American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-04-03
Misttllantous.
THE MIsER's BEQUEsT.

The hour hand of Philip Acres
old-fashioned silver watch was point
ing to the figure s, the suug red cur
tains shut out the rain and darkness
of the Marchnight, and the fire crack
led behind the red-hot bars of the lit
tie CRATE in most comfortable sort
of way, casting rosy shine into the
thoughtful brown eyes that were
tracing castles and coronets in the
brightly burning Goals.
For Philip Acre, was, for once, in
dulging himself in the dangerous fas-
cinations of a day-dream.
IF l were only rich ? he pondered
to himself. sAh, if! Then good by
to all these old musty law books !;
good-by to mended boots and turned
coats, and all the ways and means
that turn a mans life into wretched
bondage. Wouldn't 1 revel in new
books and delicious paintings and
housekeeping horses7 Wouldn't
buy set of jewels for Edith-not
pale pearls, or sickly emeralds, but
diamonds, to blaze like links of fire
upon her royal throat! Wouldn't l.
what nonsense Pm talking, though !!
he cried suddenly to himself; 'Phil
Acre, hold your tongue. 1 did sup.
pose you were fellow of more sense
Acre, you are neither rich nor dis
tinguished, but simple law student
while Edith Willis is far above you
moons struck aspirations as the Queer
of Night herself! She loves me
though-she will wait-and the tim,
may one day come. If only Dr.. Wyl
lis were not distrustful of fellow
However, 1 must learn to prove my
self worthy of the sweetest prize tina
ever-Halloo! come in, there, who
ever you are.'
1t was only the serving maid of tn
lodging house, carrying a letter il
the corner of her apron, between he
finger and thumb.
please, sir, the postman has jus
left it,
'All right, Katy. Now, then,' h
added, as the door closed benin
Katy, 'let's see what my unknow
correspondent has to say A blac
seal, eh Not having any relation
to lose, l am not alarmed at the prog
nOstic.'
He broke the seal, and glanced lie
surely over the short, business-lik
communication contained within, wit
face varied from incredulous su
prise to sudden gladness.
Am l dreaming y he murmure'
rubbing his eyes and shaking hin
self, as if to insure complete posse
sion of his senses. No, Pm wi(
awake, and in my mind /; it's no d
lusion-nO part of my waking vision
But who would ever suppose that O
Thomas Mortimer, whom l haveI
seen since was a boy of sixtee
aud picked him out of the river ha
dead between crampand fright, wOu
die and leave me all his money
Why, Pm not the shadow of rel
ton; but then, | never heard tn
the old man had any kith or kin,
can't imagine any harm in takil
advantage of his odd freak. Rich
am ] really to be rich? Is my Ala
din vision to be an actual fact7 o
Edith, Edithn
He clasped both hands over
eyes, sick and giddy with the thong
that the lovely, far-off star of his a
Grafton would be brought near
him, at last, by the magnet, gold.
; those years Of patient waiting we
. to be bridged over by the strange {
! misers bequest; he might ella
Edith now.
How full of heart sunshine We
the weeks that fitted over the he
Of the accepted lover, frightened
Edith's smile, made beautiful by
soft radiance of Edith's love. TIL,
, was only one alloying shadow
almost imperceptible touch of q
trust and suspicion with which stt
|. old DR.. Wyllis regarded his
ture sOn-in law. All he feared
trust his only child to the keeping
any man who had not been prov
|. in the fiery furnace of trial.
1t was precisely week before
day appointed for the wedding, q
the soft lights, veiled by shadows
A.. ground glass, were just lighted
DR.. Wyllis' drawing-room, VIII
! Edith sat among her white roses a