Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-02-15


under penalty of his everlasting dis
pleasure. And don't be angry with me,
Harry, will you? But 1 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 he
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 superstitioussfol-
derol And, after having waited for
you ten years of your married-life, and
three years of your widowhood, you con-
denim me to hepelessness for the sake
Iof such chimera-for the sake of such
o 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.
"Oh, Harry, how cruel you are }! You
know / love you better than all the
world, only-I dare not marry again !
Don't be angry-please 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 enough to, burden his young wife
with such promise.
The last sunset rays were fiinging
their golden and 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, Levisonl Surprised to
see me? How are you old fellow-how
are you ?"
Mr.. Levison stared second, then
greeted him warmly.
"Fred Willard Where in tie name
of goodness did you spring from? Why,
| 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 Willard's eyes cleaned mis-
chievously, as he interrupted irever-
emily:
cove is good, Lev. You mean my
pretty little sister-in-law. I know she
religiously believes in 'em. [ know
am impatient 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 q friend Of
mine; and I am about to put your friend
ship to the test. I want you to do me O
very great favor; will you?"
Fred laughed.
"Will I? OF course I 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. Viii.
lard, with fieecy. white zephyr shawl and
her crepe brown hair, was standing al
the kitchen door, on her return from 6
tour of inspection to the snug little barn
and carriage house, which she had per
sonally seen was secure for the night
ever since her husbands death.
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 fool
like silent blessing. Then, with {
little involutary exclamation at the per
feet beauty of the night, she went in
locked the door after her, for herthret
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 al
natural as if it were himself in the flesh
was her husband. She stifed her shrek
and tried bravely to feel brave, bu
her heart was tearing around very un
disciplinedly as she realized that sh,
was looking upon 6OnG.fIe ghost,
veritable inhabitant of the land O
eternal shadows.
"Will," she said, family, with he
hand tight on the handle of the door
"Will, is it you"
His voice was precisely as it had beel
in the old days-mellow, musical, littl
domineering-Will's undeniably, unmis
takably.
"Who should it be but I, Nellie, an
come on purpose to communicate wit
! you"
"Yes?" she gasped, "but what for
have tried-I have done everythin
that / thought you could wish. Their
is nothing wrong, Will p
The pale, moon-lghted face, th
speckless black suit, the spotless linen
the very same in which he had bee
buried, the low, familiar voice-it almos
paralyzed Nellie, and yet, aided by tn
very material contact Of the doorknot
she stood her ground and listened.
" Nothing wrong with you, Nellie
but with me. I come to bring you
present"
Nellie was startled, and looked at hil
curiously, wondering what he ha
brought from the other world.
L" "Ipresent you" he said, with you
liberty, for 1 can't rest in my gray
knowing the wrong I unintentionall
committed in binding you to perpetu,
} widowhood for my sake. I come to +,
woke my decision-to give you my fu
permission to marry again, and my az
vice to marry Horace Levison. Promit
me you'll do it, and will rest peaceful