The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-04-11
TIE MISER,s REQUEST.

6re-irOns shining like gold, windows
hung with draperies Of Turkey red,
wall Of fcrimson-fOck paper, starred over
with gold, and little walnut stand Of
books opposite-Blrs. MilfOrd's parlOr
was a cabinet gem in its way. Not
that the Milfords were rich. On the
contrary, Merton Milford was a bank
clerk, on a salary so small that it some
Lines 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 womm's cravings,
and a WOHan's s innocent longings after
the beautiful and costly; and on this
especial evening, she sat by the IRE,
leaning one cheek on her hand, and her
loot mechanically agitaling the rocker
of the Daby's cradle, sne was thinking
Of the pOssible-the umattaiuable.
''If we were only rich,' thought
Lucy TO herself, as she glanced across
the room. How l would like a pair
Of brOnzes on youder mantel, instead Of
those ugly, stiff little vases that Aunt
Betsy gave me for d wedding present.
How would like a Persian-pattern
carpet, Instead Of this staring red and
green ingram. And a little oil-paint-
ing or a-buneh Of water-cOlOred flowers
over the table, where the map of the
city hangs now. And then I could af-
ford a Valenciennes cap for the baby,
and a real POnsOn silk for myself; and
[ could surprise Merton with half a
dozen new silk haHdkerchiefs, and
would send papa a new meerschaun,
real sea foam, with an amber mouth
piece ana odd carvings on the bowl, and
mamma should havean Indian-bOrdered
shawl, and'-
Bang went the front door. Tramp,
tramp, came 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 marble-tOpped, mirrOr-backed hall
rack.
Its Merton, said Mrs. Milford,
starting up; and Merton it was.
'.Hallo, Pussr' said Merton, coming
in flushed and breathless. "Andhow's
the little kitten?"
kitty is WE'LL" said Mrs. Milford.
Shall I order tea, dear?"
''Yes."
The little maid-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, some' e'Aing has
happened; can read it in your eyes.
What is it?''
what little fOrtune-teIlcr you are.
to be sure, s" said he. ''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 bis last will,
made in ft Of pique against the direc-
boTs Of the Fortley Orphan Asylum,
leaves everything to u.s."
ITO us, Mertong"
Lucy drew her breath with a little
gasping sound.
Why, it must be half million OF
money!"
That atleast. We shall be rich peo-
pie, puss"
"Oh, Merton, it scarcely seems possi- /
BILE! It's Like drerm."
ITS a dream that has pretty solid
vein Of reality running through it. youW |
find, my dear, said the husband.
''And just before you caime in, l was
sitting here and thinking what woula
do and how could ornament nv home,
IL only we were richl" cried Lucy, clap
ping her hands.
Merton pinched her cheek and laugh
cd complacently. Evidently he was in
the best of humOr.
"Half million, Lucyl" said be.
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 a pony phaeton
for your own driving, and YOU
but we shall buy a country place,
5han't we, MertOnP" wistfully asked