The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-01-23

fettW - LIZ &OOSo- - FN@NO1 So---
gliding toward me from the foot of the
bed. The face was hidden from my
view, but I kne- from the form that 1t
was the ghost OF Ausstasis.
e William Raymond, came in hoarse
voice from the figure, " came here to
.avenge yodr. infidelity, and TO drag you
down to the grave in my embrace"
I sbTieked with terror as ] felt her
clutch at my throat, and cried, family:
Mercy, mercy
"lYOU would marry Kate Nelson,
would your" whispered the ghost, mock
insly. 90 II you do not wish 20 die -
and here the foTefngers pressed so tight
that / gssped for promise me
that you Will not marry Kate Nelson"
ooh, 1 promise, l promised said l,
half dead with terror.
Woe be unto you if you deceive
me ! - answered the ghost, s)lemnIy and
| heard no more.
It was some time before ventured to
cAst q glance around the room. The
ghost had disappeared. The storm, too,
wss beginning to subside; but [ could
net so to sleep again, ior / iound it inn
possible to forget that phantom and its
deadly clutch upon my throat.
resolved 10 say nothing about it. OF
ghost. Nevertheless, did not dare to
we'd Kate Nelson; yet how could ] ex~
plain the sudden change of purpose l
frequently hoped that she would not die
of broken heart. What should ] say
to the poor girl r.
After considerable re Election / resolved
to trust this delicate affair to Charlie.
The proposed marriage was so odiOus in
his eyes that 1 knew he would justify
my apparent treacheIy TO her, is possible.
Morning came, and I arose in a feverish
stste of mind Howl dreaded to meet
Kate at the breakfast table, But, fors
tunately, she did not make her appear
ance. Charlie looked so troubled that
simost fancled that he, too, mad seen the
ghost.
: After breakfast said to him, with an
embarrassment that ] strove 10 hide
Ny dear boy, do you remember what
we were talking about 1Sst evening? I
fhave been thinking the matter over Sc
rioaslyi sfAd am afraid that marriage
between Katie and myself viii result IN
Unhappiness, but 1 have not the courage
Ia brave her repIOaches. Now, Charlie,
will you act as mediator, and make
known this change in my yiews?"
Why, UNCLE he answered, and 1 was
almost sure that / could see q CLEAN of
mischief in his eyes something extra
Ordinary must have happened; you are
not usually so tickle"
&" We won't discuss the matter" said
l, in an irritated tone. " VIII you or
viii YOU not grant my .request?"
'Of course I will, +" he replied, q but it
will be difficult task. The poor child
viii be so disappointed"
detected q joyous ring in his voice,
and looked at him'rather suspiciOusly.
His diplomatic mission was successful,
however. Late in the afternoon Katie
came down into the library where / was
sitting. L had never seen her look SO
pretty.
''Ob, Mr.. Raymondp' she said,
eagerly, "I am so glad that you have
changed your mind 1t was so unex-
pected yesterday. / never dreamed be-
fore that you loved me in any other
way than as daughter"
Was this acting? Was she trying to
deceive me in her pure and sweet unsel-
| fishness2
Then you never loved me2'
Dear Mr.. Raymond, you know
better, only it was not exactly the kind
| oil love one ought to feel toward hus-
/ band. You are as dear TO me "a II you
were my own father; but you are SO
!
! She hesitated, and did not finish her
sentence. 1 remembered ny gray hairs
with a pang of mortifi d vanity. Was
not the ghostly visit enough? Must
| be tortured in this manner afterwards2
| The spell was torn swayfrom the de-
/ lUsiOn | cherished. Alas! l had, misin-
/ terpTeted her childish affection. 1t might
! De that she loved another. l looked down
| into the face where Il vivid scarlet glow
| ed, and there read her own secret.
Ny dear child" I exclaimed, at
tempting to control my agitation, ''teu
me everything"
COIL Mr.. Raymond" she exclaimed,
in confusion Charles has asked me to
| become his wife"
The rascal No wonder he remained
with her such long time that morning;
nor that he boosted of the satisfactory
manner in which everything had been
explained.
The impudent fellow" l mnttered
impatientIy. what do you answer,
Child2 Do you love himp
Low and very softly came the answer:
ayes"
The heart Of woman is a mystery
cannot fsthOm. / WAS certainly outWit-
| ted by nay nephew. He might have been
afraid, however, that my conscience
would TeprOsch ne If Katie showed her
disappointment. have little doubt that
she loved me far better than she would
| confess.
Ali well, they were married in due
| course of time, and we were all living
7 together. The dear children do every
/ thing they can 10 add 10 my happiness.
Katie is stilla beautiful woman. and
| Charlie is maintaining the staff of my
! old age.
IneVer saw.the ghost again. In, fact,
| have good reasons to think that the
mysterious yisitant was a certain grace
! less nephew of niue who had fallen in
I.llys with Katie. OF course forqave
tie deception long ago, as it saved me
| from terrible mistake.
I am much happier, probably, than if
bad married the young girl whose heart
| belonged TO another. 1 am not certain,
| however, that she did not accept Charlie
! from pique at my rejection. Any way
he has made her good husband.
E-o,s-