Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-18
THE MIsER's REQUEST.

able sort OF way, casting rosy shine into the
thoughtful brown eyes that were tracing cas-
ties and coronets in the burning Goals
For Philip Acre was, for once, including
himself IN the dangerous destinations of a day
dream.
eff were only rich!" he pondered to him
self "Ah, if Then goodbye to all those
musty old law books; goodbye to to the mend
ed boots and thrice turned coats, and all the
ways and means that turn a mans life into
wretched bondage Wouldn't | revel in new
books and delicious paintings and high step
ping horses? Wouldn't | buy set of jewels
for Edith-not pale pearls or sickly emeralds,
but diamonds, to blaze like links Of ire upon
her royal throat? Wouldn't What non
sense Pm talking, though " he cried sudden
" rousing himself "Phl. Acre, hold your
COMPOUNDED tongue l did suppose you were
a fellow of more sense Here you are, Meth
er rich nor distinguished, but simple law
student, while Edith Wyllis is as far above
your moOn-struck aspirations as the Queen of
night herselfi She loves me, though-she
will wait-and the time may one day come
If only Dr. Wyllis were not so distrustfuI of
a fellow However, | must learn to prove
myself worthy of the sweetest prize that ever
-Halloo! come in there, whoever you are :,
1t was only the serving maid of the estab-
lishment carrying letter in the corner of her
apron, between her finger and thumb
Please, sir, the postman just left 1.-TWO
cents to pay"
Here are your two cOppers, then, Katy
pretty fair equivalent for any letter | NAV
receive. Now, then, said he as the door clos
ed behind Katy's substantial back, "let's see
what my unknown correspondent has to say
A black seal, Ell? Not having any relations
to lose, / am not alarmed at the prognos-
tic !"
He broke the seal and glanced leisurly over
the short, buSiness-like communication con-
tanned within, with face that varied from
incredulOus surprise to sudden giadness.
" Am | dreaming?" he murmured to him
self as if to insure complete possession of his
senses. "No, Pm wide awake and in my
right mind it is no delusion, no part of my
waking visions! But who would ever sup
pose that old Theron Mortimer, whom
hayn't seen since | was a boy of sixteen and
picked him out of the river half dead between
cramp and fright, would die and leave me all
his money. Why, Pm not even the shadow
of a relation but then, | never heard that
the old man had kith or kin, so | can't i'm
mrgine any harm in taking advantage of his
odd freak! Rich-am | really to be rich :?
Oh, Edith Edith !"
lie clasped both hands over his eyes, sick
and giddy with the thought that the loved,
tar-Otf star of his alteration, would be brought
near to him at least by the magnet of gold.
All those years of heartless waiting were to
be bridged over by the strange old miSers
bequest; he might claim Edith now
How full of heart sunshine were the weeks
that fitted over the head of the accepted
loyer-blightened by Edith's smiles-made
beautiful by the soft radiance of Ediths
love! There was only one alloying shadow
the most imperceptible touch of disgust and
suspicion with which stern old DR.. Willis re-
garded his future son-in-lawi All he feared
to trust his only child to the keeping of any
man who had not been proved III the fiery
furnace of trial (!
1t was precisely week before the we'd
ding, and the soft lights yelled by shades of
ground glass were just lighted in Dr. Willis
drawing-room, where Edith sat among her
white roses and heliotrOpe, working on bit
of cambria rut1ling, and singing to herself
She was a slender, beautiful girl, with violet
gray eyes, Il blue-veined forehead, and glossy
abundant curls of that kind old painters love
to portray.
wonder if Mortimer Place is so very
lovely" she said to silver-h haired lady who
sat opposite, Phillip is going to take me
there, when return from our wedding tour
aunty; he says it is the sweetest spot poets
fancy could devise, with fountains and shrub
berries and green delicious copses! Obi shall
we not be happy there?"
She started up with brig CHIT, sudden blush,
for, even while the words were trembling on
her lip, Phillip Acre came into the room,
his handsome face looking Il little troubled,
yet cheerful withal. Mrs. Wyllis, with an
arch nod at niece, disappeared into the per-
fumed perspective of the conservatory, leav-
ing the lovers to themselves.
" You are looking grave, Phillip said
Edith, as he bent over and kissed her cheek.
g am feeling so, darling. l have a very
unpleasant disclosure to make to-night-Our
marriage must be postponed indefinitely"
Phillip! for what reason?"
"To enable me to labor diligently at my
profession to realize sufficient means to sup
port you, dearest in a manner satisfactory
to your fathers expectations and my own
wishes"
"But, Phillip, l thought-"
" You thought me the heir of Theron Nor
timers wealth? SO was, Edith, few hours
since, but | have relinquished all claim to il
now. When l accepted the bequest, l was
under the impression that no living heir ex
listed | learned to-day that a distant cousin
woman, is alive, although. my lawyer tells
me, in ignorance of her relationship to Theron
Mortimer. OF course, l shall Immediately
transfer all the property to her."
"But Phillip, the will has made it legally
yours"
Legally, it is; could | reconcile it to my
ideas of truth and honor to avail myself O
old Mortimer's fanciful freak, at this woman's
expense, | might take the boarded wealth
but | should never respect myself again
could | dream of legally defrauding the right
full heir. Nay, dearest, l may lose name and
wealth, but | would rather die than suffer 8
single stain on my honor rs Christian gen
tlemanm
You have done right, Phillip" said Edith
with sparkling eyes. eve will wait, and
hope on, happy in loving one another more
dearly than ever. But who is she ? what is
her name ?"
That's just what l didn't stop to inquire
will write again to my lawyer to ask these
questions and to direct that a deed of con
yeyance be instantly made out, and then dar.
ling"
His lips quivered moment, yet he manful
ly completed the bitter sentence
Then | will begin the battle of life over
again"
And Edith's loving eyes told him what she
thought of his noble self-abnegation-a sweet
testimonial
Hem y said DR., Wyllis, polishing his eve
glasses maglsterially with a crimson silk peck
et-handkerehief; q didn't suppose the young
fellow had so much stamina about him-aI
honorable thing to do. Edith, have never
felt exactly certain about Phil Acres being
worthy of you before"
Papa"
But my mind is made up now. When i:
he coming again ?"
"This evening, sir" faltered Edith, the
violet ewes softly dropping.
Tell him, Edith, that he may have yo,