Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-21
THE GHOST OF
A CHANCE

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Everybody else is going" Selma
said. with sigh. "oh, dear. won
der why we have 10 skip all the good
times"
at is IN punishment for our uncom-
mttcd Sins" Bess answered. with
toss OF the head. "All our sins must
be uncommltted I'm sure we've been
brought up more strictly thnn ever
nuns were. Sometimes when ! think
over 1t all get fairly afraid for us two.
We've been 50 proper from our cradles
we must break out after awhile"
Hush. Aunt Wilton would have a
at II she heard you" Selma said DO
you think she was ever young. Bess?
can't fancy her less than sixty and
severe. yet do believe she means only
to be kind and really wants us to be
happy"
Yes. In her way. which isn't mine
nor anybody else's." Bess broke out
passionately. Her way IL 10 have
WV AHihk luNt dD Qua IA ytul.
We have all sorts OF material good
things we eat well. sleep well. dress
well but no liberty to get the good OF
them How many times did we wear
our best frocks last SUMMER Not
once. And It's going 10 be the same
this season People never ask US to
things any more because they know we
won't come"
Il don't mind that so much as the
flowers. Shouldn't YOU like. lust once.
TO run riot In the garden, pulling what
ever you liked"
You hereto! Aunt Wilton would
have serious doubts as TO your sanity
II she heard that think she loves
flowers. not because they are flowers
and beautiful but because they are her
own
"rhe same as her nieces." deeper
voice said from an ambush OF lilac
hedge. Next minute the hedge shook
violently. II was old and gnarly. be
Ing party hedge and therefore beyond
Wilton control. The end OF the shak-
lngs was young man. slim and mer-
~ eyed. who bowed very low to the
two young women. then said deprecat-
ingly: Don't freeze me because
eavesdrOpped. | know how bad II Is,
but really this time the end justifies
Il. I'm committee of one self ap-
pointed. TO find out just why the incest
girls in town stay out Of everything"
''Will you listenI" Bess adjured Sc
lima. whose eyes were dancing, though
her face was preternaturally grave as
she answered. Everybody overlooks
Joe Hartwells fibs because he fibs so
nicely"
Hartwell laughed His father being
Aunt Wiltons lawyer, he knew the
Ford girls. Aunt Wilton's nicces, better
than anybody In Caswell town. II was
knowledge that ran back To the mud
pie period. although the Fords know
no more of mud pies and their making
than could be gathered from watching
him envlously through crannies of the
hedge
Now. for two years he had been won
dering how they had escaped their
bringing up. Selma. he was sure, was
full OF mad longings for life and free
dom. About Bcss he was not SO sure
She sang and laughed like Il human
sunbeam sang and laughed herself
into the deepest depths of his heart
Therefore he resented bitterly her lso
lation The sisters would some day
inherit Aunt Wilton's more than COM
Portable fortune IL CALLED him TO think
that people would say Bess had mar
ricd him through lack of other lovers
maybe also that his father had encour
80 secluded ont of regard for the inter
ests OF his son. Beyond all that
though. was the rebellion against thus
winning by default How could Bess
be sure she really loved him when she
had had no chance OF measuring him
against other lovers?
II was with n hope OF giving her that
chance he had asked his chum. Denni-
son. for Il months visit Dennison was
handsome, witty and winning. His
coming. duly advertised. had set social
Caswell all a-fiutter There We're al
ready things planned for all the first
fortnight. Selma and Bess had been
discussing the most spectacular Of
them. the lawn party AT the old Yer
non place. II was TO come of by moon
light. aided and abetted by japanese
lanterns. There would be dancing OF
course and supper In the big hall OF
the deserted mansion. Everybody was
TO go In costume and masked. Except
for that. Selma and Bess might have
had faint hopes. But Aunt Wllton's
face was flint toward masking II
savored 10 her so much Of acting and
the thcater.
II Hartwell had known that - but
speculation Is idle. He looked blank
indeed when Selma let him see how
the land lay And got II up mostly
so you might dance your fill." he said
sorrowfully How ! wish could
wash the slate clean and begin all
over. Such II great lark | hoped we
might have. aud now 10 think
"Such great lark we will have"
I -. nd ushtritnU