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Ally shot hi as he stepped past her When he looked back and winked again, she forced a sroup

"Well, thanks, I think," she told the boy who’d spoken There was nothing like having a few young kids on the tour, giggling and not the least bit interested in the history of the Tarleton-Dandridge House--or the nation, for thatto be thorns in her side if she didn’t do so quickly Ghost tours were the answer in situations like this

ToShe understood how they felt, even though she’d always been the odd kid out herself--a history nerd, as Julian liked to call her She was froone to Boston for her bachelor and master’s, and to New York for her doctorate, but she loved her own city alrown up Froaped at Independence Hall and marveled that she could stand in the sareatest men in American history had stood

She surveyed the crowd and concluded that the two boys were indeed brothers, dragged along on a historical jaunt by their parents, the attractive couple a few feet back

"Actually, h, and the person I’ly, "she’s supposed to haunt the place, so I’d be careful if I were you" She took a step closer to the taller of the two brothers "She wants you to know your history"

He grinned and struck a swaggering pose "I wouldn’t host," he said "And I know all about her Lucy Tarleton, that is We went on a ghost tour last night! She was a spy Like a Hairy Mata"

"Mata Hari!" his dad whispered, shaking his head in a a hand on the boy’s shoulders "Sorry!" he murmured to Allison

"It’s fine," Allison assured him She turned back to the boy "Great, then you’re in the know," she said gravely "You could host of Lord Brian ‘Beast’ Bradley, who is said to havethe ’em on!" the boy shouted

"Todd," his father chastised "Keep it down"

"It’s all right Everyone loves historic ghost stories," Allison said She did like kids and understood that they were going to be, well, kids She just wished people would recognize the human toll of war and what history could teach theroup of fifteen "Good evening," she said loudly, "and welcoe House, here in historic Philadelphia!"

Trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the air had taken on a sweet chill that ht have been the promise of rain or , and with it, a soft fog They hadn’t shortened their hours at the mansion yet, but the last tour was usually out while there was still a gli the breeze, Allison Leigh thought she didn’t ht Of course, a lot of what she did was by rote and she could do it in her sleep, but she was fascinated by history, and adored the old historic house where she worked as a guide when her teaching schedule allowed Su She liked people, too, especially children and young adults, and valued the opportunity to show them where the fate of a nation had been decided and to discuss both the Colonial era and the Revolution itself

On uides did their share of the tours Annette Fanning, a good friend as well as coworker, had left early, scheduled for a root canal Jason Lawrence was leading the tour group just ahead, dressed in the manner of the British dandy, Lord Bradley, who’d resided in the house when the patriots had fled Julian Mitchell, the fourth guide employed by the private nonprofit corporation that owned the house, had disappeared around lunchti around auditioning with his band, and had a tendency to show up late or disappear early With the last of the school-age crowd going through at the tail end of su, but this tour was it for the night--and then she’d be ready to close up and go ho the to follow you hoat the young wo the boys because he hosts follow you hoer of the two brothers said bravely "I ht?"

"Maybe they can follow you hoh walls, can’t they?"

"Stop it!" the younger one said

His brother made chicken sounds

Allison clapped her hands to draw their attention back to the tour "The Tarleton-Dandridge House is open to help you understand the Revolutionary War and the occupation of Philadelphia, not to send ghosts home with anyone," she announced "So, we’ll start with a brief history, although I’m sure you know most of this Philadelphia was the first capital of the United States And the Declaration of Independence ritten and signed here But by that time, shots had been fired in Boston--and the British navy was occupying Staten Island What you ress worked here before they decided on independence At first, they were seeking a h, it was her swaggering young beau, the older brother, who raised his hand "No taxation without representation!" he said