Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-07-05
John sIade sank back into the shad.

John Slade sank back into the shad-
ows Of his chair and smoked thought
fully. Once he burst into reminis-
cent chuckle
II suspect you have lost your heart
to this Viola. as you call her. Was
she SO lovely"
"She was perfect" said Gilbert SIN
cerely. Her hair was that dusky
black that frames the face mistily.
you know; her eyes were almost gold
en- and her brows fine and black like
her hair; but her colOring. her fea-
lures. her form-oh. say. Slade. ]
can't get her face out Of my mind"
Slade lighted fresh cigar. II must
tell you IN incident of the same sort
that happened to friend of mine"
he said solemnly. land it may serve
to throw light ON your own affair"
"Out with It," said Gilbert briefly
Its only 10 o'clock now. You have
till midnight. John"
This man owned a grand old place
In the country. but he was bachelor
and never looked Mt 1t.
There was young cousin of the
mans. n girl who was beauty ami
q toast. Never mind her name. She
has married and changed it for an
other. This girl was up 10 all scrtS
Of mischief and pranks and carried
a lot of scatterbrained young folk
with her in many harmless csca'
pade.
"She conceived the idea of giving q
ball in the old mansion of her cousin.
Now, ! have not the slightest doubt
that the man would have gladly con.
sented to turn the house over for such
merrymaking had they asked him.
But. no: OF course half the fun lay In
the clandestine proceedings!
"And so one night when the moon
was young and the aged caretaker off
on leave several great automobiles
rolled quietly up the long avenue, and
the mschievous girl and her friends
and their reluctant chaperons trooped
through a side entrance and made
their way to the great ballroom on the
second floor.
1.-THE room had been cleaned In some
mysterious manner, and when the elec.
trio chandeliers were ablaze and the
polished floor stretched forth an invit.
ing surface the small orchestra they
had brought tuned up, and the fun be-
gan. Several servants unpacked re.
freshments in an anteroom while the
young people danced and between
dances wandered over the grand old
house lighted from top to bottom by
Laura's"-
Laura shouted Gilbert, but Slade
interrupted:
Hold on. there, Danny. didn't
mean to make slip! The house was
lighted up and the dancing was going
on and everything was going along
finely when suddenly a messenger ap-
peared among them. The station agent
from the depot. who had known Of tie
merrymaking. came 70 say that the
owner had arrived AT the station and
was on his way to the house. lie had
jumped on his wheel ard sped with
the message.
"They worked fast and without judi
ment. One bright soul cut the electric
light wires and plunged The house in
total darkness. Eefore search could
be made for candles aud escape made
the front door was opened and the IN
truders heard footsteps below stairs.
After awhile the library door opened
and all WAS silent.
"By all OF matches and the station
masters bicycle lantern the party
reached the ground floor and by stealth
left the house. That was all part Of tie
fun. don't you know. And then Just
rs they were going to leave one of the
girls discovered she had lost her pc!
handkerchief and was sure she had
left II In the library. She recovered
II. although she would not say how.
and she was quite breathleSs when she
climbed into the motor. And that is
ALL.
Daniel Gilbert arose to his full
height and laid his pipe on the mantel.
And that was Laura. who got up the
party and everything. shall bless
your wife all he- days. John. If she
will introduce me to my ghost girl
viola-.Yioa who?"
"Viola Blair She happens to be vis-
iting Laura now. hardly think you'll
find her in the west gallery tonight.
Dan"
Gilbert pulled a time table from bis
pocket and looked ut his watch. "She
is quite free?" he asked abruptly.
Slade yawned and stretched his long
arms luxuriously She was-er-- until
we always thought she had met her
fate just year ago tonight. She has
never been quite the same since. |
can't say any more
There's train to town at 11:o5.
Well take 1t. You and Laura owe me
something. John"
We'll pay it with compound Inter
est. That will be Viola" said Slade,
grasping his friends outstretched
hand.