Middletown transcript., 1876-04-15
Honesty Wins.

shut out the rain and darkness Of th
March night, and the fire cracked an
snapped behind the red hot bars Of th
little CRATE in a cosy and comfortabl
sort Of way, casting rosy shine int
the thoughtful brown eyes that wer
tracing castles and coronets in tn
brightly burning Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging himself in the dangerous fas
cinations Of day dream.
"If I we're only rich !" he pondere'
to himself. cab. if! Then good-by
to these musty old law books good
bye to all mended boots and turns'
coats; and all the ways and means tha
turn mans life into wretched bond
age. Wouldn't 1 revel in new books
and delicious painting, and high-step
ping horses. Wouldn't l buy set o
Jewels for Edith-not pale pearls O.
sickly emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze
like links of fire upon her royal throat
Wouldn't What nonsense I'm talk
ing. thougn!" be cried suddenly tt
himself. "Philip Acre, bold you
tongue. I did suppose you were fel
low of good sense. Here you are
neither rich nor distinguished, while
Edith Wyllis is as far above your moon
struck aspirations as the Queen o
Night herself! She loves me though
she'll wait-and the time may one day
come. If only DR.. Wyllis was not SC
distrustful of fellow! Halo come
in there. whoever you arep'
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, Katy. Now, then." ht
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. I am not alarmed at the
prognostic."
He broke the seal and glanced leis-
urely over the short, business-like CON-
munication within, with face that va
ried from incredulous surprise to sudden
gladness
cam I 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's no delusion-no
part of my wakening visions. But who
would ever suppose that old Thomas
Mortimer, whom I havn't seen since !
was boy of sixteen, and picked him
out of the river half dead from cramp
and fright, would die and leave me all
his money? Why, I'm not the shadow
Of relation; but then 1 never heard
the old man had any kith or kin, SO that
I 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? O, Edith. Edith !'
He clasped both hands over his eyes.
sick and giddy with the thought that
the lovely. far off star of his adoratien
would be brought to him at last by the
magnet, gold. All those years Of pa
tient waiting were to be hridged over
by the strange old missr's bequest, and
be 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 impercep.
tible touch of distrust and suspicion
with which stern old Dr.. Wyllis re-
garded his future sop-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. veiled by shades Of glass.
were just lighted in DR.. Wyllis' draw
ing room where Edith sat among her
white roses and heliotropes. working on
bit of cambria ruffle and singing to
herself She was a slender, beautiful
girl, with violet eyes, a blue-veined
forehead, and glossy, abundant curls
of that pale gold that old painters loved
to portray.
II wonder if Mortimer place is SC
very lovely!" she said to silver-haired
lady who sat opposite. Phil is going
to take me there when we return from
our wedding tour; he says it is the
sweetest place poets fancy can devise,
with fountains and strawberries and de.
licious copses. 0, shall we not be
happy there?"
She star ted up with bright. sudden
blush for even while the words we're
trembling on her lips, Philip Acre came
into the room, his face looking little
troubled, yet cheerful withal. Mrs.
Wyllis, with an arch nod at her niece,
disappeared into the perfumed perspec-
tive Of the conservatory, leaving the
lovers to themselves.
You are looking grave. Philip.
said Edith, as be bent over and kissed
her cheek
"And l am feeling SO. darling. I
have a very unpleasant disclosure to
make to night-our marriage must be
postponed indefinitely"
"Philip, for what reason p
"To enable me, by diligent labor at
my profession, to realize sufficient
means to support you. dearest, in a
manner satisfactory to your fathers
expectations and my own wishes"
"But Philip, thought
"You thought me the heir Of Thomas
Mortimer's wealth. So I was, Edith,
a few hours since, but have relinquis-
ed all claim to it now. When l ac-
cepted the bequsst was under the i'm
preston that no living heir existed.
I learned to-day that distant cousin
a woman-is still alive although. my
LAWYER tells me. in ignorance of her