ry shone brightly and the lamps around the open
space, which the buildings of Briarwood surrounded, glimmered in the
dark. Voices came up to them from the walks; but soon these ceased,
for the girls were all indoors. The campus was deserted.

"Don't let's light the lamp," said Lluella. "I can tell stories better
in the dark."

"And ghost stories, too," laughed Helen.

"Not so much of a ghost story--at least, there's nothing really
terrible about it," returned Miss Fairfax, slowly. "I suppose there
are not many people who talk about it, outside of our own selves here
at Briarwood. But once--before the school came here--the marble statue
down there was the talk of the whole countryside. I believe Mrs.
Tellingham doesn't like the story to be repeated," added Miss Fairfax.
"She thinks such superstitions aren't good for the minds of the Primes
and Infants," and the story-teller laughed.

"However, it is a fact that the original owner of Briarwood Hall had a
beautiful daughter. She was the apple of his eye--all beautiful
daughters are apples of their fathers' eyes," said Lluella, laughing.
"Jennie is _her_ father's apple----"

"Adam's apple," suggested Mary Cox.

"Such a size for an Adam's apple would choke a giant," murmured Belle
Tingley, for the three were always joking poor Heavy because of her
over-plumpness.

"Don't you bother about my father," said Jennie, calmly. "He gives me
a dollar every month for chocolate creams, and you girls help eat them,
I notice."

"Hurrah for the Stone _pere_!" cried Mary Cox. "Go on, Lluella."

"You sound as though you cheered for a sea-wall of masonry, or some
such maritime structure," complained Jennie. "'Stone _pere_,' indeed!"

"She sha'n't have any of the next box of creams, Heavy," said Lluella,
soothingly.

"And I'm not sure that _you_ will, either," replied the fat girl.
"_Do_ tell your story, Miss!" and Heavy yawned monstrously.

"How _dare_ you yawn before 'taps'?" cried Belle. "I'll douse the
water-pitcher over you, Jennie."

At this threat the fat girl sat up promptly and again urged Lluella to
continue her tale. So Miss Fairfax continued:

"This rich old gentleman with the apple in his eye--in other words, a
beautiful daughter--had a great deal more money than sense, I think.
He engaged a sculptor to design a fountain for his lawn, and the draped
figure you have seen upon that pedestal down yonder, is supposed to be
the portrait of the beautiful d