Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
TIE MI8ER's BEQUEsT.

ssSHE hour hand OF Philip Acres old
fashioned silver watch was pointing to the
figure THE snug rSl curtains shut out the
rain and darkness of the March night and
the fire snapped and cracked behind the red
hot bars of the littlo CRATE in most cozy and
comfortable sort of way, casting n rosy shine
into the thoughtful brown eyes that were
tracing castles and corOucts in the brightly
burning Goals.
For Philip Acre, waa, for once, indulsing
himself in the dangerous destinations Of day
dream
at | were only rich ~ he pondered to
himself "Ah, If! Then good-byc to all
these musty old law books good bye to
nended boots and turned coats; and all the
ways and means that turn mans life into
wretched bondage. Wouldn't l revel in new
books and delicious paintings, and high step
ping horscs? Wouldn't buy a set Of jewels
for Edith-uot pale pearls or siCkiy emeralGs,
but diamonds to blaze ike links Of Gre upon
her royal throat Wouldn'tI-what nousenee
| I'm talking, though! ~ ho cried suddenly to
! himself. "Philip Acre, hold your tongue
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-
/ though-bhe will wait-snd the time may one
day come. If only DR.. Wylls were not so
distrustfu 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,"
Gan right, Katy. Now then" ne added,
as the door closed behind Katy's back, ''lct's
sec what my unknown correspondent has to
say. a black seal, ch 4? Not having any re-
latons TO lose, | am not alarmed at tho prog
nostic."
he broke tie seal, and glanced leisurely
over the short business>like communication
contained within, with face that varied from
incredulous surprise to sudden gIsdncss.
cam dreaming p ne murmured, rubbing
his eyes, and shaking himself, as if to insure
complete possession Of his senses. "No, I'm
! wi12 awake aud in my right mind it is no
delusion-no part of my waking Visions
But who would suppose that old Thomas
Mortimer, whom l haven't seen since was a
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 relation but then l
never heard that the old man had any kith or
AIHl SO CAD imagine Auy naTn IN taxing
advantage of his odd freak. Rich-an l
really to be rich Is my Aladdin vision to
be 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 beguest he
might claim Edith now.
How full of heart shine we're the weeks
that fitted over the head of the accepted
lover, frightened by Edith's smile, mad,
beautiful by the soft radiance of Edith's love
There was only one alloying shsdow-the al
most imperceptible touch of distrust and sus
picon with which stern old DR.. Wyllis re
garded his future sou-in-law. All he feare,
to trust his only child TO the keeping of an,
man who had not been proved in the fer
furnace of trial.
1t was precisely week before the day ap
pointed for the wedding, as the soft lights
yelled By shades of ground glass, were Jus
lighted in DIR. Wyllis' drawing room, whsr
Edith sat among her white roses and hell
Otrcpe, working on bit of cambria rufaiD