The Little Grey Ghost

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Little Grey Ghost

STEPHANIE was a quiet, absentminded child. Aunt Katherine said regularly every morning, "Stephanie would lose her head if it were not screwed on." She often forgot her school things and plump Aunt Katherine had to run after her with them. Stephanie was used to hearing people say, "What can Stephanie be staring at?" "Don't gaze into space, child; you'll begin

to squint." Or, "Have you Been a ghost?" And on the day after that J she did see a ghost! She had been thinking of old Miss ' Hose, who had lived at Hollyhock Cottage years before Aunt Katherine, and of how John Trigg, the gardener's boy, < had told her that Miss Rose's ghost came bark to Hollyhock Cottage every year. Half-way to school she met the ghost, a little grey one with groat round eyes, a grey veil, and long grey skirts that trailed on the road. Stephanie did not feel at all afraid. This >vas rather a sweet ghost. She looked

STRANGE PAL?

lost and lonely in the morning sunshine. Her voice was slow and timid as she asked, "Little girl, can you tell me the way to Hollyhock Cottage?" Stephanie was startled. Hollyhock Cottage was now Aunt Katherine's home and Aunt Katherine lost her breath if ghosts were even mentioned! Stephanie's thoughts passed quickly through her mind. She felt sure that this little grey ghost was Miss Rose. Somehow she must be kept from Aunt Katherine's sight. She turned scarlet. She had forgotten that ghosts were

supposed to be able to read people's thoughts. She said, "To Hollyhock Cottage? Yes, it is not far from here. I'll take you." She turned back and walked beside the strange little figure. The ghost did not speak and Stephanie was too busy thinking to make polite conversation. A plan was forming in her mind —a plan to save Aunt Katherine, who must not be confronted by this ghost. Soon they had entered the gate and were passing tho gardener's shed, when Stephanie said suddenly, "Como and see the new pot-plants!" The ghost peeped inside, then took a few steps across tho floor. It was enough for

By Pamela Grenville

Stephanie. With a brave heart she darted out and slipped the wooden bar that held the door in place. There was no window —only a skylight in the roof. The ghost was a prisoner 1 Stephanie ran all the way to school. There she felt safe. Ghosts didn't visit schoolrooms, and she had saved Aunt Katherine. At lunch-time Stephanie reached Hollyhock Cottage by a short out through a gap in the hedge. Aunt. Katherine seemed short-tempered and Molly, the maid, who had red eyes, thumped the dishes down on the table. Stephanie ate her lunch in hurried silence. She felt, somehow, that she must get back to school as soon as possible. Aunt Katherine's sharp tones broke the silence. "What is the matter. Molly?" Stephanie looked up to see the maid dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief. "It's mother, Miss Linton," she sniffed. "She said she was coming b,v an early train. My sister telephoned to let me know that she had caught it but she hasn't arrived, and J'm afraid she may have had n 'turn' or been carried on to anothei station." Here the tears flowed freely. Stephanie bent her head over her plate. Her ears began to prick. She realised just what she had done. She might have known that ghosts couid not be kept under lock and key! In all the best stories they passed through walls, even stout stone ones. "There must be some explanation,'" Aunt Katherine was saying. "People don't just vanish. It will be all right. Molly."

"May I go now, please," gulped Stephanie, half off her chair. , "Yes," nodded her aunt with a worried expression, "but do. not forget—teeth and hands I" 1

„ Stephanie scrambled through these duties, then ran like a small whirlwind through the garden. Near the gardener's shed she tip-toed soundlessly. She quickly slipped the bar from the latch, then darted oif between the trees. noL waiting to see what happened next. She came home from school very slowly but no grey ghost waited to accuse her. The return train to town had departed with Molly's mother and neither Molly nor Aunt Katherine had connected dreamy Stephanie with the audacious culprit of the "grey ghost's" story.