The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-19

This was certainly the solution Of the
eccentric gift, and also accounted Tor
the missing wealth which everybody
seemed so sure existed some where He
sprang up and paced the room in
sprightly manner quite at variance
with his iorner moody demeanor.
Il viii play the disinterested lover"
he said: Il VIII swear 10 be true, come
veal or come woe, and thus gain the
appreciation of the entire community.
III marry the poor, dIsinhcritcd Bertha
Narvale, and At the very first dawning
Of matrimonial infelicity I'll kick that
beastly footstool viciously across the
floor. Then won't | be astonishcd 10
see the napers and gold roll out? Won't
l clasp my fearful companion in my
arms. magnanimously forgive her, and
calmly take possession Of her fortune?
What u lucky idea of mine that was
Miss Marvale was deeply gratifed at
being assured of her lovers devotion
and Observation-Disclosures. and her spirits
and dignity rose IN proportion. Indeed,
she carried herself in thc presence Of
her Tupretcnding cousin rs though she
We're the heiress and Dot ;lc iuai-.liti-
cant possessor of q footstool She
claimed the right 10 remain IN the house
which had been her home so long til
she should bc married from Ii, and, D.
far as appearances went, might as wei
have been the mistress OF Marvale
Mansion
Mr.. Horace rented n pretcntious
house and furnished it completely, re-
fcrrinr with beautiful Difference TO his
bctrotheG's taste IN everything
BE sure and bring your footstool,"
he said, playfully, and we VIII dedi-
cate a whole corner TO it. ! would not
keep house without il for the world"
And Miss Narvale thought this very
delicate IN him, as it might naturally be
supposed the stool would bc a disa-
@rceable object.
They were married, and the wedding
was the event Of the season" Dot was
not invited, but she was busF3y engaged
elsewhere, and did not mind the ne
glect; and, when Bertha left th, old
house TO enter her brand new home,
Dot and her happy husband, Willard
Hayes, moved in.
For few weeks everything went on
smoothly. Mrs. Horace carried herself
with great deal OF dignity. as became
the new wly-wedded wife of = well-tO-do
money lender and the mistress Of
handsome new residence Indeed. the
fashionable people OF the place paid her
more attention than they did the real
heircss. who was so little like a wealthy
Iuatrou that the fact was almost for
gotten.
Mr.. Horace bore his happiness. .9uiet-
j. and contained himself Wi;h patience.
Perhaps ne was 81 tit.ie irritable in the
privacy Of the domestic circle. but he
was only preparing for the grand mo-
mcut when It would be appropriate to
kick that boastiy stool clear across the
room To be sure, he might have sug-
gcstcd To his wife that they examine the
stool, and see II II contained anything
OF value; but she would perhaps laugh
at his whim. and would not allow IL TO
be spoiled. and when the wealth was
found She might suspect him OF know
ing something about ii and of marrying
her for II: and, as he rather preferred
peace to unnecessary squabbling, he
wished the discovery to come about ac-
cidentally.
At last, one evening, he found II
standing directly in his way. Bertha,
looking apprehcnSively at her hus-
bands stern cOuEtenance. hastened to
remove II. but he was too quick for her.
\ well-applicd and forcible kick sent
It dancing across the room. where II
was shattered against the marble fire.
place. Mr. Horace eagerly sprang to
the spot. where Bertha rcgretfully fol-
lowed him.
lie did look At ii in amaZcment, as he
had often pictured himself doing, but
the amazcucnt was very genuine. He
graspcd each piece and shook il fierce
II: he tore everything apart that could
bc torn apart with furious haste.
Alas, in vain, At bis feet lay a heap
of broken mahogany, torn purple vel
vet and dusty horsehair-nothing more
nothing less.
'What do you mean? What did You
expect II find?" asked Bertha, with
trembling lips.
Your aunt's legacy. I've been fooled
Trapped won't stand it. What
have You done among you with all her
money? She couldn't have carried it
with her.
Peter Horace was angry enough as
he strodc up and down the room To
have demolished forty ottomans, and
Bertha went into Mysteries on the sofa.
1t was dreadful blow to her vanity to
think that she had not been married
for herself alone" after all; they had
a terrible scene. but finally a sort of
reconciliation was patched up. Both
were too respectable to let the world
know Of their disap ppOintmcnt, and they
agreed to keep the fate OF her aunt's
legacy q secret.
Bertha owned that the old lady had
given her five hundred dollars before
she died, telling her she was not Is rich
as had been supposed, and that was
probably all she would ever receive
from hcr-I anllee Blade.