The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-04-13
THE MISER'S REQUEST.

shut out the rain and Sdarkncss of the
March night, and the fire snapped and
cracked behind the red-hot bars of the
little CRATE. in a most cozy and comfort
able sort of way. casting q rosy shine
into the thoughtful brown eyes that were
tracing castles and coronets i'll the
brightly burning Goals. -I.
For Philip Acre was, for once, indulg-
ing himself in the dangerous destinations
of . day dream. t..E
"It | were only rich!' he pondered to
himself. All, IT, Then goodbye to all
these musty old law books; good bye to
mended boots, and turned coats, and all
the ways and means that turn man's 8
life into wretched bondage. Wouldn't l
revel in new books and delicious paint
ings, and high stepping horses? Would
MT l buy set of jewels for Edith-not
pale pearls, or sickly emeralds, but dia-
monds, to blaze like links of fire upon
her royal throat! Wouldn't I-what
nonsense I'm talking thought he cried
to himself. "Phil Acre, hold your
tongue. l did suppose you were fel-
low of more sense. Here you are, nei-
ther rich nor distinguished, but q simple
law student; while Edith Wyllis is as far
Cove your moon struck aspirations as
the Queen Of Night herself She loves
me though--she will wait-and the time
may one day come. If only DR.. Wyllis
were notso distrustful of fellow: How
ever, l must learn to prove myself wor-
thy Of the sweetest-prize that ever-iial-
10! come in there, whoever you are +
1t was only the serving maid of the
lodging house, carrying a letter in the
corner of her apron, between her finger
and thumb. s-a-.
"Please, sir, the postman has just left
it."
"All right, Katy. Now then," he add
ed, as the door closed behind Katy S
substantial back, ''lets see what my un-
known correspondent has to say. A
black seal, eh? Not having any rela-
tons to lose, I am not alarmed at the
prognostic.' y
He broke the seal, and glanced leis-
urely over the short, business-like COM
munication contained within, with face
that varied from incredulous surprise to
sudden gladness. -
'Am dreaming ?" he murmured, rub
bing his eyes and shaking himself, as if
to insure complete possession of his sen
ses mo, I'm wide awake, and in my
right mind: it is no delusion--no part
of my waking visions. But who would
ever suppose that old Thomas Mortimer,
whom l haven't seen since | was boy Of
sixteen, and picked him out of the river
half dead between cranip and fright.
would die and leave me all his money !?
Why, Tn not the shadow of a relation; j;
but then ] never heard that the old man
had any kith or kin, so l can't imagine
any harm in taking advantage of his odd
freak. Rich-am 1 really to be rich ?
Is my Aladdin vision to be an actual
fact? Oh, Edith, Edith" .a.'
He clasped both hands over his eyes,
sick and giddy with the thought that the
lovely far-off star Of his alteration would
be brought near to him at last by tue
magnet gold. All those years of patient
waiting were to be bridged over by the
strange old miser's bequest; he might
claim Edith now. --,
How full Of hcart-sunshine were the
weeks that fitted over the head Of the
accepted lover-brightcned by Ediths
smile-made beautiful by the soft radi-
ance of Edth's love. There was only
one alloying siiadow-the almost imper-
ceptible touch of distrust and suspicion
with which stern old Dr. Wyllis regard
ed his future son in-law. All! he feared
to trust his only child to the keeping of
any man who had not been proved in the
fiery furnace of trial.
1t was precisely week bSfOre the day
appointed for the wedding, and the soft
lights yelled by shades of ground glass
were just lighted in Dr. Wyllis' drawing
room, where Edith sat among her white
roses and heliotfopei working on bit of
cambric rullling, and singing to herself.
She was slender beautiful girl, with yio-
let eycs,a blue-veined forehead and glos
sy, abundant curls, of that pale gold
that old painters love to portray.
Il wonder if Mortimer Place is so
very lovely" she said to silver-haired
lady who sat opposite. "Philip is goiIt9
to take me there, when we return FROM
our wedding tour, aunty; he says it is
the sweetest place poets fancy can de-
wise, with fountains and strawberries, and
delicious coDses. Oh, shall we not be
happy there
She started up, with bright sudden
blush for even while the words were
trembling on her lips, Philip Acre came
into the room, his handsome face look
ing a little troubled, yet cheerful withal.
Mrs. Wyllis, with an arch nod at her
niece, disappeared into the perfumed
perspective of the conservatory, leav-
inc the lovers to themselves.
"You are looking grave, Philip" said
Edith; as he bent over and kissed her
check
"And am feeling so, darling. Ihave
n very unpleasant disclosure to make
to-night-our marriage must be post
poned indefinitely"
"Philip, for what reason"
'.To enable me, by dilligent labor at
my profession, to realize sufficient means
to support you, dearest, in manner sat
isflctorv to your fathers expectations
and my own wishes"
"But, Philip, Thought"
"You thought me the heir of Thomas
Mortimer's wealth? So l was, Edith,
few hours since, but l have relinquish-
ed all claim to it now. When / accepted
the be1uest, was under the impression
that no living heir existed. i learnt to
day that distant cousn--a woman--is
alive, although, my lawyer tells me, in
ignorance of her relationship to Thomas
Mortimer. OF course, shall transfer
the property to her Immediately"
"But, Philip, the will has made it le-
gally yours" q
Legally it has; but, Elith, could l
reconcile it to my ideas Of truth and
honor, to avail myself of old Morti-
mer's fancifvi freak, at this womans s
leXpcnse.? | might take the boarded