Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-07-27

| MS neou resting ueJec sedly In his
hands and n 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. II ever a wom-
an had stirred the region under his
shirt-front where his heart is supposed
to beat it was pretty, saucy, gay little
Dot Mayburne. And yet he had DELHI
erately engaged himself to marry a
plain, prirn, elderly maiden, who pos
sessed nothing in the world more valua-
BILE than wornout foot stool.
What donkey he had boon. And
how had it come about? Why was not
Bertha Marvale the hciress, as he had
calculated upon? The old lady's money
seemed not entirely accounted for,
either. Bertha had lived in the house
Tor years, and he had deemed her a 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 romances, who had queer
old legacies left them knock them TO
pieces, sooner or later, by accident. or
IN mt 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
tho missing wealth which everybody
seemed so sure existed some where. He
sprang up and paced the room in n
sprlghtly manner quite at variance
with ms former moody demeanor
II will play the disinterested lover"
he said; II will swear to be true. come
veal or come woe, and thus gain tho
appreciation OF the entire community
III marry the poor, disinherited Bertha
Marvale, and at the very first dawning
OF matrimonial infelicity I'll kick that
oeastly footstool viciously across the
noor. Then won't / be astonished to
see the papers and gold roll out? Won't
clasp my fearful companion in nv
arms, magnanimously forgive her. and
calmly take possession of her fortune?
What lucky idea of mine that was"
Miss Marvale was deeply gratified at
being assured of her lovers devotion
and Observation-Disclosures, 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 Maryale
Mansion.
Mr. Horace rented pretentious
house and furnished it completely, re-
fcrring with beautiful Difference to his
betrothed's taste in everything
BE sure and bring your footstool. ~
he said, playfully, land we will dedi-
cate whole corner to it. would not
keep house without it for the world. ="
And Miss Marvale thought this very
delicate in him, as it might naturally be
supposed the stool would be disa-
; greeable object
They were married, and the wedding
was the event of the season." Dot was
not invited, but she was busil1 engaged
elsewhere, and did not mind the ne
glect; and, when Bertha left tho old
house to enter her brand now 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 well-to.do
money lender and the mistress of a
handsome new residence. Indeed, the
S fashionable people of the place paid her
S more attention 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
ly and contained himself with patience
Perhaps he was little irritable in the
5 privacy of the domestic circle, but ho
was only preparing for the grand mo-
ment when it would be appropriate TO
kick that beastly stool clear across the
S room" To be sure, he might have sug-
| gested to his wife that they examine the
7 stool, and see IL it contained anything
OF value; but she would perhaps laugh
: at his within, and would not allow it to
D be spoiled, and when the wealth was
: found she might suspect him of know
9 ing something about it and OF marrying
: her for it; and, as he rather preferred
e peace to unnecessary squabbling. he
3 wished the discovery to come about &C,
cidentally.
4 At last, one evening, he found Il
r standing directly in his way Bertha.
e looking apprehepsively at her hus-
bands stern couhtenance, fastened TO
= remove it, but he was too quick for her.
S a well-applicd and forcible kick sent
= it dancing across the room, where il
. was shattered against the marble fire.
j place. Mr. Horace eagerly spranR TO
the spot, where Bertha regretfully fol-
r lowed him.
, lie did look at 1t in amazement. as he
had often pictured himself doing. but
the amazement was very genuine. He
| grasped each piece and shook it fierce
| ly; he tore everything apart that could
5 be torn apart with furious haste.
Alas! in vain! At his feet lay a heap
Of broken mahogany, torn purple vel
vet and dusty notwithstanding more
nothing less.
What do you mean? What did Won
expect TO fnd?" 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
| Ha