Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-09-14
THE MISER'S HEIR.

Till Somnus' all-composing powers,
=, Of sublunary cares bereft 'em,
THE MISER'S HEIR.
E The hour hand of Philip Acre
old fashioned silver watch was poin,
ing to the figure eight; the snug re
curtain shut out the rain and dark
ness of the March highland the fir
, snapped and cracked behind the re,
hot bars of the grate,in a most cos
, and comfortable sort of way, cast
ing rosy shine into the thoughtful
brown eyes that were tracing castle
and coronets in the brightly burnin
Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging in the dangerous facinatiol
OF the day dream.
If l were only rich?' he ponder
ed toihimself. sAhiif. Then goo'
bye to all these musty oh old la,
books; good bye to mended boot
and turned coats, all the ways an,
means which turns mans life int,
wretched bondage. Wouldn'tI I re
vel in new books, and deliciou
paintings and high stepping horses
, Wouldn't ! buy a set of jewels 70
Edith-not pearls, or sickly emer
aims, but diamonds, to blaze lik
links Of fire upon her royal throat
Wouldn't What nonsense Tn
talking, thought he cried suddenl,
to himself. Philip Acre, hold you
tongue. / did suppose you was /,
fellow of more sense. Here you are
neither rich nor distinguished, but
simple law student: while Edit
Wyllis is as far above your moon
struck aspirations as the Queen o
night herself! She loves me, though
she will wait-and the time MAJ
one day come If only DIR. Wylli
were not SO distrustful of a fellow
However, l must learn to prov,
myself worthy of the sweetest priz,
that ever-hallo? come in there, wht
ever you aren tl .,.
1t was only the serving maid of
\ lodging house, carrying letter il
the corner of her apron, between
her finger and thumb.
please sir,the postman has jus
left it.
All right. Katy. Now, then," hi
added, as the door closed behint
Katy's substantial back, let's SCI
what my unknown correspondent
has to say. A black seal, eh2 No
having any relations to loose, l an
not alarmed at the prognostic.
| He broke the seal and glanced
over the short, business-like com
munication contained within, will
a face varied from incredulous sur
prise to sudden gladness.
Am dreaming?' he murmured
rubbing his eyes and shaking him
self, as if to insure complete pos
session of his senses. No, I'm wide
awake, and in my right mind; it i:
no delusion, no part of my wax
ing visions. But who would have
supposed that old Thomas Mortimel
whom I haven't seen since 1 was .
boy of sixteen, and picked him out
of the river half dead between
cramp and fright, would die ant
leave me all his money? Why, I'm
not the shadow of relation. But
then I never heard that the old man
had any kit or kin, so l can't imag
inc any harm in taking advantage
of his old freak. Rich-am l really
to be rich? Is my Alladin visior
to be an actual fact? Oh, Edith
Edith
He, clasped his hands over his
eyes, sick and giddy with the
thought that the lovely far-off stal
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 ol
the accepted lover-brightened by
the small radiance of Edith's love
There was one alloying shadow
the most imperceptible of distrust
and suspicion with which stern old
DIR. Wyllis 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 trial.
1t was precisely a week before the
day appointed for the wedding, and
the soft lights, veiled by shades o.
ground glass, was just lighted il
DR.. Wyllis drawing-room, where
Edith sat among her white roses
and heliotropes, working a bit O
cambria ruffiing, and singing to her
self. She was a slender, beautiful
| girl, with violet eyes, blueveined
forehead, and glossy curls of that
pale gold that old painters loved tt
portray.
! Il wonder if the Mortimer-Plac'
is so lovely?' she said to a silvel
haired lady who sat opposite
Phillip is going to take me there
when we return from our wedding
tour, aunty; he says it is the sweet
est place poets fancy can devise
with fountains and strawberries ant
delicious copses. Oh, shall we no
be happy there!
] She started up,with bright. sud
den blush; for even while the word
were trembling on hel lips. PHILLIP
Acre came into the room. His
handsome face was grave, looking ,
little troubled, yet cheerful withal
Mrs. Wyliss, with an arch nod a
her niece disappeared into the per
fumed perspective of the conserva
tory, leaving the lovers TO them
selves. s
"You are looking grave, Phillip
said Edith, ,as he bent over and kisset
her cheek.
Il am feeling so, darling. hav
a very unpleasant disclosure to max
to-night--ourm marriage must be post
lponed indefinitely