The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-21

&
called. While its owner stood hover
+ gng a. the threshold. shall come II
and disturb your"
NO" said Yvette." scranbling bur
-iedly 20 her feet. almost stumbling In
her eagerness. Il was Just coming
down"
She passed her arm beneath that
Of the intruder, but her heart was
futtering still as they descended the
stairs. supposing he had been dis
covered: She needn't have troubled
Had she glanced back into the room
as she came out she would have seen
that anybody entering would have
found nothing but the twilight and
emptiness.
+ Some few days afterward Yvette,
CHANGING 10 be in need OF some quaint
garments TO help in the dressing OF
some quaint characters she was get
F ting up, persuaded the old housekeep-
er TO let her rummage in an old attic
at the top Of the house, where all such
7 treasure trove was to be found.
Yvette was repaid by the rare spells
brought to light. Yvette's laughter
and chatter filled the somber room
and deadened the sound OF the rain
outside. But presently the laughter
stopped, and only the rain beat loudly
on the SILL
/ 'Who-who is that?" asked Yvette,
white Tipped as she held out a dusty
! photograph to the staring housekeep-
! er, the photograph Of a tall young
man in tweed, with an exceedingly
merry smile.
I "Why, bless me-" said the house
keeper, 'if 1t isn't the picture Of the
/ Craft manor. He was killed out hunt
ing-a terrible stir 1t caused in the
countryside, remember"
How long ago was this?' asked
Yvette DULY.
Let me see,'' said the housekeeper.
pondering; "a matter of 20 years or
more, I should say. l was 'tweenT'
maid in those days in this very house.
Many and many a time have I seen
him come riding up to this door. He
was engaged t. uryoung lady-a fine
young lady she was, too-he was fair
set on her. 1t seemed as If he was fair
keep away from the house. She took
on terrible when he died"
us she dead, too, them" queried
Yvette, still in that pale, small
voice.
"She married a London gentleman
afterward," said the housekeeper, "and
had seven children. But l have heard
she wasn't happy. She's been dead
| these four years or more" she added.
'Why did you think 1t necessary to
lie to me?" asked Yvette very coldly
Of tie ghost that evening.
The ghost, who was lounging com.
fortably in his favorite arm chair, sud.
denly sat upright. His dark eyes lin.
gered long on her white face
$50, little Yvette, you've found me
out at last" he said quickly. well,
had meant to ring down the curtain
myself on the little comedy long be-
fore this; but I was a coward. Yvette,
/ afraid to face the dark, for I shall be
very lonely, little Yvette, out there, al.
alone in the cold and the never ending
night"
But it wasn't me you came to see."
said Yvette, standing before him, slim
and dropping. in her white apron; ii
was that other girl-the one you were
engaged to-"
The chose rose suddenly and came
and stood beside her
81 came to see you always after the
first time" he said softly. This first
time admit it was to revisit the spot
where l had spent my happiest days
but afterWard- All, Yvette, no one
has eyes SO blue as you. They make
1t hard for me to say goodby"
But why should 1t be goodby?"
cried Yvette, sharply, and moved to-
ward him with extended arms. Ghost
or no ghost, / love you'll" She strove
to clasp him, but gently he eluded
her.
mo one may love the dead" he told
her gently. "The dead are beyond love
they are beyong Life. My little Yvette
it must be goodby."
''Then If that Is So" cried Yvette
weeping, 'ah, kiss me once before you
go; Only to feel your arms around
me, only to feel your lips on mine, will
comfort me in all the empty years"
She stopped. A strangled cry broke
from her. q great gulf OF cold air seem.
ed suddenly to envelop her. She was
frozen, frozen to the bone; then a mer.
ciful darkness came upon her, and she
fell forward on her face.
In after years Yvette married, and
was happy In her choice, but she
never loved her husband as she had
loved the ghcst-The Sketch.
Snowstorm In London.
There Is always a touch Of incongru-
ity about snow In London. Gilbert
White, who visited London On Januarv