LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 888, 30 April 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW SHE CAME TO HAVE HIM. ( Danebury News.) Chapter I. " So you won't have me, Nellie V You are sure you won't marry me V Pretty little Mrs Nellie Willard looked meditatively out of the window into the quiet village street, as if among the leafless trees and on the frost-bound landscape she should find the answer to Horace Levison's question. Then, after a moment, she turned her face towards him -a face as fresh and fair in its peachy bloom as many a young girl's ten years her junior. ' I —I am —afraid I can't. Mr Levison.' Mr Levison looked her straight in the bright blue eyes—such lovely blue eyes, soft as velvet, and the color of a violent that has bloomed in the shade ' You are ' afraid' you can't, Mrs Willard ? Answer me another question—yes, or no. Do you love me ?' She blushed and smiled, and looked bewitchingly. ' Why, Mr Levison, I mean Harry, of course, T lo—like you ! I always did evor S'nce I first knew you, years and years ago' ' When Will Willard won the prize all we fellows were striving for ? So you liked me then, Nellie, and you like me now'.' Then, why won't yon marry mo? You've been a widow for three years now Isn't; that Jong enough to mourn the virtues of the de parted ?' ' You wicked man ! As if three hundred years could ever teach me to forget poor dear Wilson.' Her bright eyes reproved him sharply, anu he accepted with good gn-.ce. ' Granting the truth, Nellie, that youi deceased husband was a t>ood fellow and a loving partner, I still caunot see why you re

fuse me. That is the subject under consideration at pre cent, Nellie. Why won't you marry me V Then Mrs Willard's face grew a little paler, and her plump, fair hands trembled. 'Because Harry, because Wilson Wil lard made me promise never to mirry again.' ' .Stuff and nonsense ? What if he did ? V bad promise is better broken than kept.' Mrs Willard twisted her ring uneasily, and looked at the illuminated shield of the stone. ' I know it is,' she said ; ' but ' Mr Levison looked earnestly at her. ' Yes—« but' what Nellie ? In all respect T say it—poor Will is dead and gone, and you've beeu true to his memory all these long years, and what is he to do with you now ?' 'I know,' she said again, meditatively, 'but—but, Harry, he made me solemnly promise never to marry again under the penalty of his everlasting displeasure. And don't be angry with me, Harry, will you ? Bitt I 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 a nervous little nestlingnearer to him, that it was the most human thing in the world for Mr Levison to put his arnvprotectingly around her, aud assure her he was not angry with her. 'So you believe he would haunt you, Nellie, if you broke your promise? A sen sible little woman like you to veritably believe in superstitions fol de-rol ! And after having waited for you for ten years of your married life, and three years of ■our widowho' d, you condemn me to hopelessness for the sake of such a chimera—for the sake of such a shadow as your husband's 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 I You know I love you better than all the world, only—l dare not marry again 1 Dont'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 silent maledictions on the head of the defunct husband who had been tyrant enough to burden his lovely young wife with such a promise. Chapter 11. The last sunset rays were flinging their golden and scarlet pennons on th • pale blue-gray sky when Mr Levison opened the door of his cosy sitting room at home, to >-e met by the laughing face and gay welcome of a young gentleman, who had evidently been making himself at home while he waited. ' Heigho, Levison ! Surprised to see me. How are you, old fellow—how are you ?' Mr Levison stared a second, then greeted him war'rly. ' Fred Willard 1 Where in the name of goodness did you spring from? Why, I thought you were not to sail from England for a good six months yet. Old boy, bless you, I am glad to see you. although for the instant I confess I was started. You are the living image of your brother Wilson. We've been discussing ghosts you know.' Young Willard's eyes gleamed mischievously as he interrupted, irreverently—'"We' is good Lev. You mean my pretty little sister-in-law, of course ? I know she religiously believes in 'em. I know I am impatient to see her—for the first time since Will's fune r al."

Mr Levison had been looking thoughtful y at the embers, glowing like melted rubies behind the silver bars of the grate. Now he turned suddenly to Fred, and laid his hand persuasively on his shoulder. ' Look here Fred, you are a friend of mine, and I am about to put your friendship to the test. I want you to do me a great favor. Will you ? ' Fred laughed. ' Will I ? Of course I 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 th moon was just creeping over the tops of the trees, making a perfect flood of silver-gold glory on the quiet scene, and Mrs Willard, with a fleecy white zephyr shawl and her crepe brown hair, was standing at the kitchen door on her return from a tour of inspection to the snug barn and carriage-house, which she had personally seen was secure for the night ever since her husband's death. Her cheeks were flushed to the tint of an oleander flower by the keen kiss of the frosty air, and her eyes glowing like blue fires as she stood there one moment in the broad band of white moonlight that lay athwart the floor like a silent blessing. Then, with a little involuntry exclamation at the perfect beauty of the night, she went in and locked the door after her, for her three servants were all retired for the night, and then gave a little shriek, for, standing in the selfsame accustomed place he was wont to occupy, and looking as natural as if it were himself in the flesh, was her husband. She stifled her shriek, and tried bravely to feel brave, but her heart was tearing around very undisciplinedly as she realised that she was looking on a bona-fide ghost—a veritable inhabitant of the land of eternal shadows. ' Will!' she said, faintly, with her hand tight on the handle of the door. ' Will, is it you ?' His voice was precisely as it had been in the old days—mellow, musical, a little domineering Will's undeniably, unmistakeably. 'Who should it be but I, Nellie, and come on purpose to communicate with you ' ' Yes ? ' she gasped ; ' but what for ? I have tried —I have done everything th t 1 thought you wmld wish. There is nothhis. wrong, Will ?' The pale, moonlighted face, the speckle* black suit, the spotless linen, the very samt in which he had been buried, the l«w. familiar voice—-it almost paralysed Nellie, and yet, aided by t h e very material contac' of the door-knob, she stood her ground ano | listened. I ' Nothing is wrong with you, Nellie, bu with me. I can't rest in my grave knowin t-he wrong I unintentionally committed v binding you to perpetual widowhood for nr *ake. 1 come to revoke my decision, to givyou my full permiss on to marry again, ar>ny advice to marry Horace Levis• n Promise me you will do it, and I will res 1 peacefully for ever.' ' Oh, Will! If you say ao—if you think i best—yes J—yes, I will!'

Her face was pale enough now to have passed for a ghost; herself. ' Gl-o look at the big clock in the diningroom, Nellie, and see if it is near the stroke of twelve.' She went dumbly, mechanically, at his behest; and when she came back he was gon?, and the moonlight streamed in on an empty room. Then the reaction followed, and Nellie Hew up to her bedroom, locked the door, and covered her head with a shawl, and sobbed and cried hysterically until her overwrought nerves found reLef in sleep. The next day Mr Levison sent a little note over, apologising for his seeming discourtesy in not coming to bid her go"d-bye on his sudden departure for an indefinite time, and telling her that her cruel decision never to marry again had been the cause of it, and that they might never meet again, &c, &c. To which Nellie, all pale, alarmed, and crimson with confusion, pencilled an answer, assuring him she had changed her mind, and begging him to come over to luncheon with her, to meet her biother-in-law, who had only just arrived from abroad. Of course Mr Levison came, and it didn't take two minutes to settle it. Nor did he laugh at her when she solmly related her experience of the night before. • For it was his ghost, Harry, just as true as I am alive and speaking to you !' ' A jolly old—l mean, a thoughtful, painstaking spirit. Nellie! Bless his ghostship, we'll hold him in eternal remembrance.' Nor did his countenance change a feature even when ne and NYllie and Fred Willard discussed the marvellously obliging kindness o: the departed. ]Nlor did pretty, blooming, blushing Mrs ever f >r a moment dreum thai; her visitant was F ed himself assisted by a wig and false whiskers nor was there any need she should know, for her happines- was secured and her conscience at eas •.