The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-10-12
The Misel's Heir.

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fashioned silver watch WAS pointing
to the figure eight; the snug red cur
tains shut out the rain and darkness
of tho March night, and the fire
snapped and cracked behind the red
hot bars f the CRATE in most cosy
and comfortable sort Of way, casting a
rosy shine into the thoughtful brown
eyes that We're tracing castles and
coronets in the brightly burning Goals
For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging himself in the dangerous fas-
cination of the day dream.
at l were only rich !" he pondercd
to himself. tAh! #: Then goodbye
to all these nusty old law books ;
goodbye to meuded boots and turned
coats, all the ways aud means which
turn q mans life into wretched bon
dage. Wouldn't l reve. in new books,
delicious paintings and high stepping
horses? Wouldn't l buy a set OF
Jewels for Edith-uot pale pearls Or
sickly emeraids, but diamonds, to
blaze like links Of fire upon her royal
throat! Wouldn't what nonsen>e
I m talking, though he cried sud
denly to himself: "Phillip Acre,
hold your tongue. did suppose You
were fellow OF more sense. Here
YOU are, neither rich nor distinguish
ed, buea simple law student, while
Edith Wyllis is 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. If only DR.. Wyllis
was not so distrustiul Of a fellow
However, must learn to prove my.
self worthy Of the sweetest prize that
ever-hallo come i'll there, whoever
you are"
1t was only the serving maid Of the
lod sing house, carrying u letter in the
corner of her apron, between her flu
ger and thumb"
"Please, sir, the postman has just
left it,"
"All right, Katy. And now," he
added as the door closed on Katy's
substantial back, "let's see what my
unknown correspondent has to say
A black seal, eh ? Not having any re
lations to lose, am not alarmed al
the prognostic."
He broke the seal and glanced over
the short, business like communica
ton contained within, with q face
varied from incredulous surprise tt
sudden gladness.
cam I drcaming?" he mnrmured
rubbing his eyes and shaking himself
rs if to insure complete possession O.
his senses. "No, Pm wide awake, ant
in my right mind it is no delusion-
no part Of my waking visions. Bu
who would have supposed that ole
Thomas Mortimer, whom l havn'
seen since l was boy Of sixteen, ant
picked him out of the river half dcat
between cramp and fright, would di'
and leave me all his money? Why
I'm not the shadow Of relation bu
then never heard that the old mar
had any kith or kin, SO can't imagine
any harm in taking advantage Of 1hi
odd freak. Rich--am 1 really to b.
rich? Is my Aladdin vision to be al
actual fact? Oh, Edith! Edith"
He clasped both his hands over hi
eyes, sick and giddy with the though
Plat the lovely far off star of his ad
oralion would he brought up near hin
atlast by the magnet gold. All thos
years Of patient waiting were to b.
bridged over by the strange old miser'
bequest; he might claim Edith now
How full Of heartshine were th'
weeks that fitted over the head of th'
accepted lover-brightened by Edith
smile-made beautiful by the soft ra
dance of Edith's love. There wa
one alloying shadow-the most i'm
perceptible touch Of distrust and sus
picion with which stern old Dr.. Wylli
regarded bis future son.in-law. Ah
he feared to trust his only child to tn
keeping Of any who bad not beer
proved in the fiery furnace of t'ial.
1t was precisely week before tn
day appointed for the wedding, an
the soft lights, veiled by shades G
ground glass, were just lighted in d.
Wyllis' drawing room where Edit
sat among her with roses and hello
tropes, working bit of cambric ru
fling, and singing to herself She wa
q slender, beautiful girl, with viole
eyes, blue veined forehead and gloss
curls of that pale gold that old pair
ters loved to portray.