Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-06-15

both like you so much he joins me in
begging you never to come to Shaw
farm again."
Nevertheless, shall come" said
Raymond, 80 expect me whenever /
can get here"
III you come I will not see you,"
said Avis. in a terror-stricken voice.
Il will not lead the man love to his
doom; l will never marry you. Leave
me, l pray, and never see me more"
Raymond Bell answered by a look
which needed no Interpretation, and
kissed her tenderly.
1t is strange how much men can for
give in women they truly love. If any
other person in the world had ex-
pressed belief in such an absurd sup
erstition. his derision would have
been So great as to blot out all respect
for that individual; but Avis could do
no wrong in Raymond Bells eyes, AZ
ter all, he thought, her anxiety for him
was proof OF her love. Thinking thus
he passed little stone house by the
roadside which was said to be haunted
by the ghost of Dick Pardon, and
paused moment to look at it.
1t was evening. and stars were in
the sky, but it was moonless night.
The ruinOus little building was cov-
cred with ivy, and so dilapidated that
tall weeds grew within the almost
oroefess walls; but as Raymond stood
loking at it he saw a strange blue
light begin to glow in its lower win
dows, and in the midst Of the radi-
ance stood tall figure draped in
white, who for moment lifted his
arm with a warning gesture.
Gripping his walking stick, the
young man dashed toward the win
dow; but suddenly rejecting that as
the seeming ghost was probably hu-
man being bent on mischief, and that
he was unarmed save for the stick
which he carried in his hand, he re-
solved that it would not be wise to ex-
pose himself further. Consequently
he passed on, but, turning to look
back, saw once more the strange ap-
pearance, this time at an upper win
dow
Again the hand menaced, again the
figure faded. and this time Raymond
was angry at himself for feeling GER
tain of those chills and thrills which
the most sensible of us have at times
experienced. A laugh drove them
away, and coming to the open doors
of a smithy. he walked in among the
men who were watching the proprie-
tor as he shoed restive horse.
Good evening"" he said. Il want
half a dozen men and boys to come
with me to the old stone house on Mr..
Shaw's farm. Some idiot is playing
ghost up there with blue lights and a
white sheet, and I'm raising an army
to put an end to his capers."
The loungers looked at Raymond
while he spoke; the smith finished his
Job in silence. Then lifting his head,
he spoke gravely:
you're Mr.. Bell. the architect that
has come down to build the church,
believed"
II am, Mr.. JONES'" replied Raymond.
"Glad to know you, sir" said the
blacksmith; "but I'm sorry to say that
you are wrong in your idea about what
is seen-what even some here have
seen in the old stone house on Shaws
place. It's real apparition, that is no
trickster's work whatever.
Nevertheless / desire to enlist my
army. I offer a sovereign to every re-
cruit," said Raymond.
But, despite this offer. not soul
would accompany him to the stone
house, and he was obliged to give up
his plan for that occasion.
On the following Sunday evening,
just as twilight fell, everyone in the
village saw the young architect take
his way along the road to the Shaw
farm. There, upon the porch, old Mr..
Shaw met him and shook his hand
kindly.
"Avis is not here.' he said. "of
course know what has passed be-
tween you, and like you. should be
delighted to welcome you as a son-ln-
law, but what folks say is too true 1or
that, for your own sake, young man.
you'd better give up all idea OF her.
"I will never do that. SIR" said Ray
mOnd.
He talked little while to Mr.. Shaw,
allowed the shadows to gather ere 20