Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-12
THR MIsER,s Heir.

dream. q,
"fI were only rich, he pondsred TO !.
himself. "Ah, II. Then goodbye to oil !,
musty old lAw-books; goodbye 70 mended
boots and turned coatS, and al the ways |,
aud means which turn a mans life into q |,
bondage. Wouldnt I revsl in new q
books aud delicious paintings, and high
stepping horses. Wouldnb buy set Of !
Jewels for Edith-not pale pearls or siekly
emeralds, bat diamonds, TO blaze like links
Of ere upon her royal throat Wouldn't
-wha, nonsense I'm talking though
Philip Acre, hold your tongue, did sop
pose you we're a fellow Of more sense. Here
you are, neither rich nor distinguished, but
q simple Law student; while Edith Wylls is
az far above your moonslruck observations
as hs-Queen Of Night herself She loves
me, though she will Wait-aud the time will
one day come. IL ouly DR.. Wyllis was not
10 distrustful Of fellow However,.
must prove myself worthy Of the sweetest
prizs that ever-hallo, come 10 there, who
ever you hrem
I, was only the serving maid Of the
boarding house, csrryiug letter in the cor
ner Of her apron, between her hnger aud
thumb.
''PlsAss, sir, the po,,-maa has as, left
h.r
Gan right, Katy, nov then" be added as
the door closed behind Ksty's substantial
back "lets sac What my unknown cores
pondent has 70 say. A black seal, oh
Not bAviug any relations TO lose, I'm not
alarmed
He broke the soal, glanced over the short.
business like Communication contained
within, with face varied from inered ulous
surprise 10 one Of sudden gladness.
"l'm not dreaming he murmured, rub
bipg bis eyes aud shaking himself, as II TO
insure tue possession Of his senses. "No,
I'm wide swske, and in my right miRd ;
its no delusion no part OF my waking Wis
ions. Bot Who would have supposed that
old Thomas Mortimer whom / have not
ssen since | was boy OF sixteen and
picked him out OF the river half dead be-
tween cramp aud fright, would die and
leave me all his money Why, I'm not
the shadow Of a relation, bu, then never
heard the old mAq had any kith or kin, so
/ cant imagine any harm ia taking AdvAn-
tags OF this odd freak. Rioh-am | really
10 bs rich oh Edith Edith ~
He clasped both hands over his eyes sick
and giddy with the thought that the lovely
far OF star Of his alteration would b.
brought up near TO him at last by the mag
net gold. All these years Of patient wait
ing we're TO be bridged over BY a s,rsng,
old niser's bcquest; he might claim Edith
now.
How full Of hsGrt-shinS were the week.
thA. fitted over the heart Of the accepted
loyer-bslghtensd BY Edlth's love. There
was one alloying shAdow-ths most iuper
oepNbls shadow Of distrust with which old
Dr.. Wyllis regarded bis future son-in Law,
All he feared 10 trust his only child to Tho
keeping Of Gay man who hAdn't been proved
BY ihs fiery furnace Of trial.
Il was precisely week before shs dsy
appointed for the Wedding, and the soft
lights, yelled by the shades Of ground glass
were ast lighted in Dr. Wylfs' drawing
room, where Edith cot among her white
roses aud helioropes, working biz Of
cambria rulaing aud singing to herself
She was a slender, beautiful girl with vole
eyes, u blue veiued forehead, and glossy
ourlS Of the pale gold painters love to Por
tray.
IL wonder IL Mortimer place is so very
lovely2' she said 10 grey.haired lady who
sat opposite. "Philip is gong to take ms
there when We return from our wedding
tour, aunty be says that it is the sweetes
place poets fancy can devise, with de
licious copses. Oh, shall we not be hAppJ
there 2"
She started up with bright, sudder
blush for even while the words were We
trembling on her lips, Philip Acre cAm'
into the room. His handsome face wa
grave, looking little trou blsd, yet eheer'u
withal. Mrs. Wyllis, with al arch nod a
her niece, disappeared into the perlumeC
perspective Of the conservatory.
"Gou are looking grave, Phillip sal
Edith, ss no bent over aud kissed he
cheek.
IL am feeling so, darling. have al
unpleasant disclosure to make tonight
our marriage must be indefinitely post
poued.'
"Philip, why2'
"1o enable me, BY diligsnt labor at N
profession, TO realize sufficient means to sup
por, you, dearest. IN a manner sa.isiac'or
to your fathers expectations and IN
wishes"
"Bu, Philip, | thought
"Iou thought me the heir OF Thcma
Mortimers wealth. SO | was. Edith,
few hours since bat | have rsl'tqui,he
all claims nov. When ] Acce pied the b.
quest ! Was under the impression that n
living heir existed. / learned to-day lha
n distant relative = woman) ia sliye. i
though my lawyer tells me, in Ignorance
Of her relationship to Thomas Mortimer
OF course / shall transfer the property 4
her
"Ba, Philip, the will has made it lsgslll
yours"
"LsgSlly ii has but, Edith, could
reconcile It to my idea Of truth aud honest,
10 avail myself Of old Mort,mer's fAncifu
freak, Rtthis woman's sXpenss2 / nigh
take the boarded wealth, but / could neve
respect myself again, could | dream 0
legally defrauding the right heir Nay
dearest / may lose name and wealth, but
would rather die than suffer a single stSi
on my name as n gentleman
"You have done right, Philip" sal
Edith, with sparkling eyes, We will wait
and nope on, happy in loving each oshe
more dearly than ever But who is this dis
tsnt relative and heiress7'
That's Just shat didn't stopto inquire
will write again 10 my lawyer and Hs
these questions, and TO direct that dec
Of conveyance be made on. and then
darling"
His lips quvered moment, yet he man
fully complsted the sentence
Then we will begin the battle Of If
over again
And Ediths loving eyes told him wbS
bhe thought OF his self AbnegEuou--
sweet testimonial.
Hem" said DIR. Wyllis, wipins his eye
glasses mAjssiically with q silk crimso
pocket handkerchief, 81 didn't suppose tn
young fellow had so much stamina abor
him-S very honorable thing to do EdiIi
have never iels exactly sure about Phi
Acre being worthy of you, before"
"Papam
"But my mind is made up. When is
coming again ?"
This evening" fsl,ered Edith, the viol'
eyes dropping.
Tell him, Edith, that he may have 20
next Wednesday, just the same as ever A
70 the Law practicing, there's time enouR
for that afteruafd Child don't stranvl