The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-14

ct know" she said meditatively,
"but but, Harry, he made me
solemnly promise never to marry again
under penalty of his everlasting dis
pleasure. And don't be angry with me,
Harry, will you9 But almost know
he would appear to me |"
The lovely blue eyes were lifted in
such piteous appeal to his, and the
pretty little widow made such ner.
vous little move nearer to him, that it
was the most human thing in the world
for Mr.. Levison to put his arm protect
ingly around her and assure her lie
was not angry with her.
$50 you believe he would haunt you,
Nellie, if you broke your promise A
sensible little woman like you to verita-
bly, believe in such superstitious fol-
derol And, after having waited for
you ten years of your married-life, and
three years of your widowhood, you con-
demn me to hopelessness for the sake
of such chimera-for the sake of such
a shadow as your husbands ghost!'
And Nellie looked imploringly at him
again, and her lips quivered, and the
tears stood in great crystals on her
long lashes.
y,
know L love you better than all the
world, only dare not marry again
Don't be angry-pleass don't be angry
with me -
And Mr. Levison looked down at her
lovely face, and assured her he never
could be angry with her, and then went
away heaping maledictions on the head
of the defunct husband who had been
tyrant enough7to burden his young wife
with such promise.
! The last sunset rays were flinging
their golden aud scarlet pennons on the
pale, blue-gray sky, when Mr.. Levison
opened the door of his cozy sitting-room
at home, to be met by the laughing face
and gay welcome of young gentleman,
who had evidently been making himself
at home while he waited.
Heigho, Levison! Surprised to
see me? How are you old fellow-how
are you ?"
Mr.. Levison stared a second, then
greeted him warmly.
"Fred Willard Where in tie name
of goodness did you spring from? Why,
| l thought you were not to sail from
England for long six months yet. Old
| boy, bless you, I'm glad so see you, al
though for the instant confess I was
startled-you are the living image of
your brother Wilson. We've been dis
cussing ghosts, you know"
Young Wizards eyes cleaned mis-
chievously, as lie interrupted irrever-
emily:
cove is good, Lev. You mean my
pretty little sister-in-law. I know she
religiously believes in 'em. 1 know
am inpatient to see her-for the first
time since Wills funeral"
Mr.. Levison had been looking thought
fully at the embers glowing, like melted
rubies, behind the silver bars of the
CRATE; now he turned suddenly to Fred,
and laid his hand persuasively ON his
shoulder.
"See here, Fred; you are a friend of
mine; and am about to put your friend
ship to the test. 1 want you to do me
very great favor; will you?"
Fred laughed
"Will L? OF course will. What's
up?"
And Mr.. Levison turned the keys of
the doors, and the consultation lasted
until the housekeeper rang the dinner
bell.
Five hours later the moon was Just
creeping over the tops of the trees,
making a perfect food of silver-gold
glory on the quiet scene, and Mrs. Will
lard, with feecy.white zephyr shawl and
her crepe brown hair, was standing at
the kitchen door, on her return from a
tour of inspection to the snug little barn
and carriage house, which she had per-
sonally seen was secure for the night,
OF, hnr h,,o >,
Her cheeks were flushed to the tint
of an oleander flower by the keen kiss
of the frosty air, and her eyes were
glowing like blue fires as she stood there
one moment in the broad band of white
moonlight that lay athwart the floor
like a silent blessing. Then, with q
little involutary exclamation at the per-
feet beauty of the night, she went in,
locked the door after her, for her three
servants were all retired for the night,
and then gave little shrek, for stand
ing in the self-same accustomed place
he was wont to occupy, and looking as
natural as if it were himself in the flesh,
was her husband. She stuffed her shrek,
and tried bravely to feel brave, but
her heart was tearing around very un-
disciplinedly as she realized that she
was looking upon 6Ona.fde ghost-a
veritable inhabitant of the land of
eternal shadows.
"Will," she said, family, with her
hand tight on the handle of the door,
"Will, is it you ?"
His voice was precisely as it had been
in the old days-mellow, musical, little
domineering-Will's undeniably, unmis.
takably.
"Who should it be but I, Nellie, and
come on purpose to communicate with
you."
YesP" she gasped, "but what forP
| have tried-I have done everything
that thought you could wish. There
is nothing wrong, Will" /"
The pale, moon-lighted face, the
speckless black suit, the spotless linen,
the very same in which he had been
buried, the low, familiar voice-it almost
paralyzed Nellie, and yet, aided by the
very material contact of the doorknob,
she stood her ground and listened.
Nothing wrong with you, Nellie,
but with me. / come to bring you a
Nellie was startled, and looked at him
curiously, wondering what he had
brought from the other world.
81 present you," he said, "with your
liberty, for l can't rest in my grave
knowing the wrong I unintentionally
committed in binding you to perpetual
widowhood for my sake. come to re-
woke my decision-to give YOU nv full