The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-18

The Miser's Beauest.

a
fire-irons shining like gold, windows S
hung with daperies of Turkey red, {
walls Of crimson fioek-paper, starred S
over with gold, and a little walnut stand \
of books opposite-Mrs. Miiford's parlor
was a cabinet gem in its way. Not J
that the Nilfords were rich. On the
contrary. Merton Milford was a bank
clerk, on a 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 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 were only rich, thought Lucy
to herself, as she glanced across the .
room. Chow / would like a pair Of |
brOnzes on yonder mantle, instead Of
those ugly, stiff little vases that Aunt /
Betsy gave me for a wedding present. /
How I would like a Persian-patterned .
carpet, instead of this staring red and
green ingram. And little oil-painting
or a bunch Of water-cOlored flowers over I
the table, where the map of the city
hangs now. And then ] could afford
Nalenciennes cap for baby, and a real
Pouson silk for myself, and I could sur
prise Merton with half-a-dozen new
silk handkerchiefs, and would send papa
new meerschaUm, real sea-foam, with
an amber mOuth-piece, and odd cary
inns the howl aud mamma chnuId
have an Indian-bordered shawl, and
Bang went the front door. Tramp,
tramp came q well-known foot-step
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.
"It's Merton" said Mrs. Milford,
starting up, and Merton it was.
"Hallo, puss ~ said Merton, coming
in flushed and breathless. "And how's
the little kitten ?n
''Kitty is WE'LL" said Mrs. Milford.
"Shall / order tea, dear?n
"Yes."
The little maid servant-Lucy Mil
ford only kept Oue-brought in the urn,
and when she had tip-tOed out again,
Mrs. Milford looked her husband 10 the
face.
Merton said she, something has
happened, I can read it in your eyes.
What is it ?'
He burst into a laugh.
"What a little fortune-teller you are,
20 be sure" 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 P''
"Uncle Jesse, the rich old miser. And
Writ informs me that his last will, made
in a fit of pique against the directors of
the Fort Orphan Asylum, leaves every
thing to US"
''To US, Merton ?"
"Why, it must be half a million of
money ~
"Tbat at least. We shall be rich peo-
pie, puss."
son, Merton, it scarcely seems possi-
bic It's like a dream"
''It's a dream that has a 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 / would
do and how could ornament my home,
if only We were rich :" cried Lucy, clap
ping her hands.
Merton pinehed her cheek and laughed
complaeently. Evidently be was in the
very best humOr.
"Haf a million, Lucy - said he.
"Nou shall have a set of diamonds that
will rival those of Mrs. MerriwiIl. the
bankers wife, and a real cashmere
shawl. Aud I'll order a pony phaeton
for your own driving, and you-n
"But we shall buy a country place,
els =
Lucy, the soft carmine shadows deepen
ing over her cheek.
"a country place? What for 2u said
Milford, little ecOntemptuously. "What
on earth should we bury ourselves in
the country for when we can buy
palace at the West End, and surround
ourselves with all .he refinements OF
city life ?n
A shade Of disappointment came over
Lucy's face.
ooh, Merton, I have always dreamed
OF a country house." sighed she.
"With burglars and mildew and spi-
ders thrown in, eh Nonsense, my
dear, nonsense! The city is the place to
live inn
"And we can have papa and mamma
to live with US, can't we?"
"W-weli. don't exactly know about
that" said Milford, thoughtfully strok-
ing his mousta0he; "Hll buy 'em snug
place, if you say so, my love; but l
never did believe in fathers and moth
ers-in-law living with their children.
Every household is complete in itself
That's my notion"
'Oh, Merton, how can you talk so .?
cried Lucy, with a panied face.
'Oh, well, Lucy, there's no use in SEN
imentalizing on these points" retOrled
her husband, brusQuely.
Il don't care 10 be rich If I can't en-
JOY the pleasures Of my money" said
Mrs. Milford, pouting.
$50 you may enjoy them-if you only
VIII be reasonable about it,"
And I've always thought so much Of
having mamma with me.n
better leave of thinking about il,
then, said Milford, lightiug-a cigar and
leaning back in a chair, the better to
enjoy it.
81 suppose I can have as many SER