The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-01
THE MISER'S BEQUEST.

The hour hand o: Philip Acres old
fashioned silver watch was pointing
to the figure S-the anug red curtains
shut out the rain and darkness of the
March night, and the fire snapped aud
STacked behind the Ied-hot bars of the
little CRATE in most cozy and comfort
able sort OF way, casting a rosy shine
into the thoughtful brown eyes that
wero tracing castles and coronets in the
brightly burning Goals. ..-..-
For Philip Acre was, for once. in
dulging himself in the dangerous iasci-
nations of q day dream.
eff were only rich |" he pondered
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 a
mans life into wretched bondage.
Wouldn't I reyel in new books and de-
Icious paintings. and high stepping
horses? Wouldn't l buy set of Jewels
Tor Edith-not pale pearls or sickly
emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze like
Inks of fire upon her royal throat |
wouldn't What nonsense I'm talking,
though ]" he cried suddenly to himself.
"Ph1 Acre, hold your tongue. did
suppose you were fellow OF more
hAScs, HSAo you dItS euSlGu6r IICQ nor
distinguished but simple law stu
dent; while Edith Wyllis is as far above
your moons struck aspirations rs the
queen of night herself She loves me,
though-she will wait-and the time
may one day come. If only DR.. Willis
were not so distrustful Of a fellow
are 70 -
1t was only the serving maid of the
elodging house, carrying letter in the
corner of her apron, between her finger
and thumb. -
:. Please, sir, the postman has just left
"All right, Katy, Now, then" he
added, as the door closed behind Katy's
back, let's see what my unknown
correspondent has to say. A black seal,
ehs Not having any relations 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 from incredulous sur-
prise to sudden gladness.
Am 1 dreamingi" he murmured,
rubbing his eyes, and shaking himself,
as If to insure complete possession of
,his senses. "No, 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 T haven't seen since I
was a 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. 80
1 can't imagine any harm in taking ad-
vantage of his odd freak. Rich-am I
really to be rich2 Is my Aladdin vision
to be an actual faot2 Oh, Edith,
Edith I" -
He clasped both hands over his eyes,
sick and giddy with the thought that
that lovely far-off star of his alteration
:. Swould be brought near to him at last by
the magnet gold. All those years of pa
n tient waiting were to.be bridged over
Il 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 3
smile, made beautiful by the soft radi-
ance OF Edith's love. There was only
one alioylng shadow-the almost imper-
ceptible touch Of distrust and suspicion
with which stern old Dr.. Wyllis regard
ed his future son-in-law. All 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 sofi
lights, yelled by shades of ground glass
were just lighted in DR.. Wyllis' draw