The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-08
THE MISER,s REQUEST

coronets-in the brightly burning GOALS
Fos Philip Acre was, for once, indulsiing
himself in dangerous destinations ofa. day
dreaaa. lE
III, I we're only richwe he pondered to
himself. All, if! Then goodiby to all
these musty old hw-books; go0d-by to
merded boots and turned coats, and all the
ways. and means that turn a. mans life into
wretched bondage. Wouldn't 1 reve] in
new books and delicious, paintings and
housekeeping horses! Wouldn't L buy a
set of. jewels TO, Edith-not pale pearls, or
siakly emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze
like links, OF fire upon her royal throat!
Wouldn't Iwhat nonsense I am talking,
thought, he cried, suddenly, to himself.
Phil Acre, holdyour tongue. did sup
pose you were q fellow of more sense.
Here you are, neither rich nor distinguish.
ed, but q sinple,law students while Edith
tWylis is as far above. your moen-struck
aspirations as the Queen of Night herself!
She loves me, thOugh-she will wait and
the i time may m day come. # only DR..
+Wyllis were not SO distrustful of a fellow!
However, I must learn to prove myself
worthy of the sweetest prize that ever ---
Halo! come in there, whoever you are!''
1t was only the serving maid of the lodg-
ing house, carrying a ]etterin the corner of
her apron, between her finger and thumb.
Please, Sir, the postman has just left
it,"
SAIL right, Katy. Now then, t" he added,
as the door closed Behind Katy's substan-
back, Lets see what my unknown
correspondent has to say. A black seal. eh?
Not having any relations to lose, I am not
alarmed at the p~rognostic."
He broke the seal, and glanced over the
short, business-like communication con-
tanned within, with a face that varied from,
i~ndredulous surprise to sudden gladness.
"Am I dreaming?" he murmured, rubbing
his eyes, and shaking himself, as to insure
complete possession of his senses. $40.
I'm wide awake, and in MY right mind. It
is no delusion-no part of my waking Wis
IONS. But who would ever suppose that old
Thomas Mortimer, whom I haven't seen
since was boy of sixteen, and picked
him out of the river half dead between
cramp and fright, would die and leave me
all his money! Why, I'm not the shadow
of a relation; but then I never heard that
the old man had neither kith nor kin, 50
can't imagine any harm in taking advantage
of his odd freak. Rich-am I really to be
rich? Is my Aladdin vision to be an actual
fact? Oh, Edith, Edith"
How full of heart sunshine were the
weeks that fitted over the head of the ac-
cepted lover-brightened by Edith's smile
made beautiful by the soft radiance of
Edith's love. There was only one ALLOWING
shadow-the almost imperceptible touch Of
dist1ust and suspicion with which stern old
DR.. Willis regarded his future son-in law.
Ah!he feared to trust his only child to the
keeping of any man who had not been
proved in the fiery furnace of trial.
1t was precisely q week before the day
appointed for the wedding, and the soft
lights vailed by shades of ground glass
were just lightedin DR.. Willis drawing
room, where Edith sat among her white roses
and heliotrope, working on a bit of cambria
~rufaing, and singing to herself. She was a
slender beautiful girl, with violet eyes, q
blue veined forehead, and glossy abundant
curls, of that pale gold that old painters
loved to portray.
II wonder il Mortimer Place is very
lovely!!" she said to a silvery- haired lady
who sat opposite. "Philip is going to take
me there, when we return from our we'd
ding tour. aunty; he says it is the sweetest
place a poets fancy can devise, with fount-
aims and strawberries, and delicate copses.
Oh, shall we not be happy there!"
She started up, with a bright, sudden
flush; for ever while the words were trem-
bling on her lips, Philip Acre came into.
the ROOM, his handsome face lookinga little
troubled, yet cheerful withal. Mrs. Wyllis,
with an arch 0 at her niece, disappeared
into the perfumed perspective of the con-
servatory, leaving the lovers to themselves.
You are looking grave, Phillip" said
Edith, as he bent over and kissed her
cheek.
And I am feeling SO, darling. have a
very unpleasant disclosure to make to-
nigght-our marriage must be postponed in,
definitely"
Phillip, for what reason?"
ITO enable me, by diligent labor at my
profession, to realize sufficient means to
support you, dearest, in q manner satisfac-
tory to your fathers expectations and my
own wishes"
But, Phillip, Thought
thought me the heir Of Thomas
wealth? So Twas, Edith, a few
hours since. but I have reinquished all
claims to it now. WhenI accepted the be-
quest, I was under the impression that no
living heir existed. I learned to-day that a
distant cousin-a Woman-is alive, although,
lawyer tells me, in ignorance Of her re-
Thomas Mortimer. OF course,
/ shall transfer the property to- her imme-
diately.'
But. Phillip, the will has made it legal
y yours.
legally, it has; but Edith, could Irec-