ever was said here, did for the most part only too well coi with what Mr. G. had remarked in him in the assumed sha the rich banker.

As soon as Mr. G. had arrived home again with his wif daughter, he related the visit from the Dead Guest and th hoped to have done with him. The ladies were at first g astonished or rather frightened; but when they heard the of the proposed bridegroom, they could not help smiling When they heard that the father had declared Watteville the bethrothed bridegroom. Amelia fell round his neck said, "Oh Papa, sweet Papa, do keep your word.”

By heavens!" said the old man," I shall certainly kee word."

The story appeared to the Ladies somewhat incredible they were rather inclined to believe that from his own fan had made some additions, or that chance had made a sin joke, than to doubt the personality of Von Huber. stubborness of the mother and daughter in not believing assertions, rendered Mr. Guyot still more anxious.

"Just so it was to come! just so!" exclaimed Mr. G. an and faint hearted." He has you already both in his clutche has already stunned you. I am not credulous indeed, no I superstitious but what actually happened to me, has pened. It is a devilish trick which might drive me Reason cannot conceive it. But there may be many th which to reason are incomprehensible. I shall lock you the cellar, that you may have no communications with infernal Ghost."

tl

"Dearest Papa! May the Dead Guest be Von Hub not, I swear to you not to love him and never to forget teville. But in return give me your word as a father, that will not separate me from Watteville, be it the Dead Gue. Von Huber that sues for my hand, and then you need lock me up.

66

"Truly I would rather give you to the poorest beggar in "street who is at least a living being!-than to a Ghost!"

GOOD AND BAD CONSEQUENCES.

Amelia had the most charming dreams, but Mr. Guyot pass leepless disturbed night. That pale figure, whose white appeared more terrific from his black hair and beard visible to him even with closed eyes. Amelia had the most g ful sentiments towards that ghost-like stranger who had suddenly converted her father, and brought her nearer to dear Watteville.

The following morning as soon as Mr. G. had taken his br fast with his family, he went to the burgomaster. It wa

result of his reflections during the preceding night, and requested of him to adopt against the unknown stranger such police pro ceedings as might effectually compel him to leave the town, He now related frankly what had happened yesterday in his house before he joined his evening party, and that his wife and daughter were already benumbed in their senses; that they looked upon the Dead Guest as the real son of the Banker Huber, though it is reasonable to suppose, young Huber in his part as bridegroom, would not have chosen the exterior shape of that known Guest, and that he could not possibly have designed to play this trick out of frolick.

The burgomaster shook his head at so delicate an affair. He did not know what to say; but he assured him he would make the strictest enquiries, for the whole town was in anxiety about this disagreeable apparition.

When Mr. G. after some hours returned home, (having also consulted the police lieutenant and some other friends) he by chance looked through a glass window of his house, and beheld the horrible guest, as it appeared to him, in a tender conversation with Amelia. The girl smiled on him very amicably, and did not appear to say any thing against it when he took up her hand, kissed and pressed it to his lips. Mr. G. could not believe his own eyes. All the surrounding objects seemed to tremble, or rather he trembled himself. At first he wanted to enter abruptly and drive that insatiable seducer from the house; then he considered the evil consequences which such a step might have for Amelia and himself. He thought too of the duel betwixt the Count Von Siebenthal and the Viscount Von Wyttenbach only a hundred years ago. He ran as pale as death into his wife's apartment, who was terrified by his look.

When she heard the cause of his condition, she endeavoured to console him; assured him that the supposed ghost was really the expected bridegroom, an amiable modest man, with whom Amelia and herself had a long conversation.

"I believe Mamma, to your eye this man is very modest. But go and see, how far he has brought it with Amelia. They kiss each other."

"That's impossible, Papa!"

"Here, here, accuse these my eyes of falsehood. He has her in his clutches, she is lost! Why are they alone-your brains are bewildered already, else you would not have left them alone."

"Dear Papa, he asked permission to explain himself to her alone. How is it possible that you, an enlightened man ridiculing whatever smells of superstition, should let your mind be turned, and suddenly become the most bigotted of all men?"

JANUARY 1830.

F

"Superstitious, bigotted! no, call it prudent, careful, a this diabolical delusion! Be it, whatever it may, we mus ourselves against being cheated. The girl is too dear t I order her for once, and for ever to cut all intercourse that soi disant Von Huber."

"But what will his father say?"

"Oh, the old man will say nothing. And how shoul And in the name of God! let him say whatever he likes. I intreat you, and send away that cursed seducer!"

Mrs. Guyot then went up to him, laid her hand in a fr manner on his shoulder, and spoke softly in an intr tone; "My dear husband, consider what you are doing in idle fear! Because he has a pale face and a black coat, a str is not therefore a ghost. But if you order it, persist in i if it serves your peace of mind, I shall obey you. Yet con Amelia and I have invited him already to dinner."

"It is enough to strike a man with apoplexy!" cried Mr. G 46 To dinner! It will drive me mad! He must possess the art and has enchanted you like the rattle-snake does the birds, who must fly into his jaw nolens volens. Off off! I wil nothing to do with him!"

66

· At this moment Amelia in a cheerful humor came in. V is Von Huber," asked Mrs. G.

"For a moment only he went to his lodging. Truly he worthy excellent man!"

You

"There you hear it!" cried Mr. G. "In a quarter of an she knows that he is a worthy and excellent man. Watteville! Oh if Watteville were here? But I will fe more; countermand your invitation. Tell him a lie, an h shift, that I was suddenly seized with sickness, that we a tremely sorry, and that we cannot receive him to-day."

Amelia was frightened by the violence of her father. me papa, you shall hear what he has told me. He certainly excellent man, and you will.

Stop! I will hear nothing, I have already heard too n Let me have my own will. Call it singularity, call it by ever name you like; only hear me. Should Von Huber

semble the Dead Guest, or the Dead Guest Von Huber it the same devil. If you can bring your good, excellent Devil to leave Herbesheim to-day and for ever, I give you word of honor, that you may stick to and marry Watte even should the real son of my old friend arrive. I promi write immediately to his father, to relate to him all and to ca all previous engagement as soon as I know that Satan is Here is my hand, now tell me can you persuade him to pack, be off?"

"Well said Amelia overjoyed; it shall succeed, only allow me to speak to him alone."

"There we have it again !. No, no, off with him! Write to him. a few lines. Off, off with him!"

No contradiction was of avail. But the price offered to Amelia was too precious. She wrote to the young Banker, she was sorry to be obliged to countermand the invitation to dinner on account of the sudden illness of her father, she even requested him, if he had any esteem or friendship for her to leave town as soon as possible, for all her future fortune and the peace of the house depended altogether on his immediate removal; she promised to write to him in a few days and to explain to him in a letter the singular causes, of her singular request.

CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAD GUEST.

A servant took Amelia's letter to the inn and inquired for VonHuber; the fellow went with pleasure, for he was in hopes of seeing that famous and much dreaded Dead Guest. But when he opened the door of the apartment of the Banker, he suddenly shuddered when he saw that tall, black and pale gentleman coming upon him, and heard him say in a hollow voice: "What do you want?" The figure seemed to him much taller, blacker and paler than he had had heard it was.

66

May your excellency pardon me," said the terrified man, with a face in which mortal anxiety was expressed? "I did not wish to interrupt your excellency, I only asked for the Banker Von Huber."

"I am the person."

"Yourself"? said the poor man trembling all over, and he felt as if his soles were nailed to the ground: "For God's sake, let me go!" "I do not hold you. Who has sent you?"

"Miss Guyot."

"Wherefore ?"

"That letter, you are...." With this unconcluded sentence, because the banker advanced a step towards him, he threw the letler at his feet, and ran off as if he was pursued!

Mr. Huber read Amelia's letter, frowned darkly and walked violently up and down the room.

Meanwhile he heard another knock at the door. The innkeeper entered timorously, respectfully holding his cap in his hands and with a great many bows-"You come in due time Mr. Host; is dinner ready ?" said the black Gentleman-" The dinner here is not good enough for your Excellency."

"Quite so; the things are well cooked."

* At the Golden Angel they could cook much better.”

1

"I will hear nothing of the Angel, I remain here at the Cross; you are the most modest innkeeper I ever met v my life. Let the table be covered."

The innkeeper rubbed his cap in his hands and app embarrassed how to express what seemed to lie on his

The black Gentleman did not at first observe it, as abs in thought, he hastily walked up and down the room whenever he approached too near the innkeeper, mine carefully retired for four full steps.

"Do you want any thing else ?" enquired the Dead Gues Alas, yes! your excellency will be so good as not to t

«

amiss."

66

By no means, out with what you have to say!" sai Dead Guest stretching out his arm to tap the innkeeper o shoulder in a friendly manner. But he understood the m differently and fancied the Dead Guest wished to make a periment of his head and nape. Believing himself in this fearful danger, with the quickness of lightnin bent himself to the ground, made half a revolution with his took a desperate leap which carried him through the doc to the bottom of the stairs.

Von Huber, however annoyed he must have felt at conduct, could not help laughing. He had observed this s Jar shyness from all the inmates of the house; it, struck him ticularly since the morning.

Again a knock at his door; it was only half and slowly ed; a martial head with a large Roman nose and large must appeared with the question, "Am I right? Von Huber ?” Certainly."

A big man in the Police livery now came into the room. burgomaster requests your Excellency to repair for a mome him."

"To repair to him? that sounds somewhat in the Police s Where does he live ?"

"At the end of the street, Your Excellency, in the large ner house with the balcony. I shall have the honor to con you thither."

"That may not be necessary my good friend. I like nei military nor police escorts."

"The burgomaster has ordered it so."

"Well, and you obey unconditionally. Haven't you been in army?"

"In the seventh regiment of Hussars."

“In which battle did you get that fine scar on your forehea "In à battle with my comrades för a pretty girl !"