The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-12-01
TIE VIOLET LADY
~ KEITH KENYON.


The haunted chamber at Believer
Was large. oak-paneled room In the
east wing or the building. At the
foot of the great bed was full
length portrait of q young girl In |
white, with a bunch OF violets in her |,
hands. Dick Latham studied the face |
40 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, 30 when he awoke suddenly
and sat up In bed what he saw seemed
merely the continuance OF his dream
of the fair portrait. Somewhere a
clock was striking twelve. In the faint
light from the open door he could
make out clearly . slender, Whitehead
form standing by the mantelpiece.
There was tho odor Of fresh violets in
the room.
At the sound made by his quick
movement. the figure turned. and with
. swift, noiseless 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
. 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
rug.
My world" gasped Dick. rumpling
his hair into = tangle. do ghosts
scatter fresh flowers, l wonder?"
He found Mrs Chaswick walking on
the terrace.
I'VE will not wait for the others"
greeted his hostess I'VE will break
fast now-the reward of early rising"
She led the way to the dining room.
Tell me-" she smiled when they were
seated, did you see q glimpse of our
lovely ghost."
Il did" declared Dick emphatically
"She even left my door ajar when she
| went out. By the time | reached the
door the corridor was empty"
| Mrs. Chaswick's eyes were inscru-
table. Il am afraid you have little
faith in our haunted chamber she
said carelessly.
| Dick picked UP a newspaper from
the morning supply and strolled
across the park to the beech planta-
f! ton. Here were ferns and forget-me-
| nots and purple violets and the song
of birds and the chatter of squirrels.
| which breathed OF war and rumors
of war. but not so deeply that light
! step close beside him failed to rouse
his attention.
He jumped to his feet and faced the
| apparition of the haunted room! A tall
dreamy eyed girl with corn-colored
hair, her hands full of freshly plucked
violets.
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, l don't quite know what you
mean" she faltered
DICK FLUSHED. Il beg your pardon,
he said humbly; but l thought yor
were the ghost that haunted my room
last night"
A startled look came into her viole
eyes. Her face was like a delicate
pink rose.
Il am a very substantial ghost" sh,
said tritely.
"But-a ghost after all?"
"Sometimes!" she flashed with un
: expected spirit.
Then the story of Lady yiole
/ Lang is true-she truly does haun
the guest chamber" he insisted.
People have said so and believe,
it, but / never have thought thei
visions were anything but pleasan
Dreams" said the girl calmly.
Dick continued to look at her wit
such q puzzled expression that at las
she broke down completely, Laughing
unrestrainedly to cover her confusion
mdSt SC1k YOU all aUOut IL, Su
said, sinking down on the moss
bank. II am Mrs. Chaswick's niece
Violet Lang. / arrived at Belltowe
late last night. I've been stopping q
.. the Hammills' place and came owe
: by motor after the ball. Aunt Sar
: sat up for me.
My room Is next to the viole
Lady's room, as we call 1t, and a
violets are my favorite flower l ha
worn a great bunch of them at tn
ball. After my maid had gone, I di
covered that l had nothing to put %
flowers in, and, recollecting that ther
was glass vase on the mantel of til
{ haunted room, l went to get it.
u The room is seldom used, unles
, the house is overcrowded, and | ST.
G pidly entered and went right to til
c mantelpiece to get the vase. Imagin
It my fright when l heard the be
springs creak OF course I vanished
6 Dick smiled Now as q papace