The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-25
THE VIOLET LADY
BY KEITH KENYON.

-.
The haunted chamber at Believer
was a large, oak-paneled room in the
east wing of the building. At the
foot of the great bed was full
length portrait of young girl In
white, with a bunch of violcts in her
hands. Dick Latham studied the face |
as he prepared for bed, and he told
himself emphatically that It was |
small wonder that Lady Violet was
the subject of haunting dreams.
Surely that lovely, dreamy face with |
those violet eyes and corn-colored
hair would haunt the dreams Of an |
anchored!
Dick Latham was not free from
dreams, so when he awoke suddenly |
and sat up IN bed WHIST he saw seemed
merely the continuance Of his dream
Of the fair portrait. Somewhere
clock was striking twelve. In the faint
light from the open door he could
make out clearly . slender. white-clad
form standing by the mantelpiece.
There was the odor Of fresh violets In
the room.
At the sound made by his quick
movement. the figure turned. and with
. swift, n0iseless passing drifted to-
ward the open door and vanished.
Instantly Dick was out of bed and
peering keenly up and down the long
corridor. The dim vista showed not
a sign of the enhancing vision. He
rubbed his eyes doubtfully, closed and
bolted the door and went back to
bed. He slept very little more that
| night, and in the morning when he
| arose to an invigorating cold tub he
| found faded violet on the hearth
4 rug.
/ My word" gasped Dick, rumpling
his hair into tangle. do ghosts
scatter fresh flowers. | wonder"
He found Mrs. Chaswick walking on
the terrace.
I'VE will not wait for the others"
greeted his hostess. We will break
fast now-the reward of early rising.
she lod the way to the dining room.
Tell me-" she smiled when they were
| HtdltU, ulu Npu Stt EllilDot VI Jul
lovely ghost?
Il did, declared Dick emphatically.
She even lett my door aiar when she
went out. BY the time reached the
door the corridor was empty"
Mrs. Chaswick's eyes were inscru-
table. "a an afraid you have little
faith in our haunted chamber she
said carelcssly.
Dick picked up newspaper from
the morning supply and strolled
across the park to the beech planta-
ton. Here were rer:i5 end f3r2etm me-
nots and purple viOlets and the song
of birds aud the chatter of squirrels.
He became engrossed in a leader
which breathcd of war and rumors
Of war, but not so deeply that light
step close beside him failed to rouse
|, his attention.
> He jumped to bis feet and faced the
apparition- of the haunted room! A tall
dreamy eyed girl with corn.colored
. hair, her hands full of freshly plucked
yiOlets.
A little wavering smile broke the
gravity OF her face and she inclined
}, her head with gentle courtesy.
Good morning, Lady Violet,
dared Dick.
oh, ! don't quite know what 20,
meant" she faltered
Dick blushed. Il beg your pardon,
he said humbly; but l thought 70,
were the ghost that haunted my room
last night"
J. A startled look came into her viole
i eyes. Her face was like a delicat,
pink rose.
8 Il am a very substantial ghost" sh'
Il said tritely.
8 "But-a ghost after all?"
II Sometimes" she flashed with I'm
q expected spirit.
q Then the story of Lady Viole
Lang is true-she truly does haun
l. the guest chamber" he insisted.
n People have said SO and believe,
T. it, but ! never have thought thei
. visions were anything but pleasan
II Dreams" said the girl calmly.
p Dick continued to look at her wit
10 such puzzled expression that at las
N she broke down completely, laughin
D. unrestrainedly to cover her confusion
ls Il must tell you all about it," sh
. said, sinking down on the moss
bank. Il am Mrs. Chaswick's niece
10 Violet Lang. l arrived at Belltowe
&c late last night. I've been stopping a
T. the Hammills' place and came owe
@ by motor after the ball. Aunt Sar
10 sat up for me.
'i Ladys room, as we call 1t, and a
~ violets are my favorite flower I ha
~ worn a great bunch of them at tn
ball. After my maid had gone, dii
covered that had nothing to put m
flowers in, and, recollecting that ther
,e was a glass vase On the mantel of tn
O. haunted room, l went to get ii.
re The room is seldom used unles
IN the house is overcrowded, and | st,
Ii pidly entered and went right to tn
IN mantelpiece to get the vase. Imagin
* my fright when | heard the be
he springs creak. or course l vanished
Dick smiled. Now. as a panace
IA iot my hi6ht' uay hol nave tnor
10 violets to put with this one?" II
Il. pointed to the faded violet in til
ut lapel of his coat.
W She gave them to him, and they SO
it and talked about ghosts and the broo
ID and birds and flowers and sundry oil
Of er things. Even before they wer
in to luncheon Dick Latham had mad
up his mind to one thing-he mu,
add vet another yiolet tn those a