Year: 1866

and how utterly impossible it was to weau
my heart from its first and only love and
bestow it undoubtedly upon him.


And he persisted after that?' asked
Edgar.


He seemed to feel the force and justice
of my remarks said Minnie, 'and assured
me of his willingness to win me without
my love, provided he could secure my good
will and respect; but, wishing to give ME
sufficient time and opportunity to consider
what he was pleased to call "a very fair and
honorable. proposition be requested me to
think over the matter couple of months,
at the expiration Of which time be would
receive my reply in person. I Iced scarce
ly add, that the allotted period has expired,
and that he now awaits my decision


Edgar buried bis face in bis hands and
grasped his throbbing temples, but uttered
not o word. He was too busy with his
own thoughts Finally, however, he raised
his dropping head, and drawing it closer to
the side of Minnie, be asked, much to her
surprise, Did you observe the slightest de-
gree of resemblance between the ghostIy
visitor and Sir Richard7'


Minnie did not reply promptly. Some
how or other the question carried with it an
irresistible potency, aud started train Of
thought of singular and very peculiar
character.


i will put the question in another form,'
said Edgar. Are you sure-quite sure,
Minnie-that, when villain can accom-
plish his purposes easier by donuiug the
habiliments of the grave and appearing in
a ghostly form, that he will not embrace
favorable opportunity? Depend upon it,
that this willy baronet, knew, BY some means
or other, that these apartments were said to
be haunted, and that you we're in the habit
of spending much of your time here


That is exceedingly improbable said
Minnie. "A little dispassionate reflection
will convince you of the absurdity of your
singular suspicious. Sir Richard was an
entire stranger in this country; and, know
ing nothing even of the existence of Har.
court Hall, be could scarcely be expected
to heve become aware of my peculiar modes
of passing any particular portion of my
time, or to have become Informed as to the
locality of my favorte haunts. 1t does not
sound like Edgar Houston, to call man,
with whom you are totally unacquainted, a
villain, willy baronet, and such like ex-
pressions, when these grave charges have no
reasonable foundation, but based upon wild
conjecture and prejudice.


But, dear Minnie, how else can the ap
partition be accounted for? You surely do
not believe in the possibility. of an Invisible
essence becoming visible material. Did
you ever mention the singular occurrence to
the baronet 2


sUncle did, replied Minnie.


'And what he had he to say about it :


Laughed heartily over it and treated the
whole subject with ridicule,' said Minnie.
Said he was very much obliged to the
ghost, and hoped we would take its advice; ;
aud, in short, evidently disbeieves the
whole affair


Edgar was silent awhile, again. His mind
was perplexed aud embarrassed beyond
measure Finally, taking the hand of
Minnie, he said, with much feeling, Il
must confess that was uDprepared for all
this You have certainly chosen very
appropriate time and place for the relation
Of your remarkable story; and though L
have given you throughou my strict and un'
divided attention, confess myself at loss
to understand this matter at all. frankly
acknowledge that regret having allowed
myself this fruitless, midnight interview
l have matches in my pocket; pray allow
me TO make light aud ascertain if it real
~ be Minnie Harcourt, who can thus sac
rificc soul and body for the sake of few
unmeaning utterances of supposed ghost.


do not speak thus, Edgar, said Min
pe Il risk far m,re than you imagine IN
granting this interview


'Granting it?' said Edgar. 'lf memory
serves me right, you solicited the interview
yourself


True, Edgar, but it was for your sake
that the solicitation was made. Since the
coming Ct Sir Richard, my uncle has given
me to understand that he would counte
nance no renewal of your former intimacy
with me; would even object to your further
visits. Under these circumstances, | deem.
cd i, my duty to meet you somewhere and
somehow, and inform you exactly how mat
ters stood. I knew of no place halt so
secure and private as this and, as Sir
Richard and uncle sit up very late at cards,
1 appointed an hour as far inte night as
possible. So far as the darkness is con-
cerned, that is a necessity; for a light in
this part of the house could be seen from
the garden, and would provoke inquiry aud
possible inaugurate immediate search. The
main object, however, of this interview, is
to assure you of my uualterable and deVo'
ted love, dear, Edgar, it matters not what
NAV occur And, now, since | have spoken
so frankly, tell me, under all the circum-
stances, how would you advise ME to actT


How would it do to ask further time of
the barouet, before you come to decision z
asked Edgar.