Show F A GHO CHOT T OF A CHANCE By o. o Henry j I C ht 1 1920 1520 20 by bT Doubleday Pace t X t Co Actually a hod repeated Mrs Kinsolving Kin Km- solving pathetically Mrs Irs Bellamy Bellmore arched a a. sympathetic c oyo eo- eo ao brow Thus she sho expressed condolence i and a a. generous amount of C apparent I su surprise fancy fanc her telling everywhere c re recapitulated ro- ro capitulated Mrs Mis I Kinsolving lg that thc she he saw w a ghost in the apartment the occupied occupied occupied oc oc- oc- oc here our here our choicest guest room room- room room- a s. gho ghost t a a. hod on its shoulder the Uie the gh st ofa ocra man m n in overalls amok amok- smoking ing In a a. pipe and carrying a boa hod Tho The very cry of oC the thing t shows fallows her herm m malicious Intent There never was a a. Kinsolving that carried a hod hoLl Every EveryOne Everyone one ono Knows that Mr Ir accumulated his money by largo large buildIng build build- Ing log c. c contracts but he never worked aday a a. aday day with his own hands lIe Ho had this built bunt from his own plans but but but- oh oh a a. hod Why need she have been cn so BO cruel and malicious It is really too bad murmured Mrs Bellmore with an approving glance of oC her ber fine tine eyes CS about the tho vast ast chamber done In lilac and an old gold gol And It was in this room j sho ho saw sw it Oh no Im I'm not afraid of ghosts Dont Don't havo have th the l least fear tear on on- m my account Im I'm glad you ou put me In here I think family ghosts so interesting But really reany the tho stor story docs does sound a little in In- In consistent t. t I should have ha vo expected ted something better from Mrs Fischer- Fischer Dont Don't they carry bricksin bricks I in iii hods Why should a ghost bricks into a a. villa built of ot marble ana nea stone Im I'm so 50 sorry but It makes me think that a age ae e Is beginning to tell tel upon Mrs Fischer This house continued Mrs Kinsolving Kin Kin- solving solvin was built upon tho side of ot an anold anold anold old one used b by tho the family during the Re Revolution There wouldn't be bo anything anything any any- thing strange In its having a ghost And there was a 0 Captain ln Kinsolving who fought In General Green Greenes Greene's s 's army arm though weve we've never ne been able ablo to secure any papers to vouch ouch for Cor it I If there Is Isto Isto isto to be a family ghost wh why couldn't It have havo been his instead of oC a a. bricklayers bricklayer's ers er's 1 T The ghost of or a a- Revolutionary an ancestor ancestor ancestor an- an wouldn't be ho a a. bad idea agreed know how Mrs Irs but you arbitrary and inconsiderate ghosts can be Maybe like love lo they are engendered engen ongen dered in the tho eye One advantage antage of ot tho those e who ho sec ee ghosts is that their stories cant can't be disproved By a spiteful spiteful spite spite- ful eye ec a i Revolutionary Re knapsack might easily bo be construed to be bo a hod Dear Mrs Kinsolving think no more of oC it I am ani sure pure it was a knapsack But she tol told everybody y mourned Mrs I Kinsolving inconsolable She Sho Insisted upon the thc details There Is the ho pipe And how are aro you going to get out of or the overalls 0 Shant get Into them said Mrs s. Bellmore with a a. prettily suppressed ed Is that yawn awn too Loo stiff and wrinkly you Felice Prepare my bath please Do you dine Ine at seven Men at ht diCtion Cliffton Mrs tIra Kinsolving So kind of you to run inor in Inor for or a a. chat before dinner I love Jove those nUlo touches of informality with a guest Thc They J give Je e such a home flavor to a visit So sorry borry I must bo dress dress- Ing Ins I am so indolent I always postpone post post- pono pone It until tho ho last moment Mrs Fischer had been en the first largo large plum tho ho had drawn from the tho social socia pie plo For a along along alons long lons- time the plo It Itself elC had been out of ot reach on a top shelf shel But tho the purse pure and tho ho pursuit had at last lowered it Mrs Ins Fischer was the hello V graph of the smart society parading corps To some pressure at tho the com corn command command mand of th the s. she he had yielded E so SQ Q far tar as to honor their house by her hr presence for Cor and andI night She had her revenge upon her I hostess by relating with grim enjoyment enjoyment enjoy enJoy- ment and sarcastic humor her story of or the tho vision Islon carrying the hod To that lad lady In raptures at having penetrated penetrated penetrated pene pene- thus far ar toward the coveted in inner inner in- in ner ncr circle tho ho result came as lS a a. crushIng crushIng crush crush- ln Ing disappointment Everybody either cither sympathized or laughed and there was little to choo choose between the thc to two modes moes of ot expression But later on Mrs Kinsolving's l hopes and spirits wore were revived rc by the capture of or a second an and greater prize Mrs Ins Bellamy had hod accepted nn fin Invitation to visit at and would remain for or three days dad day Mrs rs Bell- Bell moro morn was ono one of oC the yo younger matrons matron whose whole beauty descent t. and wealth gave S1 her a a. reserved seat scat in the hol holy of oC holies that required no strenuous bolstering Sho She was generous enough thus th s to 11 0 Mrs Mra tho the accolade that was wasso wasso so 50 poignantly desired and at tho the same I time lime sh she sho thought how much it would please Terence Perhaps it would woul end b by solving him Terence was Mrs son son aged agell twenty nine quite good looking enough and with two or three 1 Ue and mysterious traits For one he was very devoted ll to his mother and that was sufficiently odd to ac aeo serve notice For others ho 0 talked bo so little that It was irritating and h ho h I seemed either cither very cry shy or very deep cep Terence interested Mrs Irs Bellmore because because because be be- cause she was sot sure which it was She intended to study him Mm a little longer long lons- cr er unless she forgot tors-ot the matter If It he was only shy she he would ouM abandon him for Cor sh shyness is a bore If It ho he was wOos deep she she- would also 1150 abandon him for tor depth is precarious On tho afternoon of the third da day of ot her visit Terence hunted up Mrs Bellmore and found her In 10 a nook ac actually c c- ool Booking at atan an album A AIts Its so o good of you ou said ho hOt to come down here and retrieve the d dy y for us I suppose you ou have h heard that Mrs FIscher scuttled the ship before belore she sho left She knocked a whole plank out of or the time bottom with a hod My m mother ther is grieving grieving- herself ill m about it Cant Can't you OU manage to see ace a tI ghost for us while you OU arc are here Mrs Bellmore Bellmore-a. a bang up swell ghost with witha a a. coronet on his head and a L check book under his arm 1 That was a naughty old lady lad Terence T Terence Ter Ter- rI r- r ence said Mrs Bellmore to tell such stories Perhaps you gave save her too much supper Your mother doesn't really take it ft seriously docs does she I I L think sh she does eloes answered Terence One would think every brick in the hod had dropped on her hez Its It's a a. good mammy sammy and I 1 dont don't like to i seo eo her worried Its It's to be hoped that U ghost belongs belong'S to the lers' lers union and will go ou out on a strike If Ie he I doesn't there will be no In this family Im sleeping ln In the ghost chamber chamber- I said ald Mrs Bellmore pensively elY But ButI I its it's so 50 nice I wouldn't change chanso It It er e lIe if I were afraid which Im I'm Im I'm not It wouldn't do o for me mo to submit a no counter story of or a a. desirable aristocratic shade would it I would do o so with pleasure but it seems seems' to me mo it would be too obviously an antidote for tor the other narrative nar nar- to be effective True Truc said Terence running two fingers thoughtfully into his crisp brown hair that would never do How would It work to see seo the same ghost again I minus the tho th overalls and have gol gold bricks In the ho hod That would elevate the sp spectre from degrading degradIng ing InS toll to a financial plane p Dont Don't you ou think that would be respectable enough There was an ancestor who ho fought against tho the wasn't there Your Tour mother said something to that effect t. t I 1 bellevo so BO one of or those old chaps In raglan vests and golf golt trousers I 1 dont don't c car a a. continental for tor a Continental Continental Con Con- myself But the mother has hasset hasset set her heart on 00 pomp and heraldry and pyrotechnics and I 1 want her to be happ happy You are aro a good boy Terence said Mrs Bellmore sweeping her silks cl close closet e eto to t one side of her not to beat your mother Sit hero here by me and lets let's look at the album just as people used to d de dc twenty years ago Now tell me about aboul every ono of oC them Who is this tall taU dignified gentleman leaning against the horizon with one arm on the Corinthian Corinth Corinth- ian column That old chap with the big feet Inquired Terence craning his neck uncle great Ho no Housed used to keep a on the tho Bow Bow- cry ery I asked ked you yoi yOto to sit down Terence If It you ou are arc not going to amuse or obey me I 1 shall shan report In the morning that I saw a 1 ghost wearing an apron and parrying carrying schooners of ot beer Now thatis that thatIs Is better To be shy at your age Terence Terence Terence Ter Ter- ence 15 is a thing thinS that you should blush to acknowledge c. I a At breakfast on the th list last morning ol ot other her visit Mrs Irs Bellmore startled d and entranced eve every one present by announcing announcing announcing an an- positively that she had s seen n the tIle ghost Did Did it have havo a a-a-a- a a 3 a a Mrs Kinsolving Kin Kin- solving in her suspense and agitation ac could not bring out the word No indeed far indeed far from It It There was a chorus of questions from others at the table you frightened What did It do How did It look How was Wa it dressed Did DI 1 it say sa anything you scream VII Tn try to answer everything C at once said Mrs Dellmore heroically although Im I'm frightfully hungry Something awakened me me-I'm me Im I'm not sure whether it was a noise or a touch touch and and there stood the phantom I 1 never burn burna a n light at night so the tho room was quito quite dark but I saw it plain plainly I 1 wasn't dreaming It was a tall taU man all mist misty white from Crom head to foot It wore tho the I full ss dress of oC tho the old Colonial days das dasI days powdered hair baggy boggy coat skirts lace I ruffles and a sword It locked Intangible ble blo and luminous in the dark and nd moved without a sound bound Yes I r was a n. little frightened at first fIrst or or startled 1 I I should say It wa was the first ghost I 1 I I had ever seen No it didn't say anything anything any any- thing I didn't scream I 1 raised up on my elbow and then it glided silently I away and disappeared when It reached the door I r I MrS Kinsolving was In the seventh I heaven n. n Tho description Is that of Captain I Kinsolving of ot General Greenes Greene's army one of or our ancestors she sala sale in a voice that trembled with pride and relief I 1 really think I must apologize for Cor our ghostly relative Mrs Bellmore I am afraid he must have ha badly disturbed dis dis- dis your rest restI I r suppose I ought to b bo be ashamed to confess said Mrs Dellmore who was now enjoying her breakfast that I wasn't very ery much disturbed I pro- pro sumo it would have havo been tho the customary thing to scream and faint taint and have o all of ot you running about In picturesque costumes But after the ho first alarm was over I really reany couldn't work myself up to a n. panic The Tho ghost retired l' from Crom the stage stAS' quietly and peacefully after I doing Its Us little tittle turn and I went to sleep aga again in Truth and candor seemed to attend upon every ery Word Even en a scoffer at ghosts ghosts It if h he were very observant observant- would have been hee forced to admit that she had al at least In a aCI CI vet very vivid dream been honestly aware of ot the tho weird visitor T 1 Soon Mrs Bellmore's maid maM was packing pack pack- ing Ins In two hours the auto would come cometo to conc convey her to the station As Terence Ter ence V Wa wan strolling upon the thc cost cast piazza I Mrs Bellmore came up to him with a aI confidential sparkle In her eye I I didn't wish to tell the others all of it It she said but I 1 will wilt tell you In a way I think you should be held responsible Can you guess In what m manner el that ghost awakened mo mc last night 7 Terence Terenee Rattled chains chain suggested after some thought or groaned They other usually do one or the Do you happen to know continued continued continued contin contin- Mrs Bellmore with sudden vancy vaney If It I 1 re resemble emble any y ono one of the female relatives relative of or vo vt rv ances ancos tor or Captain Kinsolving Dont think to so 1 ad Te Terence with an extremely puzzled d air Never lever heard of oC any of them being noted beauties Then why said Mrs Bellmore looking the tho young oung man gravely ely in tho eye ec s that ghost host have hare kissed kiSsel ed me as s Im I'm sure uro It did Heavens exclaimed Terence InI in wide eyed 6 amazement you dont don't mean moan that Mrs Dellmore Did ho I actually kiss you you ou 1 I 1 said it H corrected Mrs Bellmore I 1 Ii hope ope the I II i u u used ed But Eu t why did yo rou say eay r I I Isible t sible 1 Because you are re the on r mate male relative or of the hosl- hosl J I I see sea Unto the the third aa aal f fe- fe ene Uon J generation But Seriously did t t did aid It how It-how how do you you you- Know How Bow does doe any cs one kr I 1 was a. a asleep leep and that la is what 1 tr 7 ened me Im I'm almost certain Almost J. J Well I 1 awoke Just jus as u eb h. h easi Hoi em-Hoi understand what I mesa mean meant IDa Tia ti 1 thing arous arouses you suddenly y yea L t not positive whet whether r you dres I and and yet ret you know th that hit hit- t- t Dear Dur s a Terence must I dissect the a cs t i f sensations In order to aara your extremely fa I But about kissing ghost r know said sad Terence humbly I 11 rt a quiro the most primary I t never kissed a no ghost Is It It-b lt It rj r Tho The sensation said eald Mr Mrs B Hn with deliberate but slightly la emphasis since you are b r. r Is a a. mingling of ot tie the nil niland tutu J Jand and the tho spiritual j Of Ot course said lId Terence rat roi 1 growing serious it was a a. dem c csome some kind of or an In hallucination No Nobel r believes In spirits thes days dan U 11 Iff J told the tale tate out of ot kindness of et tit tw n Mrs I cant can't t to b l' l grateful s I 1 am lm to you It bas baa ma aides e mother supremely ly happy That R Ret ancestor was a Itte J idea Mrs Irs Bellmore ellmore sighed Tt n The r fate of ot Sh ts Is mine she se I My privileged en js with a spirit Is attributed to ie toAs to As loti rt salad or m mendacity welt Well I J bt tin I 1 least one memory left from Crom th the wc a. a a. a kiss from the unseen writ worM t z Captain Kinsolving a very b do you know Terence I IlIe 1 lie was licked at Yorktown I n said Terence reflecting collecting b say siy he with mth his co Oc r rafter after the first battle there If 1 I tor thought he be must have Afe timid said Mrs Bellmore ib i ilIo lie Ho might have hwe had another another- Another battle asked aked Tc dully t i I What else could I mean t I 1 P i go co and get ct ready now the 1 al albe 10 be here In an hour T rye ro o e MJ Clifftop immensely Such a I Ie J t morning isn't it H. H Terence On her way to the the- t took from her bag I i handkerchief and look looked d at ot It u. u w Wt t little peculiar smile Then ehl B BIt I It In several very bard ard leiStS I |