, 1912-12-12

Il
ITS all nonsense about ghosts. I've
slept here twenty times, Penelope
People have seen my light and my
shadow, that's all I'm a pretty sub
stantial ghost"
"Oh. dear. what a disappointment!
AND there are no spooks, not even
Mrs. Renwood7"
. course she may come back. dear,
but you'd hardly expect a respectable
lady spook to visit the place with me
stopping here. Even ghosts nave
regard for conventionaiities. She
couldn't"-
How much more respectable than
l." Penelope murmured plaintively.
Forgive me" he implored.
II would, only you are SO wet"
The DOR above was locked. but
Shaw swung the az 50 vigorously that
any but a very strong nerved ghost
must have been frightened to death
once more.
Its my hotise. you know" he ex
planned from the top step. There we
are! Come up. Penelope. The fort ID
yours
She followed MIN into the haf
above. In silence they walked along
the bare floors through empty rooms
until at last he OPENED a door IN what
proved to be the left wing. To her
surprise this room was comfortably
furnished. There were ashes IN the
big fireplace. and there were lamps
which a been nsed recently. for
they were fIied With oil.
"a -~H~xg ARA u~~.~-.v
he explained "I have slept or that
couch Last winter ] came up here
30 hunt. Ny cottage wasn't finished
SC | stayed here. m confess I've
heard strange soundsnnow, don't shiv-
err! Once or twice I've been Q biz
nervous. but I'm sun alive. you see."
BE lighted the wicks in the two big
lamps while she looked on with chills
creeping up and down her back. "TM
ha We a bully Ore IN the fireplace In just
a minute"
let me help you." she suggested.
coming quite elise 70 him with uneasy
g~lances over her shoulders
Ten minutes later they were sitting
before a roaring FIRE. quite content even
though there was Q suggestion Of
amazed ghosts lurking m the halfway
behind them. No doubt old man
Grimes and his wife, II they awoke In
the course of the night, groaned deep
prayers In response TO the bright light
from the windows Of the haunted
house. Shaw and Penelope smiled BE-
curely as they listened to the bowling
storm outside.
We'll. this is trespassing." she said.
beaming a happy smile upon him.
81 shall be Obliged to drive you out.
alas" he said red%ectively. do you
recall my vow7 As long as you are
a B~azelhurst. l must perforce eject
you"
Not tonightr' she cried in mock dis
may.
But, as an Alternative, youm not
be . Bazelhurst long" be went on
eagerly. suddenly taking her hands
into his. foreetful OF the wounded
left. I'm going 10 Try t~respassing
myself. Tomorrow I'm going to see
POUR brother. It's regular. you know.
I'm going to tell the head Of your
clan that you are coming over to
Shaw, heart and hand"
"OhF' she exclaimed 'You-you-
no. no! You must not do thatP'
But my dear. you are going to
marry me-"
"YesHl-suppose So" she murmured
helpsessly. THAT isn't what l meant.
mean It isn't necessary to ask Cecil.
Ask me: III consent for him"
Half an hour passed Then ne went
to the window and looked out into the
storm.
"You must lie down and get some
Sleep" he insisted. coming back to her
The storms letting up. but We can't
leave here for quite a while. RI sit up
and watch. I'm too happy to sleep"
She protested. but her heavy eyes were
his allies Soon he sat alone before the
DIRE; she slept sound on the broad
couch In the corner. a steamer rug
across her knees. A contented smile
curved bis lips as he gazed reflectively
into the flames. He was not thinking
of Mrs. Renwood's amiable ghost
How long she had been asleep Pene-
lope did not know. She awoke with a
start. her hesh creeping. A nameless
dread came over her; she felt that she
was utterly alone and surrounded by
horrors. It was a full minute-a sick
ening hour. It seemed-before she real
lied that she was in the oom with the
man she loved. Her frightened eyes
caught sight Of him lying back In the
chair before the dying fire in the chin
ney place. The lights were low. the
shadows gaunt and chill
A terrified exclamation started to her
lips. Her ears again caught the sound
Of some n moving In the house
some alien visitor. There was no mis-
taking the sound-the distant. sepulch
raj laugh and the shufiing Of feet. al
most at the edge Of the couch. 1t
soamad