Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-02-19
THE MISER'S BEQUEST.

1 l.
fashioned silver watch was pointing
to the figure 8-the snug red curtain
shut out the rain and darkness of tn
March night, and the fire snapped ans
cracked behind the red-hot bars of tn
title CRATE in most cozy and comfort
able sort Of way, casting q rosy shin
into the thoughtful brown eyes tina
we're tracing castles and coronets in tn
brightly burning Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging himself in the dangerous fasci
nations of a day dream.
"f I were only rich |" he ponderet
to himself. "Ah, if! Then goodbye
to all these musty old law books good
bye to mended boots and turned coats
and all the ways and means that turn 8
mans life into wretched bondage
Wouldn't revel in new books and de-
licious paintings, and high stepping
horsesa Wouldn't I buy set of jewelf
for Edith-not pale pearls or sickls
emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze like
links of fire upon her royal throat
Wouldn't What nonsense l m talking,
though |" he cried suddenly to himself.
"Phil Acre, hold your tongue. did
suppose you were a fellow of more
sense. Here you are, neither rich nor
distinguished but a simple law stu
dent; 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 DR.. Wyllis
were not so distrustful of fellow
Halo come in there, whoever you
arel"
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,"
"All right, Katy. Now, then," he
added, as the door closed behind Katy g
back, /" let's see what my unknown
correspondent has to say. A black seal,
eh2 Not having any relations to lose, I
am not alarmed at the prognostic."
He broke the seal, and glanced leis-
urely over the short, business-like COM
munication contained within, with o
face that varied from incredulous sur
prise to sudden gladness.
Sam I dreaming9" he murmured,
rubbing his eyes, and shaking himself,
as if to insure complete possession of
his senses. "No, I'm wide awake and
in my right mind; it is no delusion-no
part of my waking visions. But who
would ever suppose that old Thomas
Mortimer, whom haven't seen since I
was boy Of sixteen, and picked him
out of the river half dead between cramp
and fright, would die and leave me all
his money! Why, I'm not the shadow
of relation; but then I never heard
that the old man had any kith or kin, SO
I can't imagine any harm in taking ad-
vantage of his odd freak. Rich-am 1
really to be rich9 Is my Aladdin vision
to be an actual fact2 Oh, Edith,
Edith p
He clasped both hands over his eyes,
sick and giddy with the thought that
that lovely far-off star of his alteration
would be brought near to him ut last by
the magnet gold. All those years of pa
tient 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 tho
accepted lover, frightened by Edith's
smile, made beautiful by the soft radi-
ance of Edith's love. There was only
one alloying shadow-the almost imper-
ceptible touch OF distrust and suspicion
with which stern old DR.. Wyllis regard
ed his future son-in-law. Ahl he fear
ed 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 week before the day
appointed for the wedding, as the soft
lights, yelled by shades of ground glass,
were just lighted in DR.. Wyllis' draw
ing room, where Edith sat among her
white roses and heliotrope, working on
a bit of cambria rufling and singing to
herself. She was a slender, beautiful
girl, with violet eyes, blue-v -veined fore
head and glossy, abundant curls of that
pale gold that old painters love to por-
tray.
"I wonder if Mortimer Place is 80
very lovely" she said to silver-haired
lady who sat opposite. "Philip is 60
ing to take me there when we return
from our wedding tour, aunty; he says
it is the sweetest place q poets fancy
can devise, with fountains and shrub
berries and delicious copses. Oh, shall
we not be happy there3"
She started up with bright, sudden
blush; for even while the words were
on her lips, Philip Acre came
into the room, his handsome face look
ing a little troubled, yet cheerful withal.
Mrs. Wyllis, with an arch nod at her
niece, disappeared into the perfumed
Of the conservatory, leaving |
The lovers TO themselves.
"You are looking grave, Philip"
said Edith, as he bent over and kissed
her cheek.
"And / am feeling so, darling. 1
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