The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-05

and, putting his hand to his breast, he
took out another bundle just like the
| first one, which he placed in the wild
owls lap. Is there anything else you
desire?"
"What a simpleton was" said the
| widow to herself, " to make such mod
crate demandn' And, as she looked
at the two bundles of greenbacks, they
really seemed hardly worth having
I" Since you are so very kind, replied
the widow, "may l be so very bold as
to ask you to make up the sum to $780,
600? 1t will be such delightful sur
prise to Bait when he comes home to
find such a fortune at his disposal.
hope you will not think me unreasona-
ble'
81 beg you will make no apologies,
my dear madam" said the stranger,
while grim smile seemed to flicker
across his pale features. Anything
may be forgiven to mothers love.
Your desire shall be gratifed." The
stranger thereupon placed another but
larger bundle of greenbacks upon her
lap, making up the desired sum.
She clutched at them eagerly; but
hardly had she got them in her possess
sion than she felt chagrined at her mis-
take in not demanding more.
"Who wants to be half millionairer'
she exclaimed pettishly. "Why not
make it the round sum at once? A mill
ion of dollars would put my poor boy
upon his feet and enable him to hold up
his head among the millionaires."
ga million of dollars is large sum-"
said the stranger, land the million
aires are few in number"
'Oh, it is mere trifie," said the
widow. 81 know a good many mill
ionaires, and | have always thought it
would be such comfort to be one of
them. l should so like to know what
the feelings of a millionaire must be-
"Your wishes are not to be denied,n
said the muniicent visitor "Here is
the sum you asked for!' and, without
more ado, he pumped a bundle of
greenback into her lap, which she
seized upon with as much avidity as
hungry cur would snap at a bone.
But, strangely enough, the possession
of this immense sum only produced
feeling of disappointment and regret,
which must have reflected on her face,
as the stranger exclaimed: with as
constituent: "What! does not that sat
isfy you?"
81 don't like to appear ungrateful,"
said the widow; but, after all, a mill
ion of dollars is but small matter
compared with the fortunes of some of
the mere upstairs that live on the
avenue. | couldn't afford to move
further uptown on such sum; and
don't think that Bait could keep a
yacht on it. If it were only ten mill
ions, now, | should be entirely salts
fed
The stranger fairly jumped in his
seat when he heard the eXorbitant de-
mand. TEN million dollarsr he
exclaimed. cit is monstrous! How
ever, | cannot deny your and he
smiled sweetly, the widow thought, as
he piled up the great bundles of green
backs before her.
The widow breathed short for mo-
ment; and then, as the thought of all
the good she might do if she only had
a little more, and of the respect that
would be paid to Bait when he would
come back, and of the magnificent
white-marble house she would like to
build on Murray Hill, of the charitable
institution she would endow, of the
dinner parties she would give, and of
the diamonds she might purchasers
the thought of these things flashed
upon her mind, she had feeling of
perienced before.
You are still unsatisfied," said the
stranger, impatiently "Why did YOU
not say at first what you wished? Why
detain me all this while, when have
so many other calls to make this morn
ing? Let me know at once the limit OF
your wishes, that may crafty them
and be done with it.
"Well, them said the widow, grow
ing holder as he spoke, Il do not think
it would be at all beyond the bounds
of moderate ambition if l should say
that | will be entirely content with
hundred millions. Properly invested,
by the advice of my brokers in En-
change place, think it would yield me
an income of ten millions year; and
with that sum Bait and could manage
to rub along without help from any
body"
1.-The demand is preposterous, mad
am. But l cannot deny your said the
stranger, with a graver expression than
he had yet shown. And instantly
the whole room was filled with bundles
of greenbacks. They were stacked up
against the walls and under the tables,
and heaped upon the floor in every
direction. And the widow looked
around upon the treasure with proud
and lofty feeling, in which there was
hardly a tinge of seltishness, for she
thought only of the benefit that her
darling son would derive from it.
Don't call it seltishness. She was pure
ly womanly.
81 must now mention the condition
upon which this vast sum shall be
yours said the stranger.
1.-The condition. exclaimed the
widow, looking at him reproachfully.
Il imagined it was all mine already"
Wealth has its responsibilities,
said the stranger; "and you surely
could not expect to have hundred
millions of dollars and do nothing for it.
But the condition on which this great
treasure shall be left with you is very
light. 1t is only that you shall commit