Connecticut western news., 1909-01-14
What a Child Saw.


"It Is
 Where is the ghost?'
 'rhe ghost, herr, is only to be seen by children. They describe 1t as wo- :lan raking leaves. When she looks up at them they see only a skull instead of face. She may be raking over there now Yet we cannot see her."
 Annette, who was with me, looked at I1e with frightened expression. We were in the valley of ChaEonix sur rounded by snowy peaks. among wLich Mont Blanc rose highest. Hear ing of the legend, I lad engaged guide to conduct US to thc spot the ghost was said to inhabit.
 Your children hereabout," I said to the guide, "are doubtless under the in- fuence of the story. Imagination paints the image on the retina of the child's e-c"
 The guide shook his head negatively. If herr will bring a child here who has never heard of the legend he will know better
 ''I hat is a proposition which meets my concurrence. An American family arrived at the hotel this morning. among them q little girl of seven. What do you say, Annette? Shall we make the test with herr"
 Annette winced She placed the tips of her fingers on my sleeve as if for protection.
 The act gave me a suggestion. It was not clearly defined, nor had much faith in it. Nevertheless, I had mind to proceed.
 eve will bring the child here" I added, then, turning to the guide, "and, Herman, if she sees the ghost l will give you an American gold eagle for memento of the occasion"
 Thanks, herr. I consider myself richer by that amount
 Don't say iCe will bring her here," said Annette, with a shrug. Il shall have nothing to do with the matter"
 Surely you do not expect-well, then, Herman must lose his eagle"
 "I'll come" said Annette after bit of struggle with herself.
 We succeeded in getting permission from the child's parents the next aft crnoon to take her to walk with us. l felt sure that If spirituality would en- able her to discern the ghost she would sec 1t. She was like q waif from spirit land, large dreamy eyes wonder eyes I would call them-the face of q child Madonna, scnS'tive lips, the figure of sprite. She walked with us in silence, treadlng the ground so lightly that I sometimes wondered If she touched 1t at all. Annette could not keep her eyes off her, seemingly enthralled by her, though our quest may have had much to do with that. Besides, our surroundings were i'm preSsive. What is there more typical 1 of the infinite than mountain rais- | ing its white head into the heavenly | blue? And what more typical of in- l finity than a host of such mountains 1 looming on all sides, three snow fringed glaciers wriggling like ser l pents down their sides? Our little friend looked up at the peaks with a | sort of trustfulness, as if they were i animate-ther older brothers, resting, silent. conscious of latent power. The wind was fresh, and 1t seemed that 1t ! would take up the child and carry her to some far peak gilded by the after noon sun where she would be nearer 1 her own country.
 As we drew near the spot we sought ! Annette weakened. I saw in her ex- pression that she feared we would l have evidence of the specter's pres ence The child was walking before us, and Annette, sidliIg toward me, l laid her hand on my arm, as before, this time clutching it in terror. 1 We stood on the ground we had oc- cupied the day before, looking out on i the spot Herman had referred to when l he said, "She may be ralSing over there now" X wind rolled over some dead leaves where " fancied the wo- nan worked. Annette drew near me so near that her sllken sleeve rubbed 1 against my am. The child stood a few steps before US, looking at the mountains. the valleys, anything, ev- erything that made up the view.
 Herman has lost his eagle" said in q low voice to Annette. 'She sees nothing unusual"
 Thank heaven" was the whispered reply.
 What a desolate spot" I remarked aloud. Not a living thing here but ourselves"
 Yes. there is" said the child. There's woman over there raklnC ! dead leaves"
 felt a convulzivc grip on my arm. knew Annette needed support, and l put my arm about her to steady her. confess I vas startled myself.
 "Whcre?" I asked of the child.
 lover there." pointing. She sees us. There are only holes where the eyes should b2."
 "Oh. come cwayr'
 !. HGs Annette who w~ilcd the words. But she had no power D c1. Ny plan had worked too well. Its ob- iect-to excite in her that craving for protection which would throw her Into my arns--had succeeded, but l feared the shock. I took her in my arms and put my face against her cold check. I . l fN