Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-27

dark syss- Aunt DokAf8e Aiso D<tehch
70 hin with delight.
He has tue instincts as vel as the
bearing Of a born gentleman, she whis.
pered % her brother. who would
tAink THAI his ancestors had always sold
clnuAnloa aud nutmsgss7
Unele DoTival. who read cyclopsaiss
and Vas Thought very learned, retorted
quickly:
And shy should he not have a. me
sentiments as a n0blemanl Away with
your absurd notions, sister. AL men
are equal
LICK struck 2, and Saint Andre
sally felt pang IF remorse fof the
was Playing, a. dc recollected
tl2 ~ had 20 arrange for his friends
bGF.al and would bs expected al the
E0.ei. He therefore ross from the table,
AMI announcing that he had important
iif q attend 10, prepared 10 leave.
- t-i sfa-essed ia vain, Sylvia looked
~ Is .eak siaazement and every one
e. res ~ a.sl to remain
II - rsE understand began the old
man, /. 10 ing his visitor 10 the front
deer. TIE Dung man interrupted him,
SAYING so.emniy:
Il viii explain. AT IL o'clock this
Liorning died. after short and sud
den attack Of colic, and gave the hotel
proprietor my word of honor that my
lGdy should be removed this afternoon.
You see. therefore, that If were to alb
sent myself any longer IT would DO very
awkward" With these words he dis
appeared. leaving the old father over
whelmed with aInazement.
When the rest Of the family heard
what had been said they decided that
the youth was joking.
''tie has humor,' said Uncle Dorival.
Il shall congratulate him the next time
see him. He will be here in time for
supper"
But supper time came and passed, and
there was no sign of the son-in-law. The
family became anxious and alarmed,
and toward 8 o'clock they sent a mes
senger TO the hotel 10 inquire for the
passenger who had arrived there by
coach thsN morning. The proprietor
sent back word that the gentleman
named mad died At IL o'clock of collie,
and that the body had been taken away
for burial in the afternoon. This news
was received with unbounded astonish-
ment, and little Sylvia burst into tears
as she declared that she would wear
mourning as if she were a widow.
1T was his ghost that came here"
said the girls mother in tone Of awe,
but Uncle Doriva shrugged his shout
ders.
DO ghosts eat and drink as he didg'
he asked. That fellow was merely
some young scapegrace who wanted to
play q trick on MS and get good meal
nj the same time" Nevertheless the
ghost story went the round OF the serv-
ants hall, and the footmen boasted of
having seen a spirit in broad daylight.
The tale spread until it became q sub
ject of wonder in boudoirs and drawing
rooms, and the fair young widow who
had never been married wore q black
gown and veil and shed passionate tears
for the affianced husband whom she had
seen but once.
Two weeks later she was wandering
about the garden one evening, listening
sadly to the songs Of the nightingales.
The stars were shining brilliantly, but
the sight Of their beauty only served to
increase her sorrow.
"Alasr' she sighed, elf he were but
here to stroll with me along these path
waysr'
As she spoke q cracking Of boughs
near her made her start with ter
ror. and in another instant man
broke through the Towering shrubs and
kuelt at her feet. The stars were shin
ing to some purpose then. for by their
light she recognized the face for which
she had been longing, and in q voice
which betokened mingled JOY and dread
she cried:
Then you are not dead!'
mo indeed, sweetheart" he answered
softly; II am alive, and l hope to live
and love you for many long day yet. !"
/ When the two young people entered
the drawing room the family were play
| ing Backgammon. A look Of amaze
ment greeted the appearance of Saint
Andre, and every one being dumfound-
ell the young baron had no difficulty in
telling his story. which he concluded by
asking for Sylvia's hand.
The marriage took place as soon as the
proper period OF mourning had elapsed,
aud Aunt Dolarice was triumphant.
Did not tell you he had the bearing
| Of n noblemany' she cried
/ "All's well that ends well. and baron
Is rs good a. q grocer" said Uncle Dori-
al.-Translsted from the French by
Isabel Smithsou for Romance.