The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-20
The Owners
Unexpected
Return
Did He See a Ghost ?
~ PAULINE D. EDWARDS

"a Society FOE fSyCulCdl neSedrcn
Ina some good work lately" said
Vt 70 his friend Slade as they
Ieside the open fire. II believe the
will come when it will show a
ti6c relation between mortality
Immortality"
do not believe in ghosts" said
Slade emphatically.
biel Gilbert drew his chair nearer
cracking blaze.
over believed in ghosts-until last
he said quietly.
hat happened last Year," SHADES
Was skeptical.
|aw a ghost"
here had you been dining?" laugh
bde.
hadn't dined at all. I came down
Elms quite unexpectedly. l
pd to look up some papers that l
10 be in the library. The house
heen closed all summer, and at
ime even the caretaker was away
few days.
plan was to dine at the village
b m to the Films. spend the even
earching for the papers, sleep in
IA room and take the first train
IN after breakfast. My train was
h hours late, and when we ar
in Elmville the inn was shut up
e night. If you are acquainted
bur village boniface you will I'M
nd that for neither love nor mon
'auld lang syne' would he open
pors to a guest after midnight.
meant dinnerless tramp up to
puSe.
was nearly l o'clock when l en-
the avenue, and J was surprised
the iron gates. Of the drive wide
That was against my orders.
was dark night. The stars
bright, and a young moon threw
silver veil Of light in the open
As l came in sight of the
stopped still in my tracks.
may not believe me, John, but
buse was blaze of light from
lent to cupola. and from behind
fitted windows came the strains
orchestra, while forms floated to
BIO in swaying rhythm to the
melody.
! stood rooted to the spot the
clock in the village struck once,
If by magic the music ceased
motion stopped behind the thin
ps An instant later every light
house died out as If extinguish-
some mighty breath. l ran up
Fps and fitted my key in the
Jock, 1t yielded, and the heavy
Tuns outward to my touch.
brew a ray Of light about the
ntrance hall and reached for the
to switch on the electric lights.
luton clicked without response.
and again l tried, but in vain.
earch of the drawing room and
revealed the same condition.
trent was shut off and probably
zen since the departure of the
Ter
shted the large oil lamp on the
table. 1t was an easy matter
out the documents l wanted
Ore them into my leather bag.
yet the bag on the floor l saw
4 the Turkish rug a white rose,
ld fragrant, as If just plucked.
was no earthly blossom I de-
: laid it before me on the ia
! hd then l had another shock,
lost under my hand and in the
ot on which had placed my
leh entering the room was a
ace handkerchief. Across one
was embroidered in tiny letters
name."
blew cloud of smoke that
Ills face. John Slade leaned
NJ in his chair.
I Tue name-the girls name?" he
quickly.
-lust VIOLA" said Gilbert
y not all Of the story" said
upatlently. go on, old man"
saat Is not all. l turned to
.,eplece and leaned my head
.ue high shelf, trying to solve
" .ery of my house, for to my
sc no woman save the care.
. Ud black nanny, had dark.
= Suall | say brightened?-m
n several years.
. turned back to the table
Al .aSerchief was gone!
III hardly a thought as to whether
eAing shadow or substance ]
Il .e rose in my pocket, and,
VI my pocket electric,
u.o the hall. There was a
y !, "uite in the distance, and
Il : II licked around a corner
II peafed up small spiral stair.
gu 10 the second floor.
reached the top of the
~ Of white became a wo.
" se,ui form, with some ethe
vd 'I' Of ilmy stuff floating be
~ n, anu as followed seemed
aug among violets.
e grand staircase she van
ri \. tlme with little clicking
IU r h polished floor. / held hel
n H. NY ray Of light and was
D s Ae lash. We crossed the
N