The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-12-23
The Ghost at
Valley Farm.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

O~SSOCA
as a rain of silver, was bathing tn
old Valley Farm in its chilly radiance
the great maple tree at the doorston
was showering it's red leaves down UP
on the moss-enameled roof, and thu
sound of the noisy little brook in TIL
ravine below rose up like an unvoiceC
lullaby in the silence, as Robert Grey
stood there holding Alice Burts two
hands in his.
Then | may tell your mother Alice
and ask permission to become her son
My own little one! How many, many
years we have been separated, and all
through careless word; but HEAVIER!
mas brought US together again!"
Alice Burt was only twenty years
old; but she had already laid off the
mourning she had worn for twelve
month in respect for the memory of
her husband, Wallace Burt, who had
been kind and tender husband to her.
He had loved her with all the force OF
his strong, manly nature; but Alice
had Been but cold, irresponsible bride
to him. She had married him in fit
OF pique at some slight, real or fancied,
shown her by Robert Grey, the first
and last sweetheart of her girlish
years; and she was too young and art
less to simulate the love she did not
feel. So, at last, when she tied the
Widows cap down on her fair brown
curls, and put on the somber black
dress, her heart was glad within her.
Hush! Was that the clock striking
eleven? Oh Robert, how late it is! l
must go in!"
"One more kiss, then, little queen of
my soul! l shall go with you, how
ever!"
But Alice slipped past him in the big
old "keeping-room where Mrs. Ray.
mond sat knitting by the light of the
cracking wood fire, and the gray cat
purred on the warm hearthstone, and
ran upstairs, her brown curls all dis
heveled and her cheeks pink with I'M
wonted excitement.
Mrs. Raymond" said Robert, COM
posedly walking up to the quiet figure,
Il have come to ask you to give Alice
to me-"
Mrs. Raymond's eyes frightened into
glad surprise.
Robert, is it actually so? My dear
boy, how | have longed for thisl 1t
seems as if nothing had gone right |
since you quarelled and parted three
years ago, like two children as you
were-and then your long absence, and
AllceS marriage-you never saw Wal
lace Burt, but he was very good to our
little girl-and now this reconciliation!
Robert, it is like a dream!
But | hope it is dream from which
nond."
And where is Alice?"
She has gone upstairs. She wanted
ne to confide to you the result of our
chat and
He started so suddenly and violently
hat Mrs. Raymond, too, sprang to her
eet.
Robert, my son, what is it,"
He rushed to the door, threw it open
md gazed round.
1T was nothing-nothing and yet /
ould have sworn that face was look
ng into the window, not a second ago,
cry pale, with heavy black hair
brown back, and scar across the
light temple! OF course, though, it
7as my imagination, for"
Robert"
Mrs. Raymond, you are ill.,
NO But-but-Robert, tell me you
nil never breathe a word to Alice
this"
why not?'
Mrs. Raymond lowered her voice and
poke in an alarmed whisper
1T would be but a mournful omen
or her second marriage that the ghost 6
her first husband looked upon our i,
appiness." !
THE ghost of her first husband?" .
Eyes. You have described Wallace :
urt's very face, with the scar across
is temple that he has borne since he :;
as boy" =
For moment Robert Grey stood In :
lence. :,
my dear Mrs. Raymond, it must v
i've been but my fancy" O
II know-I know; but do not tell
~ IT
"Of course, there is no use in terrify- =
6 her with marvellous tales of the
pernatural; but further than this"
Hush! Here she comes! Not word
this!" II
And Alice entered, shy and smiling, ST
tn her blue eyes downcast and tho
ettiest bushes on her cheek. lc