The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-05-04
MISCELLANY.
IN UNExPE0TED BEQUEsT.

bright Preside, with fender and fre-irons
shining like gold, windows hung with drapery
Of Turkey red, walls of crimson-hock paper,
starred over with gold, and little walnut
stand of books opposta-Mrs. Milford's par
lor was a cabinet gem in its way. llot that
the Milford's were rich. On the contrary,
Merton Milford was bank clerk, on a salary
so small that it sometimes became an almost
insolvahle problem 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 bad never been in debt. Yet
Lucy had womans taste and a wunian's
cravings after the beautiful and the costly /;
aud on this special evening, as she sat by the
fire leaning one cheek ON her hand, her foot
mechanically agitating the rocker of her
baby's cradle, she was thinking Of the posi-
ble-the unattainable
"lf we were only rich,o thought Lucy as
she gazed across the room, show would
like "a Persian patterned carpet, instead of
painting. or punch OF water-colored flowers
over the table, where the map of the city
ciennes cap for the baby, and real ponson
silk for myself and | could surprise Merton
with half dozen silk handkerchiefs, and
would send papa new merslaum, real sea-
foam, with an amber mouth piece and odd
carvings on the bowl, and mamma should
have an Indian bordered shawl, aud
Bang went the front door. Tramp, tramp,
came well-known footstep along the hall,
with just enough pause TO fling the hat care
lessly on the little crclet of pegs, which in
that unpretentious hou ehold took the place
Of hIarble.tUpped mirror. backed hall rack.
{" It's Merton," said Mrs. Milford, starting
up and Merton it was
"Hallo, Puss,'' said Merton, coming H.,
flushed aud GREATNESS. "And how is the lit
tie kitten ~
kitty is well, " said Mrs. Milford. "shall
order tea, dear ~
Yes"
The little maid servant-Lucy Milford only
kept one--brought in the urn, and when she
had tip-ioed ont again, Mrs. Milford looked
her husband in the face.
Merton, /" said she, something has hap
pened can read it in your eyes. What is
it?'
"What little fortune teller you are, to be
sure, !" said be. ''Yes, something has hap
| pened I've got telegram from Fortley,
aud old Uncle Jesse is dying. Uncle Jesse,
the rich old miser. And Writ informs me
that his last will, made in fit of piqut
against the directors of the Fortley Orphan
Asylum, Raves everything to u.s."
"To US, Merton ?'
Lucy drew her breath with little gasping
sound.
"why, It must be half million Of
money -
THAT at least. We shall be rich people
| Puss.'
| ooh, Merton, II scarcely seems possible
| IT'S like dream"
SITS dream with a pretty solid vein o
reality running through IT, you'll find, %,
DEAR" said the husband
"And just before you came ID, was sittiDi
here and thinking what would do, and hos
would ornament my home if only we wer
tlcu Ciic6 Lucy Wrapping avs "'-s>>'~'f
Mr.. Milford pinched her cheek, and laugh
ed complacently. Evidently he was 10 th
best Of humor.
"Talf million, Lucy - said he. "Yo
shall have set Of diamonds that will riya
those OF Mrs. Meriwell, the bankers wife
aud a real cashmere shawl. Aud III order
pony phaeton for your own driving, AM
you"
!. But we shall buy a country place, shan
we, Merton ~ wistfnlly asked Lucy. the sof
carmine shadows deepening over her check
"A country place What for 2" said Me-
ton little contemptuously. "What 0
earth should we bury ourselves in the countr
for, when we can buy place at The Wei
Eud, aud surround ourselves with all the n
finements of city life ~
A shade of disappointment came oy'
Lucy's face.
"Oh, Merton. have always dreamed OF
!. country house." sighed she.
"with burglars and mildew and spide