The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-26


Then he burrowed deeper in his out
stretched arms, and thought it all over
again. Suddenly a 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 fit of i'll temper, and find them
stuffed full of gold pieces2
This was certainly the solution Of the
eccentric gift, and also accounted for
the missing wealth which everybody
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 will play the DISTINGUISHED lover"
he said; II will swear to be true, come
veal or como woe, and thus gain the
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
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 Observation-Disclosures, and her spirits
and dignity rose in proportion. Indeed,
she carried herself in the presence Of
her unpretendingc cousin as though she
were the heiress and Dot the insignifi-
cant possessor of footstool. She
claimed the right to remain in tho house
which had been her home so long till
she should be married from it, and, az
Tar as appearances went, might as well
have been the mistress of Maryale
Mansion.
Mr.. Horace rented q pretentious
house and furnished it 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-.
cate whole corner to it. I 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 q disa-
greeable object
They were married, and the wedding
was the event of the season." Dot was
not invited, but she was busily enpaged
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 well-to-do
handsome new residence. Indeed, the
fashionable people of the place paid her
more attention than they did the real
heiress, who was so little like a wealthy
matron that the fact was almost for
gotten.
Mr.. Horace bore his happiness quiet
~ and contained himself with patience.
Perhaps he was 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 if 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 it
standing directly in his way. Bertha,
looking apprehensively at her hus-
bands stern countenance, fastened to
remove it, but he was too quick for her.
A well-applicd and forcible kick sent
1T dancing across the room, where it
was shattered against the marble fire.
place. Mr. Horace eagerly sprang to
the spot, where Bertha regretfullv fol-
lowed him.
He did look at it 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
be torn apart with furious haste
Alas! in vain! At his feet Law a heap
of broken mahogany, torn purple vel
vet and dusty horsehair-nothine more
nothing less.
What do you mean? What did Won
expect to find?" asked Bertha. with
trembling lips.
Your aunt's legacy. I've been fooled
-trapped-I 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 strobe 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