The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-06-28

tiOnal story of murder and violence
would have been delighted with the
place. But I. being a prosaic indvid
ual accustomed to deal with facts
wished only to convince my host AMI
his wife that the supposed mystery
was no mystery at all.
Otherwise, one could describe some
child heir to the property. drowned In
the fish tank Git must needs be a
child. as four or five feet deep of water
would not drown man, and the
guilty relation hiding in the secre,
chember and dying there. prior to the
nocturnal wanderings as a lost spirit
about the premises.
Godfrey in the presence of his wife;
but he looked more solemn than usual
and Mrs. Lancaster's face betrayed
such real alarm that l regretted my
words, and made lame effort to turn
into mere joke.
sat listening to every sound
through the second night of my stay
but I heard absolutely nothing except
the wind in the chimney and the
voices Of two cats outside whose tones
seemed to indicate a somewhat angry
discussion.
Godfrey appeared disappointed
when We walked around the gardens
next morning and | had nothing to
tell him, all the more so because Mrs.
Lancaster had been again alarmed,
and was strengthened in her con-
viction that some ghost was on the
premises
Give me time answered. Il could
not be expected to unravel this per-
plexity at the first or second sitting"
That third night, in spite of strenu-
Gus efforts to keep eyes and ears open,
l fell asleep. But not for long, as d
glance at the clock showed me. And
l fancied l had been dreaming, yet
could not remember the dream-I only
knew that some sound, like the quiet
closing of door, had reused me.
1t took me several seconds to recall
why was seated alone there in Geof-
frey Lancasters library, when the
hands Of the clock and of my own
watch were perfectly agreed that it
wanted only ten minutes to three in
the morning
Then, recalling everything, took
hand lamp from the side table, lit it,
and went into the hall to see-well,
yes, there was a form such as the
credulous would consider ghost like,
seeing that it was wrapped in white
drapery. and that its long hair floated
on it's back. But it suggested so
strongly to my unromantic mind the
figure of somnambulist, that
thought my best plan was to follow
and get good look at it.
It went swiftly up the stairs-so
lid I. It paused at Mrs. Lancaster's
door and then passed silently on.
did the same. It mounted to the Sec
ond flood and made for the servants
rooms and there. Of course, could
not penetrate; but could seek my
own chamber with some satisfaction,
Tor I saw my way to the complete re-
assurance Of Mr.. and Mrs. Lancaster.
My first step, however, was to inter.
view the housekeeper, and put few
questions as to the maids under her
Was there, for instance.
one slight of figure and with exceed
ngly fair hair?
Yes, there was Louise-a girl whom
Mrs. Lancaster had taken from mis-
erable home so that she might be
trained for respectable SER
vice; a nervous excitable sort of girl,
but willing" and useful, too. consid-
ering she was only sixteen.
II think she walks in her Sleep" l
said, after listening to these details.
The housekeeper could not believe
hat; however, my suspicion was
proved true on the following night to
he eyes of my host and hostess.
Old Geoffrey was, am certain, re-
yretful that he had not purchased a
ghost with the rest of the property;
,ut Mrs. Lancaster was really thank
'ul to me for thus easing her mind
'elative to the step on the stairs, and
'elt able to settle down contently in
he old Chantry.
AS for the girl-well. they put her
nto a Home or Orphanage, where 1t
8 to be hoped she lost her somnambu-
istic tendencies; at any rate. when l
made inquiry Of my friends they had
received no complaints about her
Naverly Magazine.