Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-03-19
Honesty wins.

The hour-hand Of Philip Acres old
fashioned silver watch was pointing to the
figure S: the snug, red curtains shut out
the ram and darkness Of the March night,
and the hot fire cracked and snapped be-
hind the red bot bars of the little CRATE in
q coy and comfortable sort Of way, cast
ing rosy shine into the thoughtful brown
eyes that were tracing castles and cOronets
in the brightly burning Goals.
IF | were cnly rich, he pondered to
himself ''Ah, if y, Then good bye to
all mended boots and turned coats: and
all the ways and means that turn man 8
life to wretched bondage. Wouldn't
revel in new books and delicious paintings
yand high stepping horses. Wouldn't buy
set of jewels for Edith-not pale pearls
or sckly emeralds but diamonds, to blaze
like links of fire upon her royal throat.
Wouldn't I-what nonsense I'm talking,
thought he cried suddenly to himself.
"Philip Acre, hold your tongue. | sup
posed you were a man ofsense. Here you
are, neither rich nor distinguished, while
Edith Wyiis is as far above your moon
struck aspirations as the queen of night
| herself. She loves ne though-shcll
wait-and the time may one day come.
| If only DR.. Wy His was not 50 dis:rustful of
| fellow. Hello! come inthere, whoever
you are - 8
1t was only the serving maid Of the
lodging house, carrying letter IN the cor
| ner of her apron, between her finger and
thumb.
please sir, the postnan has Just left
! it,"
''All right, Katy, Now then,' he ad-
| ded, as the door closed behind katy's sub
stant al back, ''let's see what my unknown
correspondent has to say. black seal.
ch ? Not having any relations to io,e
am not alarmed at the proSnostlc.
| He broke the seal and glanced leisurely
over the short, business like communict
ton with a face that varied from lncredu-
| lous surprise TO sudden gladness.
Am dreaming hc murlnurcd, rub
bing his eyes and shaking himself as if tl
| insure Con plctc lCSscslon Of his senses.
| No, I'm VIDE awake and IN MY right
mind: its no delusloil-no part pf my
| weakening visions. But who would eycl
suppos e that old Ih ,mas Mortimer. whom
| haven't seen since | was a hoy of SIX
teen, and picked him out OF The river hall
dead from CrAmp an fright, would die ant
leave me al his money ny, I'm no
the shade" of Il relation bui then neyo
heard the Old man had any t!th or kin, s.
that can't imagine ANY harm IN tAhln.
advantage Of has odd freak. niCh-am
really to be rich ( Is my Aladdin visor
10 nc an ct,inl tact On Edith, Edith
lie cluspcd both lau,.s OVER his eyes
sick and eiGdy, wiki The thought that ~
lovely. far IL STAR - lis alteration woul
be drought 10 him At last BY the magnet
csld. All these years ot pa.Ant waltin
were 10 be bridsed over by the strange O.
m,ser's beuucst, aad he might claim Edit
now.
How full Of heart sunshine were III
weeks that fitted over the head of the ac
cept,d lover. brightendi By Edi,h's sml.e
maze beautiful by tlIc sait radiance {
Eduh's love. There is OILY one .o"orlr
shadow, the almost lmperc, p'io.c touch {
Gistrust and suspicion WITH which be stei
old Dr, WyNis regarded hA future soa-lt
! law. All, liz feared - ,rus, his only CHI
10 the keeping Of any nsal who had u
been proved II the ttry furnace OF 'ria
IL was preCl>cly week before the ia
! lights, vclled ty shades q .lass, iGsi Ish
i CT in DR.. Wyl.iss drawing room, wAcl
Edith sat among her white roses and hell
tropt, working on blt uf cambrlc rut,
ana singing to herself. Sac was slenli,
beautiful glrl with violet, Iyss, blue-velI
.d forehead, and glossy, aouudan, curls
tia; pale so!G that old painters love 10 70
tray.
Il wonder If Mortimer Place IS 50 vel
: love.,f' sue said - slver-h haired l.l
who sat opposite. PM IS gong 10 ,as
:, ne there when We rciura from our wt'
ding tour. he says il IS the sweetes, place
| poets fancy can devise, with fountain
: and shrublery aud delicate copscs. &C
!. shall we not he ,aspp, there.
!, She started up with !. bright, sudds
Ii blush, for even while lhr words "e
: trembling on her lips Philip Acre cam
. INTO the room. shls face looking liii
. troubled. ys, cheerful "!ihal. Mrs. Wy
lis, with al arch I'D 81 her niece, d!sa
| rssYci into the .srfumei prlSDtcfiye