The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-27
The Euening Story
The Violet Lady.
(BY Keith KENYON J

candlestick.
Ghosts at Belltower?'' he laughed.
"a very gentle, harmless ghost" re-
turned his hostess. Her portrait
hangs in the room-my ancestress,
Lady Violet Lang. Tradition says she
returns to search for a beautiful
sapphire ring given by faithless
lover. 1 have never seen her myself,
but sometimes a guest who has slept
in the haunted chamber declares he
has seen her. But we usually at
tribute it to late supper and haunt
ing Dreams
Then you won't believe any tale
may TELL" said Dick, as he mounted
the stairs.
'I shall take it with grain of SALT"
laughed Mrs. Chaswick. Pleasant
dreams!" she called after him.
THANK you! I shall dream of Lady
Violet he laughed back.
One by one the house guests took
their candles and dispersed for the
mansion settled down to dignified
quiet.
The haunted chamber at Believer
was 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 vio1ets in her hands. Dick
Latham studied the face as he pre-
pared for bed, and he told himself
emphatically that it was small wonder
haunting dreams. Surely that lovely,
dreamy face with those violet eyes
and corn-colored hair would haunt the
dreams of an anchorite!
Dick Latham was not free from
dreams of Lady Violet, so when he
awoke suddenly and sat up in bed
what he saw seemed merely the con-
tinuance of his dream of the fair por-
trait. Somewhere a clock was strik-
ing twelve. In the faint light from
clearly a slender, whitehead 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, noiseless passing drifted
toward the open door and vanished.
Instantly Dick was out of bed and
peering keenly up and down the long
corridor. The dim vistas 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 a faded violet on the hearth
rug.
MY word!' gasped Dick, rumpling
his hair into a tangle. DO ghosts
scatter fresh flowers, 1 wonder?"
He found Mrs. Chaswick walking or
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 get a glimpse of our
lovely ghost? ?"
Il did" declared Dick emphatically.
"Really?" Her tone was amusedly
Really and truly. She even left my
door ajar when she went out. BY the
time 1 reached the door the corridor
was empty"
but it must have been a vivid
dream" commented Mrs Chaswick.
TT was he admitted dry1y
She was thoughtful for awhile.
Did it speak," she asked at last.
mot a sound-simply vanished
through the door. But she left clew
behind" he laughed grimly.
Her eyebrows lifted. "a c1ew?"
"a fresh violet
"A fresh vioIet?''
Yes, drooping a trifle, but not CEN
turtles o1d!'' he said significantly.
Mrs. Chaswick's eyes were inscru-
table. ''I am afraid you have little
faith in our haunted chamber she
said carelessly, and changed the sub
ject.
Dick picked up a newspaper from
the morning supply and strolled
across the park to the beech p1anta-
ton. Here were ferns and forget-me-
notS and purple violets and the song
of birds and the chatter of squirrels.
He became engrossed in a leader
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 ard faced the
apparition of the haunted room. A tall
dreamy-eycd girl with corn-colored
hair her hands full Ct freshly plucxed
violetS.
A little wavering smile broke the
gravity of her face and she inclined
her head with gentle courtesy.
dared Dick.
"Oh. don't quite know what you
meant she faltered:
Dick blushed- 81 beg your pardon
he said hurnbIy. but L thought you
were the ghost that haunted my room
last night
A startled look came into her violet
eyes Fier face was like delicate
pink rose.
Il am a very substantial ghost,
she said tritely.
'tBut-a ghost after alI?''
Sometimes" she flashed with I'M
''Then the story of Lady Violet Lang
is true-she truly does haunt the
guest chamber" he insisted.
People have said so and believed
it, but 1 never have thought their
visions were anything but pleasant
Dreams" said the girl, calmly.
Dick continued to look at her with
such a puzzled expression that at last
she broke down completely, laughing
unrestrained1y to cover her confusion.
II must make z confession to you
it isn't fair" she gurgled. of course,
mol a a in "a h2r tod