Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-11-01

The Owners
Unexpected
Return
Did He See a Ghost
By PAULINE ID. EDWARDS


time will come when IL will show a
scientific relation between mortality
aud immortality"
Il do not believe in ghosts said
John Sladc emphatically.
Daniel Gilbert drew his chair nearer
To the cracking blaze.
IL never believed in ghoSts-until last
year" he said quietly.
What happened last year," SHADES
tone was skeptical.
II saw a ghost"
"Where had you been dining laugh
ed Slade.
~ hadn't dined at all. ] came down
10 the Elms quite Unexpectedly.
wanted 10 look up some papers that |
knew 10 be in the library. The house
had been closed an summer, and at
this time even the caretakcr was away
for few days.
MY plan was to dine at the village
inn. 20 up 10 the Elms. spend the even
ing searching for the papers, sleep IN
my old room and take the first train
10 town after breakfast. Ny train was
several hours late. and when we ar
rived in Elmville the inn was shut up
for the night. If you are acquainted
with our village boniface you viii I'M
derstand that for neither love nor mon
ey nor 'auld lang sync' would he open
his doors 10 a guest after midnight.
So It meant dinnerlcss tramp up to
the house.
1T was nearly O'Clock when | en-
tered the avenue, and | was surprised
TO find the iron gates of the drive wide
open That was against my orders.
1T was a dark night. The stars
shone bright, and young moon threw
a thin silver veil of light III the open
spaces As | came in sight of the
house | stopped still in my tracks.
you may not believe me, John, but
my house was a blaze of light from
basement to cupola. and from behind
the lighted windows came the strains
Of an orchestra. while forms floated 10
and fro IN swaying rhythm 10 the
waltz melody
LAS ! stood rooted to the spot the
church clock in the village struck once.
and as if 10y magic the music ceased
and all motion stopped behind the thin
curtains. An instant later every light
in the house died out as if extinguish-
ed by some mighty breath. l ran up
the steps ana fitted my key IN the
great lock. II yielded, and the heavy
door swung outward to my touch
81 threw ray Of light about the
great entrance hail ana reached for the
button TO switch on the electric lights.
The button clicked without response.
Again aud again | tried. but In vain.
"a search 81 the drawing room and
library revealed the same condition
The current was slut op ana probably
had been since the departure of the
caretakcr
II lighted the large oil lamp on the
library table II was an easy matter
! TO dlg out the documents | wanted
and store them into my leather bag
] As l set the bag on the floor | saw
e lying on the Turkish rug n white rose
fresh ana fragrant, as If just plucked.
& This was no earthly blossom ! dc
{ cided as | laid 1t before me on the "a
o bic. And then | had another shock
p for almost under my hand and ia thu
q very spot on which ! had placed m.
p bag when entering the room was
q small lace handkerchief Across GA
corner was embroidered in tiny letter
girls name
Gilbert blew cloud Of smoke tina
obscurcd his face. John Slade leanc
\ forward In his chair.
and the name-the girls Nance h
ii asked quickly.
.. "yioia-just Viola" said Gilber
!. lreamly.
"T'hat is not all of the story" sal
'r Slade imntiontly. Go on, old man.
'c NO. that - not all. i turned
e. tho mautcIpiccc ana irdned my hea
against the high shelf, trying TO solN
= the mystery Of my housc. for to m
knowledao no woman save the car
takcr. an old black nanny, had darl
70 cned-or shall ! say brighteuedf-m
u doors for several years.
vc when | turned back to the tab
the handkerchief was gone!
r with hardly thought as to wheth'
"A / was seeking shadow OF substance
thrust the rose in my pocket. an
swapping on my pocket electric
10 FASTENED into the hall. There was
ely CLEAN of white In the distance, and
vn pursued It. 1t flicked around a corn
and disappeared up small spiral stat
r. case that red to the second floor.
nj when reached the top of Il
=, stairs the bit Of white became a W
mans graceful form. with some eth
w. real garment Of filmy stuff floating i
In hind her. And as followed | seem,
MI 10 be walking among violets
y Down the grand staircase she va
ished, this time with little clickir
on heels on the polished floor. held h
steadily in my ray OF light and W
after her like flash. We crossed {
drawing room. and then she disa
pearcd through the paneled door In
leads into the west galery-you kno
that long. glass inclosed gallery III
nv father used as a winter parlo
> She flew down the length. and ] hop
10 catch her at the end. but &C {
80. door leading into the gardens s
ye turned her face toward me for one
mt slant, and. by Jove. John. she was I
ry, lovelest girl / ever laid eyes upor
nd and you know / don't care for WON,
lisa "Just "a glimpse OF her beauty, a
tn the door opened and closed sharp
,rd leaving me alone i'm the west gallo
for / was tired out by the exciting adv,