Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-21
HIS G HO S 7

ger The slow south country speech, the grave de-
berate bearing of these old Saxon folk failed not in
leaving their impress the man of the younger
stock.
''Things 90 slower on this side - he had admitted
and, in response to the observation, his motor-car
rarely exceeded the legal speed limit, his opinions
upon the vagaries of the south-coast lines mod
flied.
to south-country folk, and the misfortunes of the
family that for centuries had given squires to Hal
ingdon sat heavy the hearts of the villagers; but
Sussex folk straight dealing and fair of mind,
and, as months slipped by, Halingdon had to admit
that the stranger for all bis Yankee ways and Speech
had a heart that could beat in sympathy with their
own For he man such as they love in Sussex.
judge of horse lover of hound, one who had
a word for the shepherd upon the downs, nod for
the teamster in the plowland, and smile for the
little ones at play in the lanes.
So Naunton Wyland each day grew enam-
ored of his home, made the acquaintance of his neigh
bors, rode TO hounds, took interest in his farm,
affected interest in the village crickea sign
of amiabe intention on the part of an American
and worhily upheld the traditions of the old homo
of the Warnes
NOW it happened in the second year following his
IN coming to Halinpdon that the squire was sitting
before the fire in the long hall 1t was a wild March
evening; he had been hunting till dusk, had dined
early, and at peace with himself and all the
world. The wind howled about the chimney stacks,
the rain beat against the easement but Wyland cared
not whit the run had been straight hounds had
worked stoutly and they had killed their fox-such
a day was lightly paid for by long ride homeward
in the wet. For time he sat recalling the Incl
dents of the run, then gradually he had sunk back
in the chair his eyes had closed and once
again in his dreams he following hedge
and falow with the music of the pack in his ears.
He woke suddenly, and glanced about him into
the shadows beyond the hanging lamp that barely
lit the long, oak paneled chamber, stirred the logs
upon the hearth listened to the moaning of the gale,
turned toward the low table to reach the whisky
tantaus and started with outstretched.
For a moment he stared in the direction of the
distant end of the hail. then rubbed his eyes and
smiled.
"Guess We just about had enough, - he muttered,
dropping his arm; something wrong with the liquor
1 IN bit DONE
He glanced at the clock-it was close on eleven
settled himself into the depths of the chair with
yawn, and his eyeds dropped.
In another moment, to all appearances, he was
sound asleep, save in one particular. His feet out
stretched his rough, square hands buried in his peck
cts of his dinner Jacket, his head sunk amid the
pillows but his eyes wide open, staring ntently
his lips parted in surprise. Among the shadows that
coaked the farther end of the room there stood
fgure-a woman s figure woman in dull blue
gown, with white scarf about her throat, white mus
lin at her wrists. And then smile fickered on the
man s lips his pulse quckened suddenly; he knew
the pose of the head the CLINT of the chestnut resses
the deep brown eyes, the lips, half sad halfsmng,
and the blue dress, through which the paneng was
distinctly visble-it the Halngdon ghost at last.
He felt little surprise less fear his first impulse,
after realizing the identity of his visitor was to rise
AS he leaned forward in the chair the woman ad-
vanced toward him, noselessly, without haste, as
though obvious of his presence He rose to his feet
and she passed within yard of him through the cur
tanned archway into the smaller hail. and began to
ascend the staircase.
Wyland sprang to the foot of the stairs His first
impulse to follow to probe the mystery deeper,
but instnctively he paused The figure was so real,