Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-09-02
THE MISERY'S REQUEST.

into the thoughtful brown eyes that
were tracing castles and cOronets in
the brightly burning Goals.
| For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging himselfin the dangerous fas-
cination of a day-dream.
"IfI were only rich." he pondered
to himself. "Ah, IT. Then good-by
to all these musty old law-bOoks;
good-by to mended boots, and turn
ed coats, aud all the ways and means
that turn mans life into wretched
bondage. Wouldn't / revel in new
books, and delicious paintings, and
highstepping horses? Wouldn't /
buy a set of Jewels for Edith-not
pale pearls, or sickly emeralds, but
diamonds, TO blaze like links of fire
upon her royal throatg Wouldn't l.
what nonsense Pm talking, thoughp'
he cried, suddenly, to himself. "Phil
Acre hold your tongue. did sup
pose you were n fellow of more
sense. Here you are, nCither rich
nor distinguished, but a 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 DIR. Wyllis were not so distrust-
full of a fellow! However, l must
learn to prove myself worthy ofthe
sweetest prize that ever-HallO !
come in there, who ever you are!"
1t was only the serving-maid of the
lodging-house, carrying letter in
the corner of her apron, between her
finger and thumb.
| please, sir, the postman has just
left it,"
HAll right, Katy. Now, them" he
added, as the door closed behind
Katy's substantial 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
| leisurely over the short, business
like communication contained with
in, with face varied from incredu-
lous surprise TO sudden gladness.
cam dreaming?" he murmured,
rubbing his eyes, and shaking him
self, as if to insure complete posses
sion of his senses. ''No, Pm wide a
wake. and in my right mind; ii is no
delusion-no part of my waking Wis
ions. But who would ever suppose
l. W i
haven't seen since | was boy of six
teen, and picked him out of the river
half dead between cramp and fright,
would die and leave me all his mon
ey? WhY, Pm not the shadow of
relation; but then never heard that
the old man had any kith or kin, so
| can't imagine any harm in taking
advantage of his odd freak. Rich
am really to be rich? Is my Alad-
din vision TO be an actual fact? oh,
Edith, Edith!''
He clasped both his hands over his |
eyes, sick and giddy with the |
thought that the lovely far-Off star |
of his alteration would be brought |
near to 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-sunshine were |
the weeks that fitted over the head |
of the accepted dlover-brigh' ened by |
Edith's smile-made beautiful by |
the soft radiance of Edith's love.
There was only one allOying shadow |
the almost imperceptible touch of /
distrust and suspicion with which |
stern old DIR. Wyllis regarded his |
future son-in-law. Ali he feared to |
trust his only child to the keeping of /
any man who had not been proved in |
the fiery furnace Of trial.
Ii was prescisely a week before /
the day appointed for the wedding,
and the soft lights, vailed by shades |
of ground glass, were just lighted in
Dr. Wyllis drawing-room, where /
Edith sat among her white roses and
heliotrope, working bit of cambric /
rufiling, and singing to herself. She /
was slender, beautiful girl, with |
violet eyes, blue-veined forehead, |
and glossy, abundant curls of that /
pale gold that old painters love to
portray.
Il wonder if Mortimer Place is so |
very lovely?" she said TO a silver |
haired lady who sat opposite. Phil |
ip is going to take me there, when |
we return from our wedding tour.
aunty; he says il is the sweetest |
place poets fancy can devise, with |
fountains, and strawberries, and de- |
liciOus copses. Oh, shall we not be |
happy there"
She started up, with bright, sud |
den blush; for even while the words |
were trembling on her lips, Philip |
Acre came into the room, his hand |
some face looking a little troubled.
yet cheerful withal. Mrs. Willis, |
with an arch nod at her nice, disap. |
peared into the perfumed perspec- |
tive of the conservatory, leaving the |
lovers to themselves.
"You are looking grave, Philip"
said Edith, as he bent over and kiss /
ed her cheek.
"And | am feeling so, darling. | |
have very unpleasant disclosure to |
make tO-night-Our marriage must |
be postponed indefinitely"
"Philip, for what reason?"
''To enable me, by diligent labor
at my profession, to realize sufficient |
means TO support you, dearest, in
manner satisfactory 10 your fathers |
expectations and my Wishes"
But, Philip, thought"
You thought me the heir of |
Thomas Mortimcr's wealth? So | |
was, as Edith, a few hours since, |
but | have relinquished all claims to |
II now. w hen | accepted the be- |
quest 1 was under the impression |
that no livingIheir existed. | learned |
to-day that a distant cousin "a wo- |
man) is alive, although, nv LAWYER |
tells me, in ignorance of her rela- |
tionship to Thomas Mortimer. OIL
course, | shall transfer the property |
to her Immediately"
But, Philip, the will has made it
legally yours"
Legally, it has; but, Edith, could |
| reconcile it to my ideas of truth |
and honor to avail myself of old |
Mortimer's fanciful freak, at this |
woman's expense? | might take the \
boarded wealth, but 1 should never |
respect myself again could dream 1
of legally defrauding the rightful /
heir. Nay, dearest, Imay lose name
and wealth, but | would rather die /
than suffer a single stain on my hon 4
or as Christian gentleman"
You have done right, PhiIip."
said Edith, with sparkling ewes.
I'VE will wait, and hope on, happv /
in loving one another more dearly |
than ever. But who is she? What
is her name?"
That's just what didn't stop to /
inquire. L will write again TO nv
lawyer to ask these questions, and 1
TO direct that a deed of conveyance /
be Instantly made out; and then, dar-
ling"
His lips quivered moment. vet
he manfully completed the sentence:
"IheR | will begin the battle of life |
over again."
And Edith's loving eyes told linn