Hi Everyone, this is a Halloween themed story, and yes, it is the end of November. The lovely author did a wonderful job getting it in on time, it was just the group's administrator who is a bit behind, so sorry to everybody! Anyway, we hope you enjoy!

A Visit On All Hallows Eve

By Krgreylady

Mrs. Thornton walked to the window again. She had done the same many times throughout the evening, watching the courtyard to see if her son had returned from his journey. She had a vague uneasiness about him, and could not shake the feeling he was in some sort of trouble. It was All Hallows Eve, and she knew it was only an old superstition from her girlhood in Ireland that was causing her to fret.

She glanced at the clock on the mantle. Almost midnight, and decided to go to bed, knowing she would lie awake until John returned. She started reading her bible to pass the time, but could not concentrate or focus on the words. She finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, the book resting in her hands, her last thought was not of her son, but of her late husband, John Thornton Senior.

"Hannah," a soft voice said, slowly waking her. "Hannah, wake up. I haven't much time." Mrs. Thornton, who rarely heard her given name these days, managed to open her eyes and focus.

She sat up in the bed and gave a gasp of fright. Her late husband, John, was standing before her with a smile on his face. Hannah closed her eyes tightly, telling herself she was still dreaming, then slowly opened them again. A gasp, then timidly she asked, "What are you doing here? Am I dying? Have you come for me?" The elder John Thornton smiled sadly. "No my dear, you are quite well. I am here to speak to you about something very important to all of us." He gazed at her, tilting his head in exactly the manner he had always done when he was trying to get his point across to her.

Hannah watched him closely. It really was her husband, although he looked rather transparent, possibly having a hard time keeping himself visual. 'I am still dreaming,' she thought to herself. 'Just a dream.'

He smiled at her again, guessing her thought. Then he sat on the bed next to her.

"You look lovely. I have missed you. I am so sorry that I left you alone to raise our family. I don't expect any forgiveness, but I do so want you to know how much I regret what I did."

Hannah found tears in her eyes. She could not speak, but nodded her head in agreement.

"I do not have much time left here, so I will get on with it. It is about John. He is truly unhappy, and I fear for him. His heart is grieved, and his business is failing. He feels he has failed you, failed himself. And he has managed to lose the one person in his life he needs most. A young woman. You know of whom I speak, Hannah." He looked pointedly at her, and she could not meet his eyes.

"Yes, Margaret Hale. He was quite taken with her, but she refused him. I do not like her. She is strong willed, opinionated, and has disgraced herself," Hannah said angrily. She simply could not help herself where the girl was concerned. Her boy deserved better. "Thank the lord she is gone from Milton," she added.

The elder Thornton frowned. He was quiet for a moment, then caught her blue eyes once again.

"That is why I am here. You are wrong about her. It is her story to tell, so I will not go into it. But she is what our son needs at this moment. I fear for him Hannah."

Mrs. Thornton frowned. What was he saying? Did he expect her to give the girl her blessing? "She is gone, John. She went back to London with her fancy relatives. I am sure she does not think of our boy at all."

"No, you are wrong again, my wife. She thinks of him constantly. She is quite in love with him, as he is in love with her."

"How do you know this?" Mrs Thornton was suspicious of anything about the Hale girl, and she was not ready to give up her dislike of the young woman.

"I cannot forgive her. She refused my John. He did the honorable thing proposing, and she spurned him. I was here. I saw how devastated he was. And then she was seen cavorting with another lover. No, she is not good enough for him."

John Senior smiled at her. He took her hand, giving her chills as he kissed it. "Oh my love, he is not yours. He is a man, and he has chosen this young woman to rule his heart. Do you know where he is, at this moment?"

She shook her head no. "He is in the mill, sitting in the dark. He wonders how his life came to this. How he lost everything. Including the woman he loves," he spoke softly. "He is not here with you, seeking comfort. He feels the burden of his failure at the mill deeply, and the loss of her has left him empty hearted. Only she can bring him back to you. Can you not forgive a young woman her mistakes for the sake of our son?"

Hannah was terrified. "I must go to him," she said as she grabbed a robe and shawl, heading for the door. Then she stopped, turning back to the man she had loved for many years. "Will you come?" He smiled. "I must go. My time here is finished. I love you, Hannah. I know you will be happy about this. Go to him. Send him to London." And he was gone.

Hannah raced down the stairs and across the courtyard. The mill was dark. She found John sitting exactly as she had been told, at his desk, staring into the dark.

She went to him, kneeling in front of him. His eyes focused on her. "Mother, what are you doing here?" His voice held no emotion, simply flat.

"Come home John. I think you must leave for London in the morning to inform Miss Hale we will be leaving the mill and house soon."

John looked stricken. "Mother, I will deal with her attorney. He is her financial advisor. I have sent letters to him informing him of my failure. He will take care of it. I have no need to bother Miss Hale with anything," he said flatly.

"I think you owe it to her, John. To speak to her personally. She may be offended or hurt to hear it from someone else."

John looked at her tiredly. "Yes Mother. I will go to London tomorrow. Her attorney has requested I sign some papers and has invited me to dine with her family. I had not planned on accepting, but I will do it for you." He got up tiredly. The weight of his loss crushing his spirit. She could see it now. It nearly broke her.

He put his arm around her and gently walked her back to the house.

"Why are you still up, Mother? He looked puzzled, knowing she always retired quite early.

Hannah smiled. "I had a dream about your father. He told me to send you to her."

John smiled for the first time that day. He reached for her and kissed her forehead. "Go back to bed. Tell father you did well if you speak to him again. And tell him I loved him."

Hannah smiled as she took the stairs slowly. "He knows, John. He knows."