North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-06-23
The Miser's Bequest.

With patient hand removing g 4 M & 81
FAll the brars from our way. tNs E#E
The Miser's Bequest.
The hour-hand Of Philip Acres old
Fashioned silver watch was pointing to the
figure 8, the snug red curtains shut out the
rain and darkness of the March night,
and the, FIRE snapped behind the red-hot
bars of the little CRATE in most comforta-
bic sort of way, casting rosy shine into
the thoughtful brown eyes that were tra-
cling castles and coronets in the brightly
burning Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, indulg>
ing himself in the dangerous fascination
of aday dream.
''If were only rich ~ he pondered to
himself. "Ah, ifl Then good-by to all
these musty law books; good-by to men,
ded boots and turned coats, and all the
ways and means that turn mans life in
to wretched bondage. Wouldn't revel
in new books and delicious paintings, and
high-stepping horses? Wouldn't buy a
set of jewels for Edith-not pale pearls,
or sickly emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze
like links Of fire upon her royal throat
thought he cried suddenly to himself;
"Phil. Acre, hold your tongue. ] did sup
pose you were fellow Of more sense.
Here you are, neither rich nor distinguish
ed, but simple law student; while Edith
Wyllis is as far above your moon-struck
aspirations as the Queen of Night herself!
She loves me, though-she will wa;t-and
the time may one day come. If only DR..
Wyllis were not distrustful of fellow:
However, must learn to prove myself
worthy Of the sweetest prize that ever
halo come in, there, whoever you are !"
1t was only the servaut-maid Of the
carrying a letter in:her ap-
ron, between her finger ard thumb.
"Please, sir, the postman has just left
it,"
"All right, Katy. Now, then, che ad-
ded, as the door closed behind Katy's sub
stantial back, ''let's see what my unknown
correspondent has got to say. A black
seal, Ell? Not having any relations to
lose, am not alarmed at the prognostic."
lie broke the seal and glanced leisurely
over the short, business-like communica-
ton contained within, with face that va
ried from incredulous surprise to sudden
gladness.
Gam dreaming?" he murmured, rub~
bing his eyes, and shaking himself as if
to insure complete possession of his SEN
ses. "No, I'm wide awake, and in my
mind it is no delusion-no part Of my
waking visions. But who would ever sup
pose that old Thomas Mortimer, whom l
haven't seen since was 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, I'm not
the shadow of relation; but then Dev-
er heard that the old man had any kith or
kin, SO can't imagine any harm in taking
advantage of his old freak. Rich-am
really to be rich? Is my Aladdin vision
to be an actual fact? Oh, Edith, Edith ~
He clasped both hands over his eyes,
sick and giddy with the the thought that
the lovely far-off star of his alteration
would be brought near to him at last by
tie 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 heart sunshine were the
1yeeks that fitted over the head of the ac-
cepted lover, frightened by Edith's smile
made beautiful by the soft radiance Of
Edith's love. There was only one alloy
ing shadow-the almost impreceptible
touch of distrust and suspicion with which
stern old DR.. Wyllis regarded 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 a week before the day
appointed for the wedding, and soft lights,
veiled by shades of ground glass, were
just lighted in DR.. Wylis' drawing-room,
where Edith sat among her white roses
and heliotropes, working on a bit of cam.
brick rufiing, and singing to herself. She
was slender, beautiful girl, with beaut..
fuleyes, and blue veincd forehead, and
glossy abundant curls of that pale gold
that our painters love to portray.
~ wonder if Mortimer Place is so very
lovely" she said to silver-haired lady,
who sat opposite. "Phil. is going to take
me there when we return from our we'd
ding tour, aunty; he says it is the sweet
place poets fancy can devise, with foun.
tains ard strawberries and delicious
copses. 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