The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-08-23
THE MIsER's BEQUEsT.

A bright fireside, with fender and
fre-irons shining like gold, windows
hung with draperies Of Turkey red
walls of crimson hock-paper, starred
over with gold, and a little walnut
stand of books opposite-Mrs. Milford's
parlor was cabinet gem in its way.
Not that the Milfords were rich. On
the contrary, Merton Milford wasa bank
clerk, on salary so small that it some
times became an almost insoluble prob
lem to make both ends meet.
Almost, we say, but never quite
for Lucy Milford had learned the les
son of household economy, and it was
her pride to be able to say that they
never had been in debt. Yet Lucy had
a woman's taste and a woman's cravings
and a woman's innocent longing after
the beautiful and costly; and on this
especial evening, as she sat by the fire,
leaning one cheek on her hand, and her
foot mechanically agitating the rocker
of the baby's cradle, she was thinking
of the possible.-the unattainable.
If we wereonly rich,' thought Lucy
to herself, as she glanced across the
room. "How / would like a pair of
bronzes on yonder mantel, instead of
those ugly, stiff little vases that Aunt
Betsy gave me for wedding present.
How 1 would like a Persian-patterned
carpet, instead of this staring red and
green ingram. And little oil-painting
or bunch of water-colored flowers over
the table, where the map of the city
hangs now. And then l could afford
a Valenciennes cap for the baby, and a
real Ponson silk for myself, and l could
surprise Merton with half dozen new
silk handkerchiefs, and / would send
papa a new meerschaum, real sea-foam,
with an amber mouth-piece and odd
carvings on the bowl, and mamma should
have an Indian-bordered shawl, and"
Bang went the front door. Tramp,
tramp, came well-known footstep along
the hall, with just sufficient of pause
to fling the hat carelessiy ON the little
circlet of pegs which, in that unpreten-
tious household, took the place of mar
ble-topped mirror-backed hall-rack.
"Ifs Merton" said Mrs. Milford,
starting up; and Merton it was.
Halo, Pussp. said Merton, coming
in flushed and breathless. "And how's
the little kitten?"
Kitty is WE'LL" said Mrs. Milford.
Shall / order tea, dear%
"Yes."
The little aid-servant-Lucy Mil
ford only kept one-brought in the urn,
and when she had tip-toed out again,
Mrs. Milford looked her husband in the
face.
"Merton," said she, something has
happened; l can read it in your eyes.
What is it %
He burst into laugh.
What little fortune-teller you are,
to be sure" said he. eyes, something
has happened. Eve got telegram from
Fortley, and old Uncle Jesse is dying"
."Unele Jesse, the rich old miser ?"
"Uncle Jesse, the rich old miser.
And Writ informs me that his last will,
made in a fit of pique against the direc-
tors of the Fortley Orphan Asylum
leaves every thing to us"
"To us, MertonT
Lucy drew her breath with a little
gasping sound.
"Why, it must be half million of
noneyr
"That at least. We shall be rich
people, Puss."
go, Merton, it scarcely seems posi-
bleI It's like dream"
It's dream that has pretty solid
vein of reality running through it,
you'll find, my DEAR" said the husband.
And just before you came in, l was
sitting here and thinking what / would
do and how could ornament my home,
if only we were rich!" cried Lucy clap
ping her hands.
Merton pinched hercheek and laughed
complacently. Evidently he was in the
very best of humor.
Half a million, Lucyp said he
You shall have a set of diamonds that
will rival those of Mrs. Merriwell, the
bankers wife, and real cashmere
shawl. And I'll order pony phator
for your own driving, and you"
But We. shall buy country place
shan't we, Merton?" wistfully asked
Lucy, the soft carmine shadows deepen
ing over her cheek.
"a country place! What forT' sale
Milford, a little contemptuously. "Wha
on earth should we bury ourselves il
the country for, when we can buy
palace at the West End, and SURROUND
ourselves with all the refnements O
city lifef'
A shade of acute disappointment
came over Lucy's face.
40, Merton, / have ALWAYS dreamed
of a country house." sighed she.
With burglars and mildew anC
spiders thrown in, Ell? Nonsense, m,
dear, nonsense! The city is the plac
to, live in"
And we can.haYe papa and mamm
to live with us, can't wef'
"W-well, Idon'texactly know abou
that" said Milford, thoughtfully
stroking his mustache; "Pn buy zen
a snug little place, if you say so, m,
love; but 1 never did believe in father
and mothers-in-law living with thei
children. Every household is complet
in itself. That's my notion"
90, Merton, how can you talk SO p
cried Lucy, with panied face.
go, well, Lucy, there's no use in sen
timentalizing on these points," retortet
her husband, little brusquely.
81 don't care to be rich, if 1 cam
enjoy the pleasures'of my money" sal,
Mrs. Milford, pouting.
So you may enjoy them-if you onl,
will be reasonable about it."