The St. Mary banner., 1906-01-20
WHAT MARGARET KNEW.


worked often far into the night. Just
off this den | had my sleeping room.
and Margaret had a suite of chambers
across the hail. There were many
times when she wished to be alone,
and respected her wishes and did not
disturb her.
Our lives moved serenely, with lit
tie joy or sorrow in them, of our own
making, and | was content to be near
Margaret always, and to be her friend
if l could not be quite all she wanted
as lover
Vane Hall, as the old house was
called, had its own ghost story, as
nearly all old houses have, but it was
SO vague as to be scarcely worth con-
sidering. 1t never disturbed me in the
slightest, and, thought l was natural
ly timid,. l never thought of ghosts
haunting the place, no matter how late
| worked.
One night. however, l was made 20
think about the stories had heard. 1t
was very late, and l was absorbed in
tale | was writing, l had heard no
sound to disturb me, but | felt a
draught as if a door were opened. My
window was down from the top and I
| fancied the wind had changed |
closed it and sat down at my desk
again.
Presently heard what seemed to be
soft footsteps. They were passing
down the hall. | thought of burglars
and hesitated about going to see
turned my light out and sat still. There
was faint light in the hall. All be-
came quiet and l peered out
There was nothing in sight, and l
slipped down to the further end. Moth
ing there but door leading to a small
balcony overlooking the garden. Moth
ing had been taken, and there was no
sign Of midnight marauders l tried
the door and it was locked | went
back to my den, and few minutes lat
er l retired
At breakfast l casually spoke to
Margaret of ghosts. She laughed ner-
vously and said they had been seen
not for two generations l asked her
if she was afraid. She said she didn't
know. but that she might be if the
ghost came to her. Otherwise she was
not inclined to give the matter any
thought.
For two or three nights after this,
Margaret and were at the theatre, and
if the ghost -oamed then l was not
there to hear. But it came again dur
ing the following week. This time its
soft tread moved up towards Mar
garet's room. My first thought was of
her, and as soon as could gather my
strength, but l confess that l was so
frightened that l could not pull my
self together at once, hurried up the
hall to her door.
called to her softly, once or twice,
and went in. She was not fully awake,
and she asked what was the matter. l
told her | had heard the ghost again,
and it had come to her door. She
laughed then, and became my COM
forter. Margaret, you know, was al
ways stronger than l, and had really
more physical courage than | had.
She sent me back to my room WITH
the promise that she would lock her
door, and the ghost could not get in. l
went away and as l did so l heard the
key turn in the lock- Then | searched
the hall and found nothing, as be-
fore.
in Of hroo o1yPo
garet teased me SO about my ghost that
| was ashamed of myself and resolved
not to speak of it aga:n.
Several weeks passed, and at inter
walls l would hear the footsteps of the
mysterious visitor, but l had become
accustomed to his ghostship and gave
no heed.
Now and again, after had heard 1t
moving along the hall towards Mar
garet's room, would go there just be-
fore going to bed to see if her door
was locked. 1t was always secure, and
l smiled at my fears and went my way.
But as l became careless of the
ghost l began to notice that Margaret
was becoming nervous and was losing
color and spirits. l thoughtlessly chat
fed her as she had teased me, but she
showed such unmistakable signs that
it was no trif1ing matter, that l re-
solved to see for myself what this
ghost might be. said nothing to her
Of my purpose, for knew it would
not improve matters for her to think
| was disturbed.