Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
TIE MISER'S REQUEST.

y HE hour hand of Philip Acres old
fashioned silver watch was pointing to the
figure THE snug r41 curtains shut out the
rain and darkness of the March night, and
the fire snapped and cracked behind the rcd
hot bars Of the littlo CRATE in most coy and
comfortable sort Of way, casting rosy shine
into the thoughtful brown eyes that were
tracing castles aud cOrOucts in the brightly
burning Goals.
For Philip Acre, wac, for once, iudulsing
himself in the dangerous destinations of day
dream.
1T 1 were only rich :" he pondered to
himself. "Ah. if! Then goodbye to all
these musty old law books; good. bye to
mendcd boots and turned coats and all the
ways and means that turn a mans life into
wretched bondage. Wouldn't revel in new
books and delicious paintings, and high step
ping horses? Wouldn't buy set Of jewels
for Edith-not pale pearls or sickIy emcralGs,
but diamonds to b!szs ike links Of Gre upon
her royal throat Wouldn'tI-what nouscuee
IN talking, thought no cried suddenly to
hinself. philip Acre, hold your tongue
l did suppose you wore fellow of moro sense
Hero you are, neither rich nor distinguished :;
but simple law student; while Edith Wyllis
is as far above your moon struck aspirations
as the queen Of night herself! She loves me,
tluugh-bhe will wait-and the time may one
day come. If only DR. WylIis we're not so
distrustfuI 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 aud thumb
''Please, sir, the postman has just left it."
can right, Katy. Now. then" ne added,
tho dnnr nloga1 bobiDj
see Whist my unknown correspondent has 10
:ay. a black SEAL ch F.? Not having any re.
latiOns TO lose, | am not alarmed at the prog.
nostc."
lie broke tie seal, and glanced Ieisurcl7
over the short business>like communication
contained within, with face that varied from
incredulous surprise to sudden glsdncss.
"Am dreaming 2" ne murmured. rubbing
his eyes, and shaking himself, as if to insure
complete possession Of his senses ''No, I'm
delusion-no part of my waking visions-
Mortimer, whom, l haven't seen since was
boy of sixteen, and picked him out of the
river half dead between cramp and freight,
would die and leave mo all his money; Why
I'm not the shadow of e relation but then
'SA HS0AA bAAoh bhS OsA AbaH LaA hltb W
kin. so can't imagine Auy harm in taking
advantage of his odd freak. Rich-am l
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
iar-of star Of his alteration would be brought
near to him 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 shine were the weeks
that fitted over the head of the accepted
lover, frightened By Edith's smile, made
beautiful by the soft radiance Of Edith's love.
There was only one alIoying shadow-the al
most impercep,ible touch of distrust and sus.
piciOn with which stern old Dr. WyIlis re,
garded his future sou-in-Iaw All. he feared
to trust his only child 70 the keeping of any
man who had not been proved in the fiery
furnace of trial.
1t was precisely week before the day APP
pointed for the wedding, as the soft lights,
YELLED By shades of ground glass, were Just
lighted in DIR. wyllis' drswiug-r room, where
. Edith sat among her white roses and hell.
OtrcPe, working Oh bit of cambria rufliDe