The Springfield herald., 1912-03-15

SnOeS. lie uOOI new opSh SuNeNN.'''
and the noise of gay voice tumoled
into the rom.
Dreaming In the dark. as usual" 1t
called. while its owner stood hover
Ing at the threshold. Shall l come In
and disturb you?"
NO" said Yvette." scrambling hur-
riedly to her feet. almost stumbling In
her eagerness. II was just coming
down"
| She passed her arm beneath that
OF the intruder. but her heart was
futtering still as they descended the
stairs. Surprising 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 to be in need of some quaint
garments to help In the dressing OF
some quaint characters she was get
ting up, persuaded the old housekeep-
er to let her rummage In an old attic
at the top of the house, where all such
treasure trove was to be found.
Yvette was repaid by the rare spoils
brought to light. Yvette's laughter
and chatter filed 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 dusty
photograph to the staring housekeep-
er. the photograph of tall young
man in tweed. with an exceedingly
merry smile.
Why, bless me- said the house
keeper. If 1t isn't the picture of the
young squire-him who owned Fox
Graft 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, l should say. was 'tweeny'
maid in those days in this very house.
Many and many time have l seen
him come riding up to this door. He
was engaged to our young lady--a fine
young lady she was, too-he was fair
set on her. 1t seemed as II he was fair
keep away from the house. She took
on terrible when he died"
rs she dead. too. then?" queried
Yvette, still in that pale. small
voice.
she married a London gentleman
afterward," said the housekeeper. land
had seven children. But 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 the 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.
so. little Yyette, you've found me
out at last" he said quickl. We'll. i
had meant to ring down the curtain
myself on the little comedy long be-
fore this; but was a coward. Yvette.
afraid to face the dark. for l shall be
very lonely. little Yvette. out there. all
alone in the cold and the never ending
night"
But 1t wasn't me you came to see"
said Yvette. standing before him, slim
and dropping, in her white apron: It
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
it 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!" 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.
F, they are beyong life. My little Yvette.
it must be goodby."
Then If that is 3d." 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. great gulf of cold air SEEM
ed suddenly to envelop her. She was
frozen, frozen to the bone; then mer-
ciful darkness came upon her. and she
fell forward on her face.
| fal nd
was happy in her choice, but she
| ,oyar 1oyad har b,c che had