The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-07

was not inclined to give the matter any thought. For two or three nights after this, Margaret and were at the the ater. and if the ghost roamed then I was not there to hear. But 1t came again during the following week. This time its soft tread moved up towards Margaret's room. My first thought was of her, and as soon as I could gather my strength, for confess that I was so frightened that could not pull myself together. at once, I hurried up the hall to her door.
 l called to her softly, once or twice, and went in. She was not fully awake. and she asked me what was the matter. I told her that I had heard to her door. .oobqoqknewvMFWcMFMF the ghost again, and that it had come to her door. She laughed then and became my comforter. Margaret, you know, was always stronger than I. and had really more physical courage than I had. | She sent me back to my room with the promise that she would lock her door. and the ghost could not get in. went away and as I did so I heard the key turn in the lock. Then | searcher the halll, and found nothing, as before ~ sa%+u.... The next morning at breakfast Mar garet leased me so about my ghost that was ashamed of myself and re- solved not to speak of 1t again.
 l. a1rS al Sals would hear the footsteps of the mysterious visitor, but I had become accustomed to his ghostship and gave no heed. sa&&
 Now and again, after had heard 1t moving along the hall towards Mar l garet's room, would go there just be. fore going to bed to see If her door was locked. It was always secure, and I smiled at my fears and went my way. l But as became careless of the ghost I began to notice that Margaret was becoming nervous and was losing color and spirits. I thoughtiessly chafed her as she had leased me- but she showed l such unmistakabie signs that 1t was no 1 trif1ing matter that I resolved to see I for myself what this ghost might be. I said nothing to her of my purpose, for knew 1t would not improve mat ] ters for her to think I was disturbed.
 The next night had attended a din- ner at the club, and did not get in until I midnight, or perhaps an hour later, as one is apt to do after club dinners. | Probably I had taken more wine than usual In any event I felt brave enough to meet any ghost that walked, | and went to my den to wait for 1t, | if this should be the night to visit the haunts of men. I waited so long that de2ed. and, waking with a start, I heard the well-known footsteps. This
 time they were going down the hall 1T, the direction I had pursued them the l first night I had heard them. S@ 1 Gathering my wits as quickly as l
 could, went into the hall, and in the light, so dim that only the merest out Hines were visible, saw a tall figure ir 1 a misty gray wrap of the olden time. started after 1t, but before I had taken
 half a dozen steps 1t stopped, turned
 and waved me back warningly. As
 have said, I am not a brave man, and
 came no nearer. Slowly the ghos,
 turned again, and in stately fashion passed on to the end of the hall.
 Instead of following 1t, hurried tc I Margaret's room. She was awake and livery nervous I told her had seen the ghost. She laughed and said hat been having too much wine, and fl
 would be better for me to go to bed
 and let the ghost pursue the even tenoi of its way. But I was brave now, see ing that she was safe and inclined tc
 tease me, and I left her, notwithstand ing she pleaded with me not to go, ant
 went back down the hall,
 Only a very short time had elapsed
 since I had seen the ghost, and when l got to the door leading out to- the bal.
 cony I found 1t was open. I ran to thu front balcony, and in the garden below
 I saw the figure of man crouched 1T the shadow. Tn the road just beyond lwere two policemen. called to them
 to catch the burglar. and as dashed
 back into the hall to go out the back
 way I met Margaret at the door of tht
 balcony.
 I could scarcely walk, but I man.
 aged somehow to get back into the house to Margaret's room. She was
 mot there, and staggered out to the
 balcony. I found her lying on the fiool unconscious
 The newspapers told only of the
 burglag caught in the act. They did
 not know what I knew-what Mar Igaret knew. Very soon afterward we
 went abroad and there our paths sep.
 arated forever. She died g. year later leaving all her property to me as Tar
 atonemellt," according to the wording
 of her will.--W. J. L., in Illustrated lBlts.