The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-06-27

SO long and grave had his usual cheerful
looking face become.
1t must have been real ghost, then,
that we had to dinner he calculated,
after he had recouuted to his VIE all
that he had been able to learn from She
landlord
Gracious and perhaps he'll come
again. said Madame Hoppe, now really
frightened
Annette, meanwhile had retired to her
own room OF course she wasvery much
shocked at what she had heard, but still
she did not participate in the alarm
evinced by her parents. Villiers had
made a deep impression on her young
heart. And could he be dead Had he
then rised from the grave in order to keep
his promise to her? She had heard of
ghosts, but she had never believed in
such things; at all events if it had been
a ghost, it must have been a sign that he
did not think her altogether unworthy of
him.
In due time letter arrived from old
Mr.. Villiers, in which he deplored the
untimely end of his son; and thus every
shadow of doubt was removed from the
minds of the old folks.
Gradually they began to recover their
wonted spirits, and as no ghost appeared,
soon left off talking about the matter
Indeed, on one or two occasions, old Hep
pc got quite jocular on 5hs subject.
after all you know he said one even
ing to his wife, I'VE really ought to feel
highly honored 1t is not every one who
can boast of having entertained so distin-
guished a visitor; and | must say, wife,
he seemed to do uncommon justice to
your dinner Generally, you know.
ghosts come in the middle of the night,
and vanish as suddenly as they appear
but ours actually drove up in a carriage
and pair. But there is still one thing
that is a mystery; you know he told us
he had an appointment in one of the De-
partments, and see by to-day's paper
that Mr.. Beaufort has been named to
fill the post to which he alluded 81
There was one person, however. in the
neighborhood who felt no little joy at the
turn things had taken. Mr. Lamont, a
wealthy tradesman, had some weeks pre-
viously, in private Interview with Mr.
Hoppe asked permission to be allowed
to pay his address to his daughter.
1t is impossible - my daughter S
hand is already promised. But believe
me my, dear Lament, had such not been
the case, would willingly have given my
consent, for | entertain the highest opin-
ion possible of you. - @
Now that young Villiers was dead,
Lamont thought that there could not be
the slightest objection to his again prefer
ring his suit. Accordingly, about a
couple of months after the above events
had taken place, he paid old Hoppe a
VISIT, and reminded him of the words he
had used on a former occasion.
Certainly; and [ am sure should be
very happy to have you for a son-in-law );
but you see Annette is not the same girl
she was She is absent in manner, seems
to brood over some hidden thought, and
has quite lost her former cheertuiness.
| think if the subject were proposed to
her now, she would answer with decid-
ed refusal [ would then advise you to
wait; and be sure, my dear friend, | will
see to your interests. ID
Thanks, thanks; but how long do
you think | shall have to wait before you
can give me an answer?'
'Oh, not long, perhaps-say two
month time. Between now and then
[ will breach the subject to Annette, and
will let you know the result
Annette, as her father half anticipated,
did not at all seem pleased at the announc-
ment.
''Well, my love-" said her father, ''we
will speak no more about it now. Take
a month or two to think of it, and if in
that time you are still of the same opin-
ion, you shall not be importuned by La
mont addresses, nor any ones else.
''She Il come around in time, " thought
her father; 'she likes Lamont, | know,
and he is worthy good fellow, that he
is"
The time passed rapidly away One
evening Mr. Hoppe, who had RETAINED
from abiding to the subject any more,
said to his daughter, as she babe him
good night
Tomorrow, my child, I shall ask
you for your answer to the question |
asked two months ago. Good night, and
whichever way you decide, be assured
you will always be my own darling An
nette.
Thanks, dear father, whispered
Annette, as she left the room.
"What should she do?'' she thought,
when she was once more alone but he
is, | believe, very aniable, kind man,
and my father is in favor of it. Oh,
Villiers, dear Villiers, to me!' And the
poor girl cried herself to sleep.
But next morning she awoke much re-
freshea. for she had had pleasant dream
that night. Fiiliers, she thought, had
stood by her bedside, looking just the
same as when she had seen him on that
eventful day.
BE true to me. dear Annette" he
said Some day [ will come and claim
you.
So cheerful and so like herself did she
appear at breakfast next morning, that
her father imagined she had at last got
over her foolish scruples.
AT twelve, my love, [ shall expect
you to be in the drawing room" said her
father, affectionately kissing her as he
left the ROOM
During all this time, poor Beaufort had
suffered severely He could not ask for
leave of absence when he had only Just
entered upon his duties. At length.
when few months had elapsed, he ven
tured to aoply for few days holiday,
fully expecting decided refusal But
letter reached him. couched in tiattcr-
ing terms Of the manner in which he had
discharged his arduous duties, and giving
him permission to be absent for whole
month.
He lost no time in finding out the gen
eral, to whom he now, for the first time,
confded the whole events as recorded
above t
y "Well, you are pretty sort of fell
low said the general, when his nephew
had finished, ito go and brighten people
in that way, while smile passed over
his face You may depend upon it the
young lady will not be over ANXIOUS to
renew her acquaintance with ghost
20 / don't think that she believed it
for moment it was really SO absurd. y
swell, what do you want me to do !;