The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-08-24
THE GHOST LAID
BY MILDRED WHITE
Copyright, ls22 Western Newspaper Union.

The coupe came to stop ut the
top of the hill. The driver turned
smiling resignedly to Cecily.
mo gasoline he explained. THAT
is the result of leaving the entire care
of the car to my chauffeur. l an
sorry. Will you sit in the car while
go in search of gas, or would you
prefer to wait on the veranda of that
deserted house? l can promise you
that no ghost will trouble you-the
place has not that interesting reputa.
tion. | remember, however, when its
inmates were prominent and happy res
idents; long line of successive Web
sters. May take you over there-the
garden is beautiful in the moonlight
and | will be back shortly"
II will wait at the house." Cecily
said
Wonderingly she gazed after the
tall figure.
"Why," she asked herself, "dO | not
love Stephen Ware? What does he
find to care for in me? Or Is there,
after all, no love--such as the poets
and writer's have prated of, through
out the centuries? Father is right;
must keep Mr.. Ware waiting no longer
for his answer, and by all that is
reasonable, it should be the answer
OF his desire" The girl sighed. Yet,
If one might only have some sign by
which to know"
Her little slippers tapped the We
randa floor of the old house, sweet
honeysuckle vine sent ghostly shadows
across it, Through long French WIN
dows she glimpsed desolated rooms !;
at farther end a white marble man
tel also cleaned out ghostly. Ceclly
pictured the rooms gay with young
folk of former time-llttle happy
chi dren grouped about their mothers
knee. young women, these mothers,
like herself, now gone on to their rest,
or dreaming, perhaps, over some far
fireside. of this same old home and
days long past
Something warm, caressing, pressed
against her Cecily bent down to touch
a dogs furry head. "Why," she said,
"you might have been savage, threat
erhng; and you are companionabie, In
stead Where did you come fromT'
Madly the dog wagged his tail.
HE is lonely for woman's pres
cnce," remarked a pleasing voice near
by. "Don has had to camp with me
for few days, and misses the women
at our apartment, who spoil him with
petting."
81 see," Cecily spoke doubtfully.
Then, as the stranger remained, she
added: 81 am waiting here to be calico
for. Our car ran out of gasoline, and
1t was necessary TO go for more"
Calmly the man sank down. on the
step. while the friendly dog rested
his head on Cecily's lap.
"You like this old home? Pretty,
tangled garden, isn't it?"
"I was trying to people the house
in fancy, with those who have lived
here" Cecily answered dreamily-"the
mothers and little children" The
man leaned toward her.
81 was one of those little children"
he said, land mine was happy child
hood. SO happy that the years have
brought nothing to compensate. There
was fishing pond down by the hill
side-we used to spend hours there
and a lenfy grotto, where my mother
used to give picnic suppers to us chill
dren."
"Why." he demanded, "am ! pouring
this all out to you?-a chance victim"
He laughed shortly.
Cecily touched her face, to find 1t
wet with tears.
"Why," she asked shakily, "am cry
ing about it?"
Down the road came an erect figure.
az must CO." she said breathlessly.
The man at her side gazed more in
tently into her sympathetic face.
"Is that your husband?" he asked.
Cecily shook her head.
81 am not married." she answered
"Mr. Ware, with whom l am
driving, Is my fathers friend--and my
own. am stopping at White Towers
for the summer"
nave ltuth W. 'tNBiiNh '">f Va
course. He Is as gifted in our pro-
fesson as am humble. My name is
Paul Webster"
1--WE win be ready to start immedi-
ately, Ceclly," called voice; the vines
hid her. Paul Webster ppt out his
hand. Cecily's was in his clasp.
"You are going back to the cityf'
she asked him.
"Not II there is a chance of seeing !
you here" he answered darlngly,
~ thought she said slowly, that
I'd like TO bring some of the children
trom White Towers, out to the fish
ng pond we might have a picnic
supper in the grotto-if you would
show us the way, and
"Show your cried Paul. "Why, IL
YOU would just come here sometimes,
he ghost Of the old house would be
aid. | win get old hannah TO keep
house for me here" tieclly was gone
81 am sorry to have kept you wait.
n~ co long" Stanhen Ware said