The Placer herald., 1873-11-15
THE MLSER'S HEIR.

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The hour hand of Philip Acres old
fashioned 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 sot Of way, casting rosy
shine into the thoughtful brown eyes that
were tracing castles and coronets in tie
brightly burning Goals.
For Phillip Acre was, for once, indulg-
ing himself in the dangerous fascination OF
the day dream.
"If were only rich!' he pondered to
himself "Ah! if. Then good bye to all
these musty old law books; good bye to
mended boots and turned coats, all the ways
and means which turn a man's S life into
wretched bondage. Wouldn't | revel in
new books, and delicious paintings, and
high stepping horses? Wouldn't buy
new set Of jewels for Edih-not pale pearls
or siclS'y emcralds, but diamonds to blaze
like links of fire upon her royal thnoatl
Wouldn't What nonsense am talking,
,houghw he cried suddenly to himself
''PhilIip Acre hold your tongue. did sup
pose you was fellow of more sense.
Here you are, neither rich por distinguished,
but simple law student; while Edith Wyl-
liss is as far above your moon struck aspira-
ions as the Queen of Night herself! She
loves me, ough-she will wait-and the
time W i'll one day come. If only DIR. Wyl-
! ss were not so dstrustful fellow! How
ever, must learn to. prove myself worthy
of the sweetest prize that ever-helol come
in there, whoever you are :"
1t was only the serving maid of the lodg-
ing house, carrying IL letter in the corner OF
her apron, between her finger and thumb.
"Pease, sir. the postman has just left
it."
"All right, Katy. Now then," he said,
as the door closed behind Katy's substan
tial back, "let's see what my unknown
correspondent has to say. A black seal,
ell? Not having any relations to lose, |
am rot alarmed at the prognostc.
He broke the seal and glanced over the
short, business like communication contained
within, with face varied from incredulous
surprise to sudden gladness.
"Am | dreaming % lie murmured, rub
bing bis eyes and shaking himself, as if to
insure complete possess on of his senses.
"No, I'm wide awake, and in my right
mind: it S no delusion--uo part Of my wax
ing visions. But who would have supposed
that old Thomas Mortimer, whom | havn't
seen since | was a boy of sixteen, and
picked him out of the river halt-dead with
fright. would di, and leave me all his
money Why, I'm not the shadow OF a
relation; but then never heard the old man
had any kith or kin, so can't imagine any
harm in taking advantage OF this odd freak.
Rich-am l really to be rich? Is my
Aladdin 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 up near him at last by the magnet
gold. All those years of patieut waiting
were to be bridged over by the strange old
miser's bequast; he might claim Edith
now.
How full Of heart. shine were the weeks
that fitted over the head of the accepted
over-brightened by Edilh's smile-nade
beautiful by the soft radiance of Edith's
love. There was one alloying shadow-lhe
most imperceptible touch OF dlstrust and
SUSPICION with which stern, old DIR. Wylliss
regarded his future SON n-law: An! he
feared to trust his only child to the Keeping
of any man who had not been proved Ill the
fiery furnace of trial.
1t was precisely week before the day
appointed for the wedding, and the soil
lights, veiled by shades Of ground glass
were just lighted in DR.. Wyliss drawing
room, where E ith sat among her white
roses and heliotropes, working a bit OF
cambric ruffipg, aud singing to herself