The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-26
HOW SHE CAME TO HAVE
HIM.

are sure you won't marry me 2"
Pretty little Mrs. Nellie Willardlooked
meditatively out of the window into the
quite village street, as if among the leaf
less trees and on the frost-bound land
scape she should find the answer to
Horace Levison's question.
Then, after a moment, she turned her
face toward him--a face as fresh and fair
in its peachy bloom as many a young
girls ten years her junior.
ell am-afraid I can't, Mr.. Levi
son."
Mr.. Levison looked her straight in the
bright blue eyes-such lovely blue eyes,
soft as velvet, and the color of q violet
that has bloomed in the shade.
You are afraid you. can't, Mrs,
Willard? Answer me another question
Eyes or no: Do you love me?"
She blushed and smiled, and looked
bewitchingly.
"Why, Mr.. Levison, I mean Harry,
OF course I do-like you! 1 always did
. ever since / first knew yor, years and
years ago."
when Will Willard won the prize
all we fellows were strivi1 for! So you
liked me then, Nellie, and you like me
now7 Then why won't you marry me ?
You've been a widow for three years
now. Isn't that long enough to mourn
for WIFI
"You wicked man! AS if three hun
dred years could ever teach me to for
get poor, dear Wilson,"
Her bright eyes reproved him sharply,
md ltsccepted with good grace.
Granting the truth, Nellie that
your deceased husband was a good lei.
low and q loving partner, / still can not
see why you refuse me. That is the sub
ject under consideration at present, Mel
liel Why won't you marry me?"
Then Mrs. Wizards face grew a little
paler, and her plump, fair hands trem,
bled. 40
Because, Harry because Wilson
Willard made me promise never to marry
again"
"Nonsensel What if he did? A bad
promise is better broken than keptY".
Mrs. Willard twisted her ring uneasily,
and looked at the illuminated shield oil
the stone.
/ know it is" she said 'but-2'
Mr.. Leyison looked earnestly at her.
"Yes-tbut' what, Nellie2 In all re.
gpect I say it--poor VIII is dead ami
gone, and you've been true to his
memory all these long years and what
is he TO do with you now?"
IT know" she said again, media.
lively, "but-but, Harry, he made me
solemnly promise o to marry again
under the penalty of his everlasting dis.
D pleasure. And don't be angry with me,
6 Harry, will you But I almost know
he would appear to mel"
y The lovely blue eyes were lifted in
such piteous appeal TO his, and the
pretty little widow made such q nervous
little nesting nearer to him, that twas
the most human thing In the World 70,
Mr.. Levison to put his arm protectingly
around her, andcassure her he was NOT
angry with her.
80 you believe be would haunt you,
Nellie, If you broke your promise? A
sensible little woman like you to yerita-
bly, believe in superstitious fol de-rol
And after having waited for you ten
years of your married llife, and 4hree
years Of your widowhood, you condemn
me to hopelessness for the sake Of such q
chimera-for the sake OF such d shadow
as your husbands ghostl"
And Nellie looked imploringly at him
again, and her lips quivered, and the
tears stood In great crystals on her long
lashes.
20 Harry, how cruel you arel You
know ! love you better than all thu
world, only-I dare not marry again
Don't be angry-please don't BE- angry
with me-
And Mr.. Levison looked down at hel
lovely face, and assured her he never
could be angry with her, and then went
away thinking badly Of the husband who
had burdened his lovely young wife with
such q promise.
The last sunset rays we're finging theil
golden and scarlet pennons ON the pale
blue-gray sky when Mr.. Levison opened
the door Of his coy sitting-room u
home, TO be met by the laughing face and
gay welcome of a younger gentleman who
had evidently been making himself ii
home while be waited.
aHeigho, Levison! Surprised to see
mot How are you, old felloW-how are
y0u2a
MI. Ieyison stared 4 second, then
erected him warmly.