The Negro world., 1892-07-23

hands and general air of forlorn de-
spondency in his attitude. He had for
forty years loved himself. his money
and his single blessedness more than
anything else on earth. If ever wom-
an had stirred the region under his
shirt-front where his heart is supposed
to beat 1t was pretty, sauey, gay little
Dot Mayburne. And yet he had delib-
erateiy engaged himself to marry
plain, prin. elderly maiden, who pos
sessed nothing in the world more valna-
BILE than wornout foot stool.
What donkey he had been. And
how had IT come about? Why was not
Bertha Marvale the heiress, as he had
calculated upon? The old lady's money
seemed not entirely accounted for,
either. Bertha had lived in the house
for years. and he had deemed her per-
son of great good sense; yet she must
have bungled in her management some
how.
Then he burrowed deeper in his out
stretched arms, and thought it all over
again. Suddenly bright idea struck
him Did not people invariably, in
stories and romanees, VINO had queer
old legacies left them knock them to
pieces. sooner or later, by accident, or
in a fit of i'll temper, and find them
stuffed full of gold pieces?
This was certainly the solution of the
eccentric gift, and also accounted for
the missing wealth which every body
seemed so sure existed somewhere. He
sprang up and paced the room in a
sprightly manner quite at variance
with his former moody demeanor.
II viii play the disinterested lover,'
he said; II will swear TO be true, come
veal or come woe, and thus gain the
appreciation of the entire community.
I'll marry the poor dlsinherited Bertha
Marvale, and at the very first dawning
of matrimonial infelicity I'll kick that
beastly footstool viciously across the
floor Then won't be astonished to
see the papers and gold roll out? Won't
clasp my fearful companion In my
arms, magnanimously forgive her, and
calmly take possession of her fortune?
What lucky idea of mine that wasp
Miss Marvale was deeply gratified at
being assured of her lovers devotion
and disinterestedness, and her spirits
and dignity rose in proportion. Indeed,
she carried herself in the presence OF
her unpretending cousin as though she
were the heiress and Dot the insignifi.
cant possessor of footstool. She
claimed the right to remain in the house
which had been her home so long till
she should be married from it, and, as
far as appearances went, might as well
have been the mistress of Marvale
Mansion.
Mr.. Horace rented a pretentious
house and furnished il completely, re.
ferring with beautiful Difference to his
betrothed's taste in everything.
BE sure and bring your footstool."
he said, playfully. land we will dedi
cateaa whole corner TO ii. ! would not
keep house without 1t for the world"
And Miss Marvale thought this very
delicate in him, as it might naturally be
supposed the stool would be a disa,
greeable object.
They were married, and the wedding
was the event of the season" Dot was
not invited, but she was busily engaged
elsewhere, and did not mind the ne.
glect; and. when Bertha left the 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 newly-wedded wife Of a well-to-do
money lender and the mistress of a
handsome new residence. Indeed, the
fashionable people of the place paid her
more attaption than they did the real
heiress, who was so little like wealthy
matron that the fact was almost for
gotten.
Mr.. Horace bore his happiness quiet
~ and contained himself with patience
Perhaps he was a little irritable in the
privacy of the domestic circle, but he
was only preparing for the grand mo-
ment when it would be appropriate to
kick that beastly stool clear across the
room" To be sure, he might have sug.
gested TO his wife that they examine the
stool, and see il it contained anything
of value; but she would perhaps laugh
at his whim, and would not allow it to
be spoiled, and when the wealth was
found she might suspect him of know
ing something about it and of marrying
her for it; and, as he rather preferred
peace to unnecessary squabbling, he
wished the discovery TO come about ac-
cidentally.
At last, one evening, he found IL
standing directly in his way. Bertha,
looking apprehensively at her hus-
bands stern countenance. fastened TO
remove 1t, but he was too quick for her.
A well-applied and forcible kick sent
il dancing across the room, where il
was shattered against the marble fire.
place. Mr. Horace eagerly sprang to
the spot, where Bertha regretfully fol-
lowed him.
He did look at IL In amazement, as he
had often pictured himself doing, but
the amazement was very genuine. He
grasped each piece and shook il fierce
ly; he tore everything apart that could
be torn apart with furious haste.
Alas! In vain! At his feet lay heap
of broken mahogany, torn purple vel
vet and dusty nothing more
nothing less.
s'What do you meanP What did you
expect to fnd?" asked Bertha, with
trembling lips.
"Your aunt's legacy. I've been fooled
-trapped-I won't stand III What
have you done among you with all her
money? She couldn't have carried il
with her. -
Peter Horace was angry enough as
he strobe up and down the room to
have demolished forty ottomans, and