The Ghost of Guir House

"And do you believe that a simple change of locality would alter all

this?" he asked.

She paused for a moment before answering, and then, looking down upon

the ground, said as if with some effort: "No, not that alone."

"What then, Dorothy?" he asked with solicitude.

"I have already told you," she replied without looking up. "Oh, Paul,

what a short memory you must have!"

"Of course I understand that we are to be married," he responded

hastily, "but how can that alter the situation? Dorothy, if we have

not found congenial friends in that position in life in which God or

nature has placed us, how can we hope to make them in another? Do you

not think there may be some deeper reason than simple locality and

single blessedness? Would it not be natural to look for the cause in

the individual?"

"Undoubtedly you are right," she answered, "but your premises do not

apply to my case, for neither God nor nature ever intended that I

should live this life. Oh, Paul, believe me when I tell you that I

know whereof I speak. Do not judge me as you would another; some day

you may know, but I can not tell you now."

She spoke pleadingly, as imploring to be released from some awful

incubus which it was impossible to explain. Paul listened in deep

perplexity, and swore that the powers of heaven and earth should

never come between them. So different was she from any girl that he

had ever seen, that her very eccentricity bound him to her with a

magic spell. When he had again asked her if Ah Ben would oppose their

marriage, or indeed if any one else would, she declared that no human

being would raise a voice against it.

"Then what is to hinder us?" he asked; "I am poor, but I can support

you; not perhaps in such luxury as you are accustomed to, but I can

give you a home; and if you are so unhappy here, why submit to

unnecessary delay?"

He had become impassioned and enthused by the girl's strange

influence over him.

"True, Paul, there are none to hinder us," she replied seriously,

"that is, no one but--but--"

She paused, not knowing how to proceed.

"Then there is some one," cried Paul earnestly. "I thought as much.

Who might the gentleman be?"

"Yourself!" exclaimed Dorothy, her eyes still fixed upon the ground.