Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-12-06

"A bright nreSlde, with fender anu
fire-irons shining like gold, windows
hung with dlaperies of Turkey red,
wall of crimson-flock paper, starred over
with gold, and little walnut stand of
books opposite-Alrs. Milford's parlor
was a cabinet gem in its way. Not
that the Milfords were rich. On the
contrary, Merton Milford was 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 lesson of
household economy, and it was her
pride to be able TO say that they never
had been in debt. Yet Lucy had wo-
mans taste, and woman's cravings,
and a woman's innocent longings after
the beautiful and costly; and on this
especial evening, rs 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 were only rich," thought
Lucy to herself, as she glanced across
the room. "How l 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 / would like u Persian-pattern
carpet, instead of this staring red and
green ingram. And little oil-paint-
ing or bunch of water-colored flowers
over the table, where the map of the
city hangs now. And then / could af-
ford Valenciennes cap for the baby,
and real Ponson silk for myself; and
l could surprise Merton with half a
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-b bordered
shawl. and''-
Bang went the front door. Tramp,
tramp, came a well-known footstep
along the hall, with just sufficient of a
pause to fling the hat carelessly on the
little circlet Of pegs which, in that un-
pretentious household, took the place
of a handicapped, mirror-backed hall
rack.
Its Merton" said Mrs. Milford,
starting up; and Merton it was.
"IIallo, Pussr' said Merton, coming
in flushed and breathless. ."Andhow's
the little kitten?"
kitty is WE'LL" said Mrs. Milford.
'Shall order tea, dear?n
"Yes.n H-
The little maid-seryant-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. 80
''Merton,H said she, something has
happened; / can read it in your eyes.
What is it?"
"What little fortune-teller you are,
to be sure" said he. f"Yes, something
has happened. I've got a telegram
from Fortley, and old Uncle Jesse is
dying"
"Uncle 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 everything to u.s."
"To us, Merton?"
Lucy drew her breath with a little
gasping sound.
why, it must be half million of
money!"
THAT at least. We shall be rich peo-
pie, puss."
"Oh, Merton, 1t scarcely seems possi-
BILE! 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, was
sitting here and thinking what l would
do and how / could ornament my home,
If only we were richl" cried Lucy, clap
ping her hands.
Merton pinched her cheek and laugh
ed complacently. Evidently he was in
the best Of humor.
"Half a million. Lucyl" said he.
"You shall have a set of diamonds that
will rival those of Mrs. Merriwell, the
bankers wife, and a real cashmere
shawl. And I'll order pony phaeton
for your own driving, and YOU
''But we shall buy country place,
shan't we, Merton?' wistfully asked
Lucy, the soft carmine shadows deep
ening over her cheek. -
"a country place! What for?" said
Milford, a little contemptuously. "What
on earth should we bury ourselves in
the country for, when we can buy a
place at the West End, and surround
ourselves with all the refinement of city
life?n
Ashade of acute disappointment came
over Lucy's face.
''Oh, Merton, L have always dreamed
of a country house" sighed she.
with burglars and mildew and spi-
ders thrown in, Ell? Nonsense, my
dear, nonsense! The city is the place
to live in"
"And we can have papa and mamma
to live with us, can't we?"
"W-well, 1 don't know exactly about
that, "'said Milford, thoughtfully, strok-
ing his mustache; "I'll buy 'em snug