Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-29
WHY SHE MARRIED HIM.

lou arc sure you WOu marry Iu0
Pretty little Mrs. Nellie Willard
looked meditatively out Of the window
into the quiet village street, as if
among the leaf1ees trees and on the
irostr bound landscape she could find
the answer to Horace Levison's ques-
ton.
Then, after q moment, she turned
her face toward him--a face as fresh
and fair in it's peachy bloom as many
9 Young girls ten years her junior.
ell am afraid can't, Mr.. Levi
son."
"You are afraid you can't, Mrs.
willard? Answer me another ques-
ton, yes or no-do you love me?
"Why, Mr.. Levison, l mean Harry,
Of course lo-like you! / always
did, ever since I first knew you, years
and years ago."
"When Wilson Willard won the
prize all we fellows were striving for !!
So yoa liked me then, Nellie, and you
like me now? Then won't you marry
me? You've been q widow for three
years now. Isn't that long enough to
mourn the virtues of the departed ?"
"You wicked man! As if three
hundred years could ever teach me to
forget poor, dear Willard"
Her bright eyes reproved him
sharply and he accepted with good
grace.
"Granting the truth. Nellie, that
your deceased husband was good
fellow and . loving partner, still
cannot see why you refuse me. That
il the subject under consideration at
present, Nellie. Why won't you marry
me-"
Because, Harry, because Wilson
Willard made me promise never to
marry again."
''6tuf and nonsense. What if he
did? A bad promise is better broken
than kept"
Mrs. Willard twisted her ring un-
easily.
"Iknow it is," she said, slowly,
Eyes; but what, Nellie? In all
respect say it-poor Will is dead and
gone, and you've been true to his mem
ory all these long years, and what has
he to do with you now?"
IT know" she said again, medita-
lively, "but-but, Harry, he made
me solemnly promise never to marry
again under penalty of his everlasting
displeasure. And-don't be angry
with me, Harry, will you? But l al
most 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 Nesting nearer to him that
it was the most human thing in the
world for Mr.. Levison to put his arm
protectingly round her.
$50 you believe he would haunt
you, Nellie, if you broke your prom
ise! A sensible little woman like you
to veritably believe in such supersti-
tious fol-de-rol. And after having
waited for you ten years of your mar
ried life and three years of your wild
oWhood you condemn me to hopeless
ness for the sake of such a chimera-
for the sake of such 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.
'sOh, Harry, how cruel you are.
You know l 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
could never be angry with her, and
then went away, heaping silent male
dictions on the head of the defunct
husband who had been tyrant enough
to burden his lovely young wife with
such Q promise.
The last sunset rays were f1inging
their golden and scarlet pennons on
the pale, blue-gray sky, when Mr..
Levison opened the door of his cosy
dtting-room at home. to be met by
the laughing face and gay welcome Of
. young gentleman, who had evil
IDENTIFY been making himself at home
while he waited.
"Heigho, Levison! Surprised to see
me? How are you, old fellow-how
are you?"
''Fred Willard? Where, in the
name OF goodness, did you spring
from? Why. | thought you were not
to sail from India for a good six
months yet. Pm glad to see you, al
though for the instant / confess I was
startled; you are the living image of
your brother Wilson. We've been
discussing ghosts, you know"
Young Willard's eyes cleaned mis-
chieviously as he interrupted ir-
reverently.
eve is good, Lev. You mean
my pretty little sister-in-law, of
courso? / know she religiously be-
lieves in 'em. know am impatient
TO see her-for the first time since
Wills funeral"
Mr.. Levison laid his hand per-
suasively on Fred's shoulder.
ss6ee here, Fred; you are friend
Of mine, and am about to put your
friendship to the test. l want you to
do me favor, will you?
"WllI? OF course / will. What's
up?'
And Mr.. Levison turned the key Of
the door, 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,
and Mrs. Willard was standing at the
gnrden door on her return from tour
q inspection to the snug little carriage
house, which she had personally seen
Wn1ocure for the night ever since
hor husband's death.
With Z little involuntary ex-
cjamafiont ct the perfect beauty
e Tie night, she went in,
lockod the door after her, for her
49, servants vero all retired for
tho night, and then gave little
ahrisk, for, standing in the self-same
accuGtomed place he was wont to
occupy, and looking ~ natural as if it
Veee himself in the fesh, was her
h..band: