The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-04-14

so distrustful 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.
g Please, sir, the postman has just left
it."
"All right, Katy. Now then," he
added, as the door closed behind Katy's
substantial back, "let's see what my
unknown correspondent has to say. A
black seal, eh? Not having any rela.
tions to lose, am not alarmed at the
prognostic."
He broke the seal, and glanced leis-
urely over the short, business-like COM
munication contained within, with q
face that varied fom mincredulous surprise
to sudden gladness.
"Am dreaming?" 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
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 a relation; but then I never heard
that the old man had any kith or kin, so
[ can't imagine any harm in taking ad-
vantage of his odd freak. Rich-am
really to be rich? Is my Aladdin
vision to be an actual fact? Oh, Edith,
Edith"
He clasped both hand over his eyes,
sick and giddy with the thought that
that lovely far-off star of his alteration
would be brought near to him at last by
the magnet gold. All those years Of
patient 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 the
accepted lover, frightened by Edith's
smile, made beautiful by the soft radi-
anc of Edith's love. There was only
one alloying shadow-the almost inn
perceptible touch of distrust and sus-
picion 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 furnace of trial.
It was precisely q week before the
day of the wedding, as the soft lights,
vailed by shades of ground glass, were
just lighted in DIR. Wyllis's drawing
room, where Edith sst among her
white roses and heliotrope, working on
. bit Of cambria rufiling and singing to
herself. She was q slender, beautiful
girl, with violet eyes, q blue-veined
forehead and glossy, abundant curls of
that pale gold that old painters love to
portray.
"I wonder if Mortimer Place is so
very lovely" she said to silver-haired
lady who sat opposite. "Philip is GO
ling to take me there when we return
from our wedding tour, aunty; he says it
I is the sweetest place poets fancy can
devise, with fountains and strawberries
and delicious copses. Oh, shall we not
be happy there?''
She started up with bright sudden
blush; for even while the words were
trembling on her lips, Philip Acre came
into the room, his handsome face look
ling 4 little troubled, yet cheerful withal.
Mrs. Wyllis with an arch nod at her
niece, disappeared into the perfumed
perspective 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.
have q very unpleasant disclosure to
make to-night-our marriage must be
postponed indefinitely
"Philip, for what reasong"
"To enable me, by diligent labor at
my profession, to realize sufficient
means to support you, dearest, in a
manner satisfactory to your fathers ex-
pectations and my own wishes"
"But, Philip, I thought
"You thought me the heir of Thomas
Mortimer's wealth. So was, Edith,
q few hours since, but l have relin-
quished all claim to it now. When I
accepted the bequest, was under the
impression that no living heir existed.
learnt to-day that distant cousins
woman-is alive, although my lawyer
tells me, in ignorance Of her relation
ship to Thomas Mortimer. OF course
shall transfer the property to her inn
mediately.''
but, Philip, the win has made it
legally yours.
illegally, it has; but, Edith, could I
reconcile it to my ideas Of truth and
honor, to avail myself of old Mortimer's
fanciful freak at this woman's expensep
I might take the boarded wealth, but l
should never respect myself again could
dream Of legally defrauding the right