don't want it interfered WITH" and
then she walked away, while the boys
gazed after her too astonished to re-
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