The Dolores star., 1909-11-12

| NuAt am uot UrOuBnt 10 CO0IO0IOu.
But there goes the bell, Some Of the
guests are arriving. Be ready to
bow your prettiest. but remember
there IL to be no unmasking and NO
talking until supper time. I have In
vited ghosts and dare them to prove
themselves Of more earthly stun TIL
betrayed by demands Of healthy ap-
| petite"
Alice blessed the shelter of her
mask A. she bowed to the first ar
rivals. Tears are seldom considered
adorning. But she gradually forgot
herself in the novelty OF the enter
tainment. Under Cousin Edith's gay
Leadership the ghostly company tried
their fortunes in many ways. showing
unexpected interest in futures and be-
having in = most undignifled and un-
| ghostlike fashion. Often q startled
laugh or exclamation revealed some
carefully hidden identity.
| Alice tried her luck as boldly M
the rest. but with an Indifference
which needed no stimulation, and Fate,
the fckle Jade. insisted on pouring all
blessings and happiness. The girl
smiled sadly. Happiness for her!
| Yet when they launched their boats
and lit their candle freight she, too,
murmured name-Frank-for q
strange fantasy had possessed her.
Frank was dead, yes-but his ghost
might come to her that night. Her
cheeks were scarlet with excitement
Cousin Edith would have smiled ap-
pfovingly II she had seen the girls
face as she watched the sailing of
the mimic craft. Again the Fates
were kind to her. for her taper burned
the longest-so to her should come
the granting Of her wish. She trem.
bled and yet there was q wild exhil.
aration at the thought. The girls in
turn were trying their luck in the
darkened room with the magic mirror.
when . distracted young man sought
out Cousin Edith.
Miss Merton" he gasped. II must
have some brandy quick. It's for
Alice"
Then ~ he became aware Of her
mute astonIshment. he whispered
more coherently: IT'S Miss Malt
land. She tainted In the mirror room
and can't make her open her eyes.
Then Cousin Edith became her
customary quick-witted self and fol-
lowed him with her remedies so silent.
~ and expeditiously that none Of thu
company was aware OF the catastro-
phe. Yet even in her bewildermeut
she had noticed one thing. Frank El.
iis had called her cousin Alice. AlDo.
as she watched him feverIshly chains
the girls inert fingers. she learned
something else. He loved her and
there was romance here. the mys-
terry Of which was as yet known to
only the parties concerned.
Il wasn't aware that you were &C.
quainted with Alice-Mr Ellis" she
said. quietly.
The mans eyes never left the white
face ~ he answered wildly-"Yes.
knew her-I used to know her. It's
my fault that don't know her now.
I never thought would frighten her
SO II I looked over her shoulder into
the mirror. oh. do you think she will
open her eyes?"
Even as he spoke there was q faint
hutter Of the lids and Alice saw the
pale face and white funeral garments
bending over her. Her eyes closed
again. THE ghost. the ghost!" she
moaned in terror. Her lips were
growing blue again when Edith seized
the chill. trembling hands in her
warm ones.
Alice. dear. you are dreaming" she
said in tender tones. There are no
ghosts here-only Cousin Edith
and one other. You know him Alice.
It IL an old friend of yours. Open
your eyes and tell him you are glad
to see him."
The clear, incisive tones Of Edith's
calm voice restored courage to her
half-fainting cousin. Alice opened her
eyes and gazed. still half fearfully.
into the anxious face of her long-lost
lover.
frank" she whispered. "is It really
you. are you really alive?' M
Ellis caught her in his, arms and
raised her to her feet. She stood
swaying. her head bowed upon his
shoulder. Cousin Edith glided> softly
from the apartment and closed the
door behind her. The color crept
back into the girls pale face %
Franks lips touched hers.
Poor little sweetheart" he muir.
INJURED, $50 you really thought was
dead? 1t was all my fault. dear. my
foolish pride that kept me from writ
ing to beg forgiveness. But only
just got back from the Orient and
didn't know I was reported a. being
among the missing in the wreck Of
the Evening Star At least would
not have left you in such suspense.
whatever our quarrel may have been.
I began . search for you ~ soon -
returned. and, finding you were stay
ing with Miss Merton, decided TO Join
the maskers. make myself known to
you and beg for pardon tonight. But