The Red Cloud chief., 1876-03-16
The Miser's Request.

J8SIilOucu eliFcE WotCu WOE POiAtihS W
the figure s-the snug red curtains stut
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 q most cosy and comfortable
sort of 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, lndulg-
ing himself in the dangerous fascins-
,ions of a day-dream.
"If l we're only rIch," he pondered
n himself, "ah. if! Then goodbye to
oil those musty old law books;good-oye
to mended boots and turned coats, and
all the ways and means that turn a
mans life into wretched bondage.
Wouldn't I revel in new books and de-
Iicious paintings, and housekeeping
borses' Wouldn't I buy a set of jew
elry for Edith-not pale pearls or sickly
emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze like
links of fire upon her royal throat!
Wouldn't I--what nonsense I'm talking
though" he cried suddenly TO himself.
"Phil Acre hold your tongue. l did
suppose you were q fellow of good
sense. Here you are. neither rich nor
distinguished, but a simple law student,
Hhile Edith Wyllis Is as far above your
moon-struck aspirations as the Queen
o 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 a fellow. Hallol 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
aGd thumb.
"Please sir, the postman has just left
it."
Gall right, Katy. Now them" he ad-
ded, as the door closed behind Katy's
substantial back, "let's see what my I'm
known correspondent has to say. A
black seal. eht Not having any rela-
tions to lose, I an not alarmed at the
prognostic.
He broke the seal, and glanced leis-
urely over the short, business like COM
munica,ion contained within, with a face
that varied from incredulous surprise to
sudden glsdness.
"Am I dreaming." he %murmured, rub
bling his eyes, and shaking himself, as
if to insure complete possession of his
senses. "No, Tn wide awake and in
nv right mind; it is no delusion-Do
part of my waking visions. But who
would ever suppose that old Thomas
Mortimer whom l haven't seen since l |
was a boy of sixteen, and picked him |
out of the river half Gead between |
cramp ard fright, would die and leave |
me all his money! Why, I'm not the
shadow of a relation; but then I never |
heard that the old man had any kith or |
kin, SO / can't imagine any harm in
taking advantage of his odd freak.
Rich-am I really to be RIGHT Is my |
Aladdin vision to be an actual facti Oh, |
Edith, Edith"
He clasped both hands 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 of gold. All those years
Of patient waiting were to lie bridgcd
over by the strange old miser's bequost;
he might claim Edith now
How full Of heart sunshine were the |
weeks that fitted over the head Of the |
accepted lover, frightened by E1ith's
smile, made beautiful by the soft ra-
dance of Edith's love. There is only |
n ALLOWING shadow-tbe almost i'm
p~erceptible touch of distrust and sus-
plcion with which stern old DIR. Willis
regarded his future s~on-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 a week before the day
appointed Ior the wedding, as the soft
lights, yelled by shades of ground glass, |
were just lighted in DR.. Wyllis's draw
ing-room, where Edith sat among her
white roses and heliotrope, working on
a bit of cambria ruffling and singing to
herself. She was q slender, beautiful
girl, with violet eyes, a blue veined
forehead, and glossy, sbundant curls OF |
that pale gold that old painters love to |
portray.
II wonder if Mortimer Place is so
very lovely" she said to e siiver-haired
lady who SIS: opposite. "Phllip is going |
TO take me there when We return from |
our wedding tour, aunty; he says it is |
the sweetest place a poets fancy can |
devise, with fountains and strawberries |
and delicious copses. Oh, shall We not |
be happy theref"
She started up with q bright, sudden |
blush: tor even while the words were |
trembling on he: lips, Philip Acre came
into the room, his handsome face looking |
q little troubled, yet cheerful withal. |
Mn. Willis with an arch Md ~ ho.