The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-03-09
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 most cosy and comfortable
sort of way, casting Il rosy shine into
the thoughtful brown eyes that were
tracing castles and corOnetS in the
brightly burning Goals.
For Philip Acre was, for once, in
dulging himself in the dangerous fasci-
nations of a day-dream.
"If 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 | revel in new books and de-
licious paintings, and housekeeping
horses? Wouldn't buy set Of jewels
for Edith-not pale pearls or sickly
emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze like
links of fire upon her royal throati
Wouldn't what nonsense I'm talk
ing, thought" he cried suddenly to
himself "Phil Acre, hold your tongue.
did suppose you were fellow of more
sense. Here 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, though
she will wait-and the time may one
day come. If only DIR. Wyllis were not
so distrustful of a 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.
"Please, sir, the poStman has Just left
it."
"All right, Katy. Now them" he
added, as the door closed behind Katy's
substantial back, "let's see what my
unknown correspondent has to say. A
black seal, ehP Not having any rela-
tiOnS to lose, am not alarmed at the
prognostic."
He broke the seal, and glanced leis-
urelv over the short, busineSs-like com
munication contained within, with a
face that varied fom increduloas 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 | never heard
that the old man had any kith or kin, so
can't imagine any harm in taking ad-
vantage of his oSd freak. Rich-am
really to be rich? Is nv 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. - -.... ..r-
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 alloyiDg shadow-the almost i'm
perceptible touch of distrust and sus-
picion with which stern old DR.. willis
regarded his future son-in-law. An, he
feared to trust his only child Ia the
keeping of any man who had not been
proved in the fiery furnace of tia
1t was precisely 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 hel
white roses and heliotrOpe, working on
a bit of camblic rufiling and singing tC
herself. She was q slender, beautifu
girl, with violet eyes, blue-veineC