The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-04-17

He stumbled to a chair and sat
down and waited. Soon. with a sud
den snap, his lamp went out. Now,
how the dickens was that done?' he
exclaimed, nervously. as. with eyes
growing accustomed TO the darkness.
he watched the ~rectangle Of the win.
dows slowly grow into existence
against the moonlight night. Hello,
what now"
A white vapor filled the room. bill
lowing between him and the window;
there was an appalling shrek, and a
woman's form darted through the
smoke, threw itself against the win
dow panes-snd vanished.
BY George," Wilmot cried. excited
ly. Here, you! Come back here,
ghOst,"
There was an i%rstant's pause; then
the white form flashed out again and
stood facing him. Almost as sudden
b his self.possession returned to him,
and he rose and bowed. "Miss-er-
Mason-Lady Dolly presume" he
said.
The figure bowed grsvely.
Thank you. l am Jack Wilmot. !
hope you do not object to my being
here He tried to take her hand,
but his fingers ratified on the window.
pane and the figure vanished.
81 beg your pardon" he exclaimed.
Il didn't understand the rules Of the
game. II you'll come back, I'll try
not to offend again. See, / am sitting
down now out Of reach"
The figure flashed out again, The
moonlight had grown stronger, and he
could descry the features, white as
death, yet comely, and note the clus
tering white hair, the welLmolded
arms, the delicate figure.
All, thank you! thank you" he
exclaimed. But won't you sit down?
really can't"
The ghosts lips quivered. "Begone,"
she said, in menacing tones. THE
presence of strangers in this, my an
cestral home, disturbs my rest. When
they come | must rise and drive them
forth, Until then | rest in dreamless
sleep, lulled by the changing seasons
as they spin over my lonely grave
Wilmot's eyes twinkled. That sen
timent is worthy of the age in which
YOU used to live, Lady Dolly" he said.
ITS just the sort of thing the novels
tell us our g%rand-daddies used to say.
I'll have more confidence in those old
l%ove-tales hereafter. But can't you
materialize for just an hour or so?
The chickens have all gone to roost.
and there won't be any cock.crow to
bother you for quite a while. Cant
you, now? It's rather unsatisfactory
talking to an impalpable reflection or
smoke, you know"
The ghost shook her head. BE
ware, rash mortal" she said. "Yor
know not what you ask. Mayhap m!
touch would burn deep into your yer!
bone. Besides, it isn't proper"
Wilmot chuckled. Il didn't keov
ghosts required chaperones," he said
Don't you ever reach years Of discre
tion on the-the other side? Don
you think you might venture?'
The chill lines of the figures fac,
relaxed, and her lips trembled will
something very like a smile. "Of my
self / may not appear in the flesh.
she said. But, p~erchance, some 20
tent force might sway me from my
sphere"
AS the last word passed her lips, h,
stepped forward and held out hi
hand. But, as before, it passed through
the vapor and rang on the glass
Then, with a snap, the figure disap
peared, and an instant later, turning
he saw her at his elbow. sweepinl
him an elaborate curtsy in the moon
light. 81 am here" she said.
something-perhaps it was tn,
moon. high in the heavens, full. glorl
ous-made Wilmot's heart beat faster
"How-how lovely you are" he STAN
mered. MANY a man must have born,
a sad heart all his days after vol
died. Tell me, did any follow to seei
you on that silent shore whittier yol
vent so young?'
The ghost shook her head. "Mel
did not die for love in my time sh,
said. DO they in yours?"
Half -unconsciously Wilmot took he
hands in his. Not often, l an afraid,
he said. "Oftener they are held bacl
by other ties. When they are not, tn
world says they are fools or mad. So
: too, It says of those who love at frs
sight. But there is a love that spring
TO life, fullborn at a moments nc
tice-a love stronger than death
stronger than the grave. Dolly, Dolly
can you not live again. for mel"
Slowly she lifted her face 10 his
and even by the m%oonbeams he coult
see the loyelight shining in her eyes
Closer he drew her until his lips werl
pressed to hers-no ghost, no mater
; allied spirit, but a living, breathing
woman, warm with life.
{ For an instant he held her, the
she pushed him back with all tn.
strength Of her slender wrists. "Ohl
: she walled, I've betrayed my trust
/ a V brighten you away now
J and NOR uranddad will losa his nj