The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-08
The Miser's Bequest.

The Miser's Bequest.
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 snapped and cracked |
behind the red-hOt bars of the little |
crate in a most cosy and comfortable |
sort of a way, casting a rosy shine into |
the thoughtful brown eyes that were
tracing castles and coronets in the |
brightly burning Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, indulg-
ing himself in the dangerous fascina-
tions of day-dream.
"If I were only rich p' he pondered TO
himself. "Ah, if! Then goodbye to
all these musty old law books; goodbye
to mended boots aud turned coats, and
all the ways and means that turn
mans life into wretched bondage.
Wouldn't I revel in new books and de-
licious paintings and housekeeping
horses! Wouldn't buy a set of jewels
for Edith-not pale pearls or sickly en-
eralds-but diamonds, to blaze like
links of fire upon her royal throat
Wouldn't what nonsense Pm talk
ing, though ~ he cried suddenly to
himself. "Phil Acre, hold your tongue.
ulu SuDDOSC yOu NClC a 4CllON VI GooN
sense. Here you are, neither rich nor
distinguished, but a simple law student,
while Edith Wyllis is as far above your
moou-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! Hello come
in there, whoever you are"
1t was only the serving maid of the
lOdging-hOuse, carrying a 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's
substantial back, "Iet'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 a
face that varied from incredulOus sur
prise to sudden gladness.
"Am l dreaming p' he murmured,
rubbing his eyes and shaking himself,
as if to insure complete possession of his
senses. mo, Pm 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 a boy of sixteen, and picked him
out of the river half dead between cramI
end fright, would die and leave me all
his money? Why, Pm not the sh adoW
of relation; but then 1 never hearC
that the old man had any kith or kin
so l can't imagine any harm in taking
advantage of his odd freak. Rich-an
I really to be rich? Is my Aladdin Wis
ion to be an actual fact? Oh, Edith
Edith %
He clasped his hands over his eyes
sick and giddy with the thought tina
that lovely far-off star of his alteration
would be brought near to him at last b.
the magnet gold. All these years of pa
tient waiting were to be bridged over b.
the strange old miser's bequest; b.
might claim Edith now.
How full of heart sunshine were th
weeks that fitted over the head of th
accepted lover, frightened by Edith
smile, made beautiful by the soft radi
ance of Edith's love. There is only on
alloying shadow-the almost imper
ceptible touch of distrust and suspicion
with which stern old DR.. Wyllis re
garded his future son-in-law. All ! h
feared to trust his only child to tn
keeping of any man who had not bee
proved in the fiery furnace of trial.
1t was precisely week before the da
appointed for the wedding, as the sol
lights, veiled by shades of ground glass
were just lighted in DR.. Wyllis' draw
ing-room, where Edith sat among he
white roses and heliotrope, working o
bit of cambria ruffling and singing {
herself. She was a slender, beautifJ
girl, with violet eyes, a blue-veine
forehead, and glossy, abundant curls {
that pale gold that old painters love
portray.
"I wonder if Mortimer Place is S
very lovely,n she said, to a silver-haire
lady who sat oppositd. "Philip is gOin
to take me there when we return froI
our wedding tour, aunty; he says it
the sweetest place poets fancy can d,
wise, with fountains and shrubberi'
and delicious cOpses. Oh, shall we M
be happy there"
She started up with bright, sudde
blush; for even while the words We
trembling on her lips, Philip Acre can
into the room, his handsome face lOol
ing little troubled, yet cheerful witha
Mrs. Wyllis, with an arch nod at b,
niece, disappeared into the perfume
perspective of the conservatory, leavin
the lovers to themselves.
"You are looking grave, Philip" sal
Edith, as he bent over and kissed h
cheek.
"And I am feeling so, darling. Iha,
a very unpleasant disclosure to NAL
to-night-our marriage must be pos
poned Indefinitely"
"Philip, for what reason ?'
''To enable me, by diligent labor
my profession, to realize sufficiel
means to support you, dearest, in
manner satisfactory to your fathers e.
pectations and my own wishes.
'But, Philip, thought"
"YOu thought me the heir of Thomi
Mortimer's wealth? So l was, Edith,
few hours since, but have relinquisht
all claim to it now. When 1 acceptt
the bequest, I was under the impressiC