Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-10-13
SELECTED STORY
THE MISER'S HEIR.

THE MISER'S HEIR.
The hour hand of Philip Acres old fash.
Toned silver watch was pointing to the figure
eight; the snug red curtains shut out the
rain and darkness Of the March night, and
the fire snapped and cracked behind the red.
hot bars of the CRATE, in most cosy and
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, INDUCING
himself in the dangerous facination of the
/ day-dream.
eff l were only rich !" he pondered to
himself. "Ah! If. Then goodbye to all
these musty old law books; good bye to
mended boots and turned coats, all the ways
and means which turn mans life into
wretched bondage. Wouldn't I revel in
new books, and delicious paintings aud high
stepping horses! Wouldn't I buy a set of
jewels for Ediih-not pale pearls, OR sickly
emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze like links
of fire upon her royal throat Wouldn't
what nonsense Pm talking thought" he
cried suddenly to himself. 'Pkilip Acre,
hold your tongue. I did suppose you we're
a fellow Of more sense. Here you are, Meth
er rich nor distinguished, 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 wait-and the time may one day
come. If only DR.. Wyllis were not SO dis
trustful of fellow! However, must learn
to prove myself worthy of the sweetest prize
that ever-halloa come in there, whoever
you areH'
1t was only the servant maid Of the lodg-
lug house, carrying letter in the corner Of
her apron, between her finger and thumb.
"Please, sir, the postman has just left
| it,"
call right, Katy. Now, then," he ad-
ded, as the door closed behind Katy's sub
stantial back, "let's see what my unknown
correspondent has to say. A black seal, eh
Not having any relations to lose, am not
alarmed at the prognostic.'
He broke the seal and glanced over the
short, business-like communication contain.
ed within, with face varied from incredu-
lous surprise to sudden gladness.
"Am l dreaming!" he murmured, rub
bing his eyes and shaking himself, as if to
Insure complete possession Of his sense
'No, Pm wide awake and in my right
mind; it is no delusion-no part of my
waking visions. But who would have sup
posed that old Thomas Mortimer, whom
haven't seen since [ was boy sixteen, and
picked him out Of the river half dead be-
tween cramp and fright, would die and
leave me all his money! Why, I'm not
the shadow of relation but then I never
heard that the old man had any kith or kin. SO
[ can't imagine any harm in taking advan-
tage Of his odd freak Rich-am I really
to be rich Is my Aladdin vision to be an
actual fact Oh, Edith Edith =
He clasped both his hands ovor his eyes,
sick and giddy with the thought that the
lovely far off star OF his alteration would be
brought up near him at last by the 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 shine were the weeks
that fitted over the head of his accepted
lover-brigktened by Edith's smile-made
beautiful by the soft radiance of Edith's love
There was one alloying shadow-the most
imperceptible touch Of distrust and suspicion
with which stern old DR.. Wyllis regarded
his future son-in-law All! he feared tc
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 the sof
lights, yelled by shades of ground glass
were just lighted in Dr. Wyllis' daawing
room, where Edith sat among her Whit
roses and heliotropes, working bit of cam
brio ruf1ing, and singing to herself. Sh'
was slender, beautiful girl, with viole
eyes, blue vained forehead, and gloss,
curls of that pale gold that old painters love-
to portray.
II wonder if Mortimer Place is so yer,
lovely !" she said to silver-haired lady VIII
sat opposite. "Philip is going to take M
there, when we return from our wedding
tour, aunty he says it is the sweetest plac
a poets fancy can devise, with fountain
ard strawberries and delicious copses. Oh
shall we not be happy there !"
She started up, with bright, sudde1
blush for even while the words were tremb
ling OF her lips, Philip Acre came into tn
room. His handsome face was grave, look
ing little troubled, yet cheerful withal.-
Mrs. Wyllis, with an arch nod at her niece
disappeared into the perfumed perspectiv
of the conservatory, leaving the lovers t
themselves.
"You are looking grave, Philip sal
.. Edith, as he bent oyer and kissed he
cheek.
II am feeling SO, darling. I have yer
unpleasant disclosure to make to.night-ou
marriage must be postponed indefinitely.
J "Philip, for what reason ?"