Show copyright mary got off tho night train at the quiet little town of I 1 she went directly to her home biad her neighbors known that she planned to return there would have been many invitations extended to the lonely girl who was coming back alone after her trip abroad with her invalid mother she had told no one of her coming for she had been too heart sick to write she had the instinct of a wounded animal to return to the places she knew and as she drew in long of alie sweet country air she knew she had done the right thins the home was nt tho very outskirts of the village and only near one house the smith houe next door which was empty with lare grounds and many trees about it therefore when mary set all her boora and windows wide open the next morning there was no one near enough to observe she bustled about hoping to set the place in spotless order before the ad vent of the neighbors she longed to see and it was nearly ten 0 clock before she heard toof stepi why you let us know you were coming home A pair of arms thrown warm ly nebout the slim blue argued her 1 I just came list night she slid II 11 1 new how good you would be but I 1 just thought I 1 d creep in and get it over with alone amandi patted her arm gently W ell you sha n t sleep night here alone be over again to get you for dinner I 1 ve been planning all morning and I 1 can t bear to think of going anav to teach I 1 want to be at home and im going to open n hoarding house there are several people 1 know of now the hotel has been closed all winter and the from the village school la looking about now for n place to board next fall and mary wondered why her old friend suddenly halted with twinkling ayea and stood as though thinking and what asked the girl nothing was the evasive reply you feel afraid so fir away from the other houses last mary her head you know the smiths house hns the name of being haunted did you tear anything 0 o I 1 wonder why they don t rent it seems a shame for such a fine estate to fall into decair returned mary a delicate pink staining hei smooth cheeks as she recalled the quarrel between the two families the feud had grown out of amere trifle A ball thrown by marys little brother had broken a pane of glass in the greenhouse and touchy old mrs smith had bussed fussed and nagged until the tarn alles were on terms of bitter alence amnnda watching alie telltale expressions pres lilt over the young fice knew eliat mary was thinking of the brown eyed frank smith who had been a childhood sweetheart mary her mind a jumble of thoughts hurried over her dusting she wanted to get out into the old fashioned garden and see the flowers that she had longed for on her trip home to the east her eyes wan dered and fell on the thick row of rose bushes that divided the cott grounds from the smiths estate there no one has touched those bushes for years she thought re calling the old happy times when francc squeezed through the bushes that he persisted in calling rose trees those branches are growing over and spoiling my hedge I 1 guess just start right there with my trim mang she worked steadily and there was a growing pile of branches as tribute to her industry when an abrupt sound on the other side of the hedge startled her all her boasted disregard of the haunted house fled in an instant what do you mean by touching my rose trees the voice was inescu line and touched with a crisp annoyance there was a crashing sound and a gray tweed arm made an opening in the tangle of blossoms and a pair of brown eyes peered through you sound mighty confidant but as I 1 hap pen to be the why mary hello I 1 I 1 dlan t know you were expected home he ended with a glad note in his voice that brought a rush of color to the fact that had gone white and I 1 returned mary understood that your home was empty except for ghosts so I 1 thought id prune your roses for you they are crowding my hedge she added a bit tremulously as his dark ayea dwelt disconcertingly on her there are grotts in the house he said seriously ghosts of old mem orles ghosts of an old love that has never been forgotten I 1 was just about to close up the old house and offer it for sale as no one seemed to know where ou were or when you would return the folks seemed to think you would remain in france and I 1 coulden couldn t bear to be here with your home closed suppose mary the dark eyes glowed and he took her hands in his suppose you come through the hedge and help roe beep the ghosts away in the smith house perhaps I 1 will murmured the girl her ayea starry with joy A ghost 13 an inducement and you certainly need help with you rrose trees j |