The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-07-19

| hhA eNN hHhN u hAN Aatf TOT MttHtH&
Jus, a glimpse OF her beauty, and
the door opened aud closed sharply,
) leaving me alone IN the west gallery,
! was tired out by the exciting adyen-
ture or the night and too wide awake
To sleep. so ] went back 10 the library.
got my bag put out the light aud left
the house, | spent the night sitting
on bench in the railroad station. and
II Is needless TO say that took the
first train 10 town"
And that Is ally' asked slade after
little silence.
Isn't II cnoughf"
you didn't search the house, make
any effort TO discover whether the in
truder was spook or human--didnt
you do anythingT
Nary thing. ! went abroad the fol-
I lowing week and at times forgot the
Incident. A few days ago II came back
TO me. and SO | invited you down 10.
spend this night with me at the Films. /"
Why this particular nightY" de-
manded Slade suspiciously.
| Pe'ausc ~ the anniversary oi my
adventure with Viola" replied Gilbert
| coolly. II want n witness TO further
demonstrations, you know"
John Slade sank back into the shad.
ows OF his chair and smoked thought.
fully. Once he burst into reminis-
cent chuckle.
II suspect you have lost your heart
to this Viola, as you call her. Was
she so lovelyf'
"She was perfect" said Gilbert sin
cerely. Her hair was that dusky
black that frames the face mistily, you
know; her eyes were almost golden
and her brows fine and black like her
hair but her coloring, her features.
her form oh, ] say, Slade. can't get
her face out OF my mind!'
Slade lighted fresh cigar. II must
tell you an incident OF the same sort
that happened to friend Of mine"
he said solemnly, land II may serve
to throw light on your own affair"
"Out with IT," said Gilbert briefly.
ITS only 10 o'clock now You have
till midnight, John
This man owned grand old place
In the country. but he was bachelor
and never looked at IT,
There was young cousin Of the
mans, a girl who was beauty and
a toast Never mind her name. She
has married and changed 1t for another.
This girl was up to all sorts OF mis-
chief and FRANKS and carried lot Of
scatterbrained young folk with her In
many harmless escapade.
"She conceived the idea OF giving a.
ball I'm the old mansion Of her cousin.
Now, / have not the slightest doubt
that the man would have gladly con-
sented to turn the house over for such
a merrymaking had they asked him.
But, no; Of course half the fun lay In
the clandestine proceedings!
"And SO one night when the moon
was young and the aged caretaker of
on leave several great automobiles roll
ed quietly up the long avenue, and
the mischievous girl and her friends
and their reluctant chaperons troopeT
through side entrance and made their
way to the great ballroom on the sec.
ond floor
'The room had been cleaned in some
mysterious manner, and when the cleo
trio chandeliers were ablaze and the
polished floor stretched forth an invit-
ing surface the small orchestra they
had brought tuned up, and the fun be-
gan. Several servants unpacked re.
freshments in an anteroom while the
young people danced and between
dances wandered over the grand old
house lighted from top to bottom by
IAura's"-
Laura" shouted Gilbert, but slade
Hold on there, Danny! didn't
mean to make a slip! The house was
lighted up and the dancing was going
on and everything was going along
finely when suddenly a messenger ap-
peared among them. The station agent
from the depot, who had known Of the
came to say that the
owner had arrived at the station and
was on his way to the house. He had
Jumped on his wheel and sped with the
message.
They worked fast and without judg-
nent One bright soul cut the electric
light wires and plunged the house In
otal darkness. Before search could
% made for candles and escape made
he front door was opened and the In
ruders heard footsteps below stairs.
After awhile the library door opened,
md all was silent
"By aid Of matches and the sta
ion masters bicycle lantern the party
cached the ground floor and by stealth
eft the house, That was all part Of
he fun, don't you know. And then,
ust as they were going to leave, one
( the girls discovered she had lost her
yet handkerchief and was sure she had
eft IL In the library. She recovered 1t,
Though she would not say how, and
he was quite brenthless when she
limbed into the motor. And that ~
H."
Daniel Gilbert arose 10 his full
Il. A. a ~ f. a