Palisadian., 1923-07-20
THE GHOST
BY JANE GORDON
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
70. 1928. Western Newspaper Union }

Oh, how David had planned and
worked to hasten the visions into bliss
full reality. The queer little shed at
the back of his own big home was a
busy workshop where David, whistling
merry tune, labored tirelessly with
his electrical appliances.
Ursula had been visiting his mother.
as she often did; and to his proposal
she had not turned an Indifferent ear,
True, she had not accepted him. but
her eyes had been tender-and then,
when she had gone away and left him
to hope, the other man had come
along-and won her.
1t was cyclonic wooing. David
could understand the girls entrance
ment. Hubert Dinsmore was all that
the romantic fancy of young girl
might desire as a lover. His very
dress, fresh from the great business
centers, was modishiy superior; his
manner, the engaging manner of a man
OF the world. And David in his viii
lage home, was quiet being, with
only his assured love of her and his
work to keep him busy
When Ursula came, remorsefully shy
In the announcement of her engage
ment, David and his gentle mother
had for the girl whom they had known
from infancy words of kindness and
encouragement.
So David's romance had to all ap-
pearances died-but in that honest
heart of his it bloomed on, a white,
perfect thing. So when not long after
Ursula came sobbingly to his mothers
comforting arms with the tale of her
disappointed hope, David had Joined
in words of consolation.
"The man was not worthy" he told
her.
Despite the cheer which the two
brought to her, Ursula was Sddened
with wistful disillusionment which
lasted through coming years.
David ventured again to make to
her his plea The mother had gone
then and he had an added loneliness.
"My dear FRIEND" Ursula told him,
tears of regret in the blue eyes, ut is
because I know how good and true
you are that I cannot bring myself
to deceive you; and l should deceive
you were I to marry you with the
ghost of an old love in my heart"
So, after all these years, David sat
again in happy dreaming, for this
moonlight night Ursula's hand had
clung to his and his heart thrilled with
a new-old hope, yet he was afraid to
hope, because Of possible disappoint-
ment, which meant the old suffering. -
In the morning sunlight she came,
her feet seeming to dance down his
garden path.
David" Ursula began, then paused
reluctantly, "my news may not please
you, but I must tell it, dear. I am to
go for visit to the great city. am
to be amused and entertained, David,
by the sister of Hubert Dinsmore, who
has returned from his residence
abroad to live in his family home.
Hubert has been left widower."
pavid's face was composed when
| he spoke, but his true eyes looked
weary and the lines about his mouth
deepened.
a"And so," he said-there was no
bitterness in the words, only a re-
signed acceptance of ,fate-"and so
now that Hubert Dinsmore is a wild
over he sends for you. Don't you see
what that may mean, Ursula?"
eyes," the woman answered gently,
II think I do see, David. L have also
a letter from Hubert; but don't you
understand that must go-I must see
HMM reality? The ghost has been
with me so long, David"
He smiled. Never think that I
blamed you, or called you faithless in
those old days, dear heart" he said.
''It was only that I was as an old vol
ume, read and known. Hubert was a
new and enhancing book to be en-
joyed, each page its own new inter-
est"
"And I read" added Ursula sadly,
ito tragedy" She smiled at him.
''There was no tragedy to be found
In the book of you, David" Then
she went away.
"No tragedyW Her words came to
him as he sat now alone in the porch
with cold moonlight in the vines. Was
not his whole life one tragedy Of dis
appointed waiting for the love that
now was lost to him forever? Even
the world Of achievement which in
youthful ambition he had longed to
conquer, lay in the past Of buried
opportunity. He had seen the fine car
that belonged to Hubert Dinsmore car
ry Ursula away upon her visit. And
for an instant he had glimpsed the
man who drove it; the same debonair
Hubert, grown more distinguished with
the years.
David arose and went back to the
queer workshop. And there Ursula
came to him, g graceful, charming
woman, smiling from the doorway;
her blue eyes were misty-her hands
went out to him.
"Ohi David" she said softly; my
dear, I came back to read-ever SO
tenderly-my worthy, good book. The
other one was girlish fancy of light
ness and passing charm. And David,
I had to know that my poor ghost Of
romance was but a ghost indeed. And
after all this will you take me, David,
for better or for worse"
Ursula's laugh was music to hear.
IT will be so kind, David" she