The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-08-18
THE MISERY'S REQUEST.

THE MISERY'S REQUEST.
The hour hand Of Philip Acres old
fashioned silver watch was pointing to
the figure S--the snug red curtains
shut out the rain and darkness of the
March night, and the fire cracked and
snapped behind the red-hot bars of the
little CRATE in a most cosy and COM
Portable sort of way, casting rosy
shine into the thoughtful brown eyes
shat they were tracing castles and cor
onets in the brightly burning Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging himself in the dangerous fas-
cinations of day-dream.
"If were only RICH" he pondered
to himself, ''ah if Then goodbye
to all these musty old law books !;
goodbye to mended boots and turned
coats and all the ways and means that
turn mans life into wretched bon
age. Wouldn't revel in new books
and delicious paintings, and high step
ping horses Would not | buy a set
of jewels for Edith-not pale pearls
nor sickly emeralds, but diamonds, to
blaze like links of fire upon her royal
throat Would not what nonsense
I'm talking though he cried sudden
~ to himself. ''Phil Acre, hold your
tongue. | did suppose you were a fell
low of good sense. Here you are,
neither rich nor distinguished, but a
simple law student, while Edith Wyllis
IS as far above your mOOn-Struck as
pirations as the Queen of Night her.
self. She loves me, thOugh-she will
wait-and the time may one day come.
If only DR.. Wyllis were not so distrust-
full of fellow. Halo . 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 finger
and thumb.
please sir, the postman has just
left it. =
"All right, Kate. Now then, he lad
ded as the door closed behind Katy's
substantial back, ''let's see what my
unknown correspondent has to say. 4
black seal, eh Not having any rela-
tives to lose, am not alarmed at the
prognostic.
lie broke the seal, and glanced
lelsurely over the short, business-like
communication which it contained,
with face which varied from incred-
ulous surprise to sudden gladness.
Am | dreaming" he murmured,
rubbing his eyes and shaking himself,
rs 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 | havn't seen
since | was a boy of sixteen, and pick
ed him out of the river half dead
with cramp and fright, would die and
leave me all his money Why, m
not the shadow of relation; but then
never heard that the old man had any
klth or kin, SO | can't imagine any
harm in taking advantage of his odd
freak. Rlch-am | really to be rich
Is my Aladdin vision to be an actual
fact oh, Edith, Edith
He clasped both hands over his eyes,
sick and giddy with the thought that
that lovely, far-off star of his adora-
ton would be brought near to him at
last by the magnet gold. All those
years of patient waiting were to be
brldged 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 lover, frightened by Edith S
smile, made beautiful by the soft radi-
ance of Edith's love. There is only
one alloying shadow-the almost i'm
perceptible touch Of distrust and SUI
splclon withiwhich stern old DR.. Willis
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 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's
draWlnG-room, where Edith sat among
ner White roses and heliotrope, work
ing on bit of cambria ruffling and
Singing 10 herself. She was a slender.
beautiful girl, with violet ewes. a blue
velned forehead, and glossy. abundant
curls OF that pale gold that old paint
ers love to portray.
Il wonder if Mortimer Place is 81
very lovely" she said to a silver.
haired lady who sat opposite. philip