The Ghost of Guir House

house in Twentieth Street, a servant me

ir, and hopes it is right, as it

th curiosity. There were several

nley, New

in the lower lef

Paul, No. -

s, exchanged the coat he had been wearing for a gaudy smoking jacket, glancing momentarily at the mirror, at a young and ge

d with the letter. Evidently the document was not intended for h

E, 16TH S

R MR.

r met, I feel sure th

which conclusion ha

your letters. Why ha

n answer that better

of our station is t

evening train from Ne

ia next day, not twen

n, where I shall go ev

will know me because

girl there, and bec

red wheels-but how sh

kerchief in your han

ll do famously. I shal

ou look for the cart

a clever idea! Bu

desolate country as th

at Guir's, and you w

in s

our guest until you ha

don't forget that I s

I see you. Mean

rely

THY

myth as the individual for whom her letter was intended. Oddly enough, the man's last name, as well as the initial of his first, were the same as his o

society. But the author was inclined to playfulness; incompatible with such a character. He preferred the former picture, and throwing back his head while watching the smoke from his cigarette curl upward toward the ceiling, Mr. Paul Henley suddenly became convulsed with laughter. He had conceived the idea of impersonating the original Henley, the man for whom the letter had been written. The more he considered the scheme, the more fascinating it became. The girl, if

early three weeks before. Had she kept her word? Had she driven to the station

" A moment later he added: "But I shall glance out of the car window first, and if I don't like

vast State of Virginia, how was he to discover an insignificant station, doubtless unknown to New York ticket agents, and perhaps not even familiar to those living within twenty miles of it? Paul opened the atlas at the "Old Dominion," and threw it down again in disgust. "A map of the infernal regions would be as useful," he declared. However important Guir might be to the G

the horse's head! Be she what she might, politically, socially, or morally, Mr. Henley decided at the first glance that she would do. With a flourish of his crimson handkerchief he stepped out upon the platform. "

somewhat prolonged bow. "He's a little afraid of the engine," she continued, alludin

en jumping in himself gathered up the reins

ceful young woman, rather tall and slight, with blue eyes, set with dark lashes that intensified their color. Her complexion, although slightly freckled, charmed by its wholesomeness; and her hair, which shone both dark and red, according as the lig

e at last!" she said, when seated be

g whether to make a clean breast of the deception or continue in the role he had assumed. Alas, it was no longer of his choosing. He had commenced with

far as Henley could see, the country was uninhabited. Presently the road entered a wood and became carpeted with pine tags, over which they trotted noiselessly. Where were they going? Dorothy had not spoken since starting, and Paul was too mu

answered my last letter. You know w

d to tell a part of the truth, which is o

" he answered, "unti

hy looked

ngs, for I never could believe that a letter like that

ou were perfectly right. You see I got it

as this, why-I may have-that is, we may have to part before really kn

ommittal-something which, while not exposing his ignorance of the real Henley's business, might induce the girl to explain the situation; bu

ficult to avoid staring in open admiration. Inwardly he concluded that she was a "stunner," but in no ordinary sense; and despite the novel and somewhat embarrassing situation, he was conscious of a fascination not clearly accounted for.

anced at her pretty face, but had not the courage to undeceive her. And why should he? Was not Dorothy happy? "Would it be right," he argued, "to upset the girl's tranquillity for a whim, for a scruple of his own, which ha

nk of a brook where wild ivy and rhododendrons clustered. They climbed steep places and descended others, and crossed a little river, where rocks an

Paul noticed this, that he began to ask himself, "Where are we going?" He could not put the questi

irginia before, hoping that the remark might lead to some information from his driver; but she

never been

the mire. "After all," he reflected, "there are worse things in life than being run away with by a pretty girl, even if one doesn't happen to know exactly w

ile. The road was deserted, and Paul's inter

Mr. Henley's side of the cart collapsed

spring. I was afra

ide, Miss Guir," said Pa

ould have remembered to place your lug

to do?" inq

We are miles from home,

n spring by the uncertain l

horse while we wal

h leaves this about a hundred yards ahead. I will drive on alone to the shop, and, although it is late, I feel sure the man will do the work for me. You, Mr. Henley, will wait here for the stage, wh

s more when an antiquated stage with four scrubby horses emerged from the shadow of a giant oak into the open moonlight, scarce fifty yards away. Mr. Henley hailed the driver, who stopped, and looke

sation, when Paul had handed up his bags and taken his place on top. Hen

es and hemlocks. The country appeared to be a wilderness, and Paul could not help feeling that the real world of flesh and ambition lay upon the other side of the ridge, now far behind. T

Guirs where I am

d. Thinking he had not understood, Paul repeated the question, when the

you uns in

at he thought he was, adding th

n', 'case dey ain't got no f

stranger!"

uns, but ef you wants to know whar de house is, I kin sh

, don't the people abou

ll about 'em; maybe more'n I kin tell you, and I rec

ly Miss Guir is a very

ain't nebber seed her. Folks says as how it

Are any of her peop

er I heerd

ain yourse

n suddenly dumb, save for the power of an occasional shout to his horses.

ee dat

, Paul thought he discerned the outline of a narrow wood road, and placing a

curity. Henley seated himself upon a fallen tree, to await the arrival of the cart. Although quite as courageous as the average of men, he could not help a slight feeling of apprehension concerning the outcome of his enterprise. Of course, he knew nothing about these people; but the girl was prepossessing and refined to an unusual degree. It seemed

n half an hour was up, started down the road to meet her. Scarcely had he done so when the

ccessful," Paul asked as

they put in a new spring for me; an

f frightened," said Paul, cli

out wha

ch talked the most idiotic stuff when I asked him about your p

em in the least surprised. She

y li

ld he be?" pe

aid the girl, patheticall

r be afraid of you," add

g like what you expected?" sh

etter than I expected-I mean that

s, devoting herself to the horse and a careful scrutiny of the road, whose shadows, ruts, and stones required

you are better than I expected, for I expected a

ded, with a twinkle in his eyes, which was lost on his c

onclude nothing; for I like you alread

wkwardly, "and hope I'll answer th

hat I should be bringing you back wi

s. How did it happen that he had proved so entirely satisfactory? Perhaps, then, after all, the original Henley was not so important a personage as he had imagined. But Paul scarcely hope

a private approach. Paul exclaimed in admiration, for the road was tunneled through such a dense growth

ranch above the girl's head as she drove under it. The little horse

en come to think that several other improvements could be made beside the trimming ou

inquire

Be

he present, taking refuge in the thought that all things come to him

rough a crust of spiders' webs and birds' nests. Patches of moss and vegetable mold relieved the blackness of the stones, and a venerable ivy plant clung like a rotten fish-net to the wall. It was a weird, yet fascinating picture; for the house, like a rocky cliff, looked as i

door. "Now don't tell me how you like it, because you don'

em as if not quite knowing why he did so. She then made a si

et them, while the next instant she was engaged in exchanging signals w

" inquired Paul, considerabl

swered the girl, leading

with that strange quizzo-critical gaze, with lids half closed and head tilted, which he had o

ong-handled lorgnettes," he sugg

he asked qui

built of heavy timber, and studded with nail-heads without. As the cumbersome old portal swung open, Paul could not help observing that it was at least two inches thick, braced diagonally, and th