Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-11-27
THE MIsER's HEIR.

oinks OppOsitiOns with It's titles,
As the pebbles on the sea.
THE MIsER's HEIR.
The hour hand of Phillip Acres
old-ftshioned silver watch was point
ing to the figure eight the snug red
curtain shut out the rain and dark
ness of the March night and the fire
snapped and cracked bel,iad the red
hot bars of the CRATE, in most cosy
and comfortable sort of way, casting
a rosy slime into the thoughtful
brown eyes that were 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.
off were only rich p he poBdcred
to himself. "Ah if. Then goodbye
to all these musty old law books !;
goodbye to mendsd boots and turned
coats, all the ways and means which
turn a mans life into wrctched bond
age. Wouldn't reYcl in now books,
and delicious paintings, and high
stepping horses? Wouldn't buy a
set of jewels Cor Edith-not pale
pearls or sickly emeraids, but dia-
monds, to blaze like links of fire upon
her royal throat! Wouldn't I-what
nonsense Pm talking, though" lie
cried suddenly to himself. "Philip
Acre, hold your tongue. did sup
pose you were fellow of more sense.
Here you are, neither rich nor distin-
guishcd. but q simple law student !;
while Edith Wyllis is as far above
your moon-struck aspirations as the
Queen of Night herself. She loves
me, thougli-she will wait-and the
time may one day come. If only DIR.
Wyllis were not SO distrustful of a
fellow. However, 1 must learn to
prove myself worthy of the sweetest
prize that tcvcr-halloa! come in there,
whoever you are"
1t was only the serving maid of the
lodging house, carrying letter in
the corner Of her apron, between her
thumb and finger.
"Pleasc sir, the postman has just
loft it,"
Gall right, Katy. Now, then," he
added Us the door closed behind
Katy's substantial back, "let's see
what my unknown correspond mt has
to say. A black seal, eh Not having
any relations to lose, am not alarm
ed ut the prognostic."
lie broke the zeal and glanced over
the short, business like coInmunica-
ton contained within, with a face va
ried from incredulous surprise to q
sudden gladness.
cam dreaming ?" he murmurcd,
rubbing his eyes and shaking himself,
as if to insure complete possession of
his senses. "No, Pm wide-awake and
in my right mind it is no delusion
no part of my waking visions. But
who would have supposed that old
Thomas Mortimer, whom haven't
seen since was a boy of slxtcen, and
picked him out of the river half dead
between cramp aud fright, would die
and leave me all his money! Why, l
am not the shadow of o relation but
then never heard that the old man
had any kith Or kin. SO can't imag-
,iue any harm in taking advantage &c
this odd freak. Rich-am really to
be rich Z? Is my Aladdin vision to be
an actual fact? oh. Edith! Edith!''
lie clasped both his hands over his
eyes, sick and giddy with the thought
that the lovely far-of star of his
alteration would be brought up near
him at last by the magnet gold. All
those years of patient waiting were
to DO bridged over by the strange
miser's bcquest he might claim
Edith now
How fui. Of heart-shine were the
weeks that hitted over the head Of
the accepted ovcr-brightsned by
Edith's smile-made beautiful by the
soft radiance of Edith's love. There
was one alloying shadow-thc most
impcrceptible touch 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 fur.
mace Of trial.
i 1t was precisely week before the
day appointed for the wedding, and
the soft lights, vcilcd by shades Of
ground glass, were just lighted in
DR.. WyllIs' drawing room, where
Edith sat among her white roses and
heliotropcs, working Q bit Of cam.
brio rufiing, and singing to herself
6he was SLENDER, beautiful girl, with
violet eyes, . bluc-veincd forehead,
and glossy curls Of that pale gold
that old painters loved to portray.
| II wonder II Mortimer Place 10 60
very lovely ?" she said to . silver.
haired lady who sat opposite. "Phil.
Up 10 going to take me there when we
return from our wedding tour, aunty;