Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-04-09
The NEIscl.'ss Iscaucst.

The hour hand of Philip Acres
old fashioned silver watch was point
ing to the figure 5, the snug red cur
tains shut out the rain and darkness
of tho. March night, and the fire
snapped and craclSled behind the red
hot bars of the little CRATE in a most
comfortable sort of q way, casting q
rosy shine into the thoughtful brown
eyes that were tracing castles and
coroEets in the brightly burning
Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, In
dulging himself in the dangerous fas-
cinations Of day-dream.
ar I were only rich ~ he ponder
ed to himself. "Ah, ifl Then good.
by to all the musty law books; good
by TO mendcd boots and turned coats,
and all the ways aud 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 O set
Of jewels for Edith-not pale pearls
OF sickiy emeraids, but diamonds, to
blaze like links Of fire upon her roy
al throat! Wouldn't I--what non
sense am talking, though ~ he
cried suddenly TO himself; "PhiL
Acre, hold your tongue. I did sup.
pose you were fellow of more sense.
Here you are neither rich or dIstin-
guished, but a simple law student !;
whilo Edith Wyllis is rs far above
your moon.struck aspirations as the
Queen of Night herself! She loves
me, though, ,-she will wait--and the
time may one day come. III only
DIR. WylIis were not distrustful of O
fellow! However, I 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 &c the
lodging-house, carrying letter be-
tween her finger and thumb.
"Please, sir, the postnian has just
left it,' div tg T
"All right, Katy. Now, then, !" Inc
added, as the door closed behind Ka-
ty's substantial back, ''iet's see what
my unknown. correspondent has to
say. A black seal, ELI I! Not having
any relations to lose, 1 am not alarm.
ed at the prognostic." a.l#
He broke the seal and glanced leis.
urely over the short, business-like
communication contained within,
with face that varied from incredu-
lous surprise to sudden gladness.
sam / dreaming?n he murmurcd
rubbing his eyes, and shaking him.
self, as IL TO insure complete posses.
sion of his senses. mo, I'm wide
awake, and in my mind IL Is no de.
lusion mo part Of my waking Wis
ions. But who would ever suppose
that old Thomas Mortimer. whom ]
haven't seen since i was q boy of six.
teen, and picked him out of the riv.
er half dead between cramp and
fright, would die and leave me al
this money? Why, I'm not the
shadow of q relation; but then
never heard the old man had any
kith or kin, SO I can't imagine any
harm In taking advantage of this
odd freak. Rich-am / really to b.
rich? rs my Aladdin vision TO be an
actual fact? Oh, Edith, Edlthm
lie clasped both hands over hil
eyes, sick and giddy with the though
that the lovely far-off star Of his ad
doration would be brought near Il
him at last by the magnet. gold. Al
those years of patient waiting wer,
to be bridged over by tho strange olt
miser's bcquest he might claim
/ Edith now.
How full Of heart sunshine wer,
the weeks that fitted over the heas
Of the accepted lover, frightened b,
Edith's smile-made beautiful b,
the soft radiance of Edith's love-
There was only one alloying shadow
1.-THE almost impercepiIe touch o
fdistrust and suspicion with wbici
stern old DIR. Willis regarded bis fu
ture son-in-law. All he feared {.
trust his only child to the keeping o
any man who had not been proyes
in the fiery furnace Of trial.
| 1t was precisely week before tn,
day appointed for the wedding, ans
the soft lights, veiled by shades 0
ground glass, were just lighted Ii
DIR. Wyliis' drawing-room wher,
Edith sat among her white roses ant
heliotropes, working on bit of cam