Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-01-14
THE nIISER'S BEQUEST.
BY F.. W. P.


Tie hour hand of Philip Acres cid
fashioned silver watch was pointing Il
the figure eight-the snug red curlair
shut out the rain and the darkness of ih,
March night, and the fire snapped anC
cracked behind the redhot bars of the lit
tie CRATE, in most coy and cOmf0rtab,,
sort of way, casting rosy shine into til,
thoughtful brown eyes that were tracin.
CASTLES and coronets in the brightly burn
ing Goals.
Foi Philip Acre was. for once, indulg
ing in the dangerous fascination of day.
dream.
If were only rich he pondered ,c
himself 'Ah. if: Then goodbye 10 al
ihese musty old lag>books; good bye to
mended OTIS, turned coats, and all the
ways and means that turn mans life ins
10 bondage. Wouldn't l rcvel in new
books and delicious paintings, and high
stepping horses? Wouldn't buy set oi
jewels for EdiGh-nol pale pearls, or sickly
emerald, but pure diamonds to blaze like
links of fire upon her royal throat. Oh,
wouldn't what nonsense I'm talking
Phil Acre, hold your tongue. did sup.
pose you were q fellow of more sense. You
are neither rich nor distinguished, but :
law siudenl; Edith Wy,is is as far above
your mpcnsiruck aspirations as the Queen
Of Night herself She loves me. though
she VIII waii--and the time may one dav
come. II only d WyliS were rot SO dis
irusiful Of follow; lowev,r. must learn
TO prove myself worthy or rI.s sweetest or
--iallo come II, there, whoe, cr yoa may
be-
Ii was only the serving maid of the lod>
ging house, carrying a letter in the corner
OF her apron, between Ler firg,rs and
thumb
Please, sir, The pos;man has just left
IT,
'Au righl, Katy. Naw, then he added
as the door ciosel behind Kaiy's substan-
,ial back, lets see what nv unknown cor
respondent has to say. A black seal, ehg--
Not having any relations 10 lose, / am not
alarmed.
ie broke the sea. and glanced leisurelv
over Il short. business like commuuics>
ton contained within, with face that was
changed from great surprise 10 sudden
gladness.
AM l dreaming? he mlrmured, rubbiae
his eyes and shaking himself, as il to get
possession Of his senses. no, Tn in my
right mind, and wide awake; it is no delu>
sion' no pant Of my waking vision. But
who would ever suppose that old Thomas
Mortimer, whom hare no, seen since !
was boy of sixteen, and picked him oil,
of The river hal dead .,ciween cramp and
iri-lr. would Re ;u3 leave me all his mon
eS: Why I'm nolil shadow Of rela
iion To him: but then never beard that
the DID man ever had any kilh or kin, so
can't imagine any harm in taking advan-
tage of his odd freak. Rich?-am | really
10 be rich? Is my Aladdin vision 10 he am
actual fact? Oh, my dearest, darling
Edith
He clasped both hands over his eyes.
sick and giddy with the thought that The
lovely farsoif star of his alteration would
be brought near to him at last by the mag
net gold All those years of patient wait>
Ing, were 10 be bridged over by the strange
old miser's beQuest: he might claim Edith
now
How full of hesrt sunshine were the
weeks that fitted ever the head of the ac-
cepted lover-brightened by Edith's smile
made beautiful by the soft radiance of
Edith's love. There was only one ALLOWING
almost imperceptible touch
of dis:rust and suspicion with which stern
old DR.. Wylis 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 tribu,
laiinn.
1t was precisely week before the day
appointed for the wedding and the soft
lights. veiled by the shades of ground glass
were just lighted in DIR. Wylis' drawing
room, where Edith sat among her white
roses and heliotropes. working on BIT of
cambric ruffiing, and singing to herself
She was slender, beautiful girl, with vi
olet eyes, blue veined forehead, and CLOS
~ abundant curls, OF that pale gold that
old painters love 10 portray.