New Britain herald., 1924-05-10

. her to come to live at Red Grange with him and his aunt Mary is very happy in her new home. David asks Mary if she believes in ghosts He tells her Red Grange is haunted.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 The gong boomed through the house.
 David rushed off to tidy" as he Iaughingly said. He had given up dressing for dinner since Mary came, for Miss yarney had been quite right when she said she was sure the girl had not an evening frock, and some thing in Mary's manner. some little reserve and pride, had kept her as yet from offering any such presents.
 "rhere is plenty of time" she told David gently, when he urged her to see that Mary got all she wanted. We don't want to frighten her. David. and ] think she would resent any such orertures just at present"
 But to David's masculine ignor- ance, no woman had ever looked half  watched her across the dinner table. The old room. with its oak-paneled walls and hanging armor, made a perfect background for her slight figure and dainty head; the light Of the red shaded lamps lent the touch of color to her pale cheeks that made her almost beautiful He did not realize how often his eyes turned to her.
 When Mary and Miss Narney rose from the table, he joined them im- mediately.
 "rm not going to sit and smoke in state tonight" he said, half shame faccd'y. meeting his aunt's surprised gaze. "I want to take Mary over the house before the moonlight has gone. uill you come, too, Aunt Florence? 2"
 My dear boy. In all those drauglty corrldorsc You know I should be positively i'll tomorrow. No, you can do the honors yourself; you're more closely related to the family ghost than I snl."
 She dismissed them laughingly.
 Mary followed David upstairs. She did not know if she were glad or sorry that Miss Narney had refused to accompany them: she looked at David, walking a little in front Of her, and then back down the long stairs be- hind them.
 Should she 20 on7 She wondered what it was that made her hesitate. what it was that momentarily stayed her steps.
 Don't you want 10 come with me : believe you are afraid"
 He spoke iokingly, but there was a curious note in his voice.
 Mary laughed.
 "of course [ am not afraid" She ran ID the few s rs dividing them, and joined him.
 CHAPTER NNxvT.
 The Ghost
 "I am thinking of giving up part of the house to wounded soldiers,' v David said presently. More than half of it is always shut up, and the authorities have been asking for ad- ditional conyalescent homes and hos- pitals; these rooms would do splen- didly for wards"
 "Ye."
 Mary,s voice sounded Nistfui; her thoughts had flown 10 Nigel. the son Of this great house. who had given his life for England.
 He would never come here any more. the beautiful rooms would never again echo to the sound Of his cheery laugh or voice.
 She stifled a sigh. David looked down at her quickly.
 What are you thinking7"
 She answered his quite simply.
 T was thinking Of Nigel"
 He was silent for a moment.
 sYou are always thinking Of him. |" he said.
 No. not always"
 They had reached fhe wide landing nov. and David turned to the right and pushed open a heavy. nail studded door.
 This is the passage to the old part Of the house" he said IIe held it back for her to pass: she notired that it fell again into it's place with hardly sound.
 
 them; if vas dark save for the moon- light streaming through the high muflioned windows.
 There was something eerie in it's great beauty: lnstinctiveiy she drew nearer to David.
 T was right about The moonlight, you sec he said.
 They stood for moment. looking out at the garden: 1t looked almost like fairyland. Mary thouz ht. and it filled her with sense of aae. almost of fear. She would have liked 10 put her hand into Dasi1's, tery much as child in the dark gropcs for it's mothers hand.
 "And is this whe+e the ghost walks" she asked presently.
 He shook his head.
 ''So-much further along" He looked aovn at her. Are you sfraid." he asked. ''Of eourse not." There was ip- dignaiion in her voice.
 They went on to the end of tbs passage: there vas smother door there. much wider than the first.
 Has Miss Fisher eVen been here !" asked Mary suddenly.
 A quick frorn crossed Da,iJ.S face.
 really do not know. Why do you askz"
 T was thinking how all this lovely esk and paneEing and polished floors would suit her. She is 90 beantifuI- like some princess in a fairy story" You are very kind" His voice vras rather dry. 'T thought women never admired one another