The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-15

how.
Then he burrowcd deeper in liis out
stretched arms. and Thought IL an over
larain Suddenly . bright idea struck
him. Did not people invariably, IN
stories and ronnnces. who bad queer
lold lcrncics left them knock them %
pieces, sooner Or later. by accident Or
IN iit Of III temper and find them
stalled fail 81 gold pleces2
This was certainly the solution Of the
eccentric gift. and also accounted for
lthe missing wealth which every body
seemed 80 sure existed somewhere lie
sprang Up and paced the room IN
sprigitIy manner quite at variance
with his former moody drmeanoE
II viii play the disintcrcstcd lover.
he said; ~ win swear 10 be true, come
veal OF come woe. and TINS gain the
appreciation n the entire community.
III marry the poor, disinherited Bertha
Marvalc, and At the very frst dawning
Of matrimonial infclicity I'll kick that
bezstly footstool vicionsly across tho
floor. Then won't ! be astonished 70
see the papers and gold ron ont7 Won't
clasp my fearful companion 10 my
arms ma1nanimously forgive her, and
calmly take possession Of her fortune7
What lucky idea Of mine that wasir
Miss Marvalc was deeply gratifsd at
/ being assured OF her lovers devotion
and disintercstedness. and her spirits
and dignity rose in proportion. Indeed.
/ she carried herself Ia the presence Of
her understanding cousin as though she
were the heiress and Dot the fnsignif-
cant possessor of d footstooI She
claimed the right 10 remain In the house
| which had been her home SO long TIL
she should Ne married from Ii, and, as
far as appearances went, might as well
have been the mistress Of Marvale
| Mansion
Mr. Horace rented prctentious
house and furnished Il completely, re-
| fcrring with beautiful Difference 70 his
bctrothed's taste in everything.
10 surc and bring your f0otstool,
he said, playfully, t'and we will dedi-
cate whole corner TO II would not
keep house without II for the world.
And Miss Marvale thought this very
delicate in him, rs II might naturally be
supposed the stool would lie disa-
| grccable object
They were married, and the wedding
was the event Of the season. Dot was
not INVITED, bnt she was bnsily engaged
elsewhere, and did not mind the ne
/ glcct; and, when Bertha left the old
/ house 70 enter her brand new home.
| Dot and her happy husband, Willard
Hayes, moved ia.
For few weeks everything went on
smoothly. Mrs Horace carried herself
i with q great deal Of dignity, as became
the ncwly-wedded wife Of well-to-do
money lender and the mistress Of a
handsome now residence. Indeed. the
fashionable people Of She place paid her
more attention than they did the real
heiress, whowas SO little like wealthy
rnatron that the fact was almost for
gotten.
Mr., Horace bore his happiness quiet
4 ly 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 1t would be appropriate to
kick that beastiy stool clear across the
room To be sure. he might have sug-
4 Fested to his wife that they examine tho
stool, and see II IL contained anything
/. Of value; but she would perhaps laugh
i at his within, and would not allow II to
be spoiled, and when the wealth was
T found she might suspect him of know
ing something about II and Of marrying
her for 1t; and. as he rather preferred
pcace TO unnecessary squabbfing, he
wished the discovery TO come about &C
cidentally.
At last, one evening. he found il
standing directly in his way. Bertha,
looking apprehcnsively at her hns-
bands stern countenance, hastcned to
remove 1t, but he was too quick for her
A well-applied and forcible kick sent
1t dancing across the room, where ii
!. was shattered against the marble fire.
] place Mr. Horace eagerly. sprang to
] the spot, whore Bertha regretfully fol-
lowed him
He did look at 1t in amazement, as he
had often pictured himself doing, but
ll the amazement was very genuine lie
! grasped each piece and shook II fierce
~; he tore everything apart thai could
! be torn apart with furious haste.
OIL Alasl in vaini At his feet lay heap
c Of broken mahogany, torn purple vel.
vet and dusty horsehair--nothing more
i. nothing less.
! what do you mean? What did you
expect To fnd?n asked Bertha, with
e trembling lips
1 Your aunt's legacy. I've been fooled
--trapped---I won't stand I'll VIVA,
have you done among You with all her
nl money! She couldn't have carried II
!. with her.
I Peter Horace was angry enough as
]. he STROBE up and down the room tc
have demolished forty ottomans, and
d bertha went into Mysteries on the sofa.
y Itwas dreadful blow to her vanity K
. think that she had not been married
d for herself alone" after all; they had
{ terrible scene, but finally sort Of
K reconciliation was patched up. Both
{ we're too respectable to let the worlt
) know Of their disappointment, and they
l. agreed TO keep the fate of her aunti
/ legacy a secret
i Bertha owned that the old lady haS
giveu her FIVE hundred dollars before
r she died, telling her She was not as rich
b as had been supposed. and that wa.
Is probably all she would ever receiv,
e from her Yankee Blade
a Astronomical Item.
Z Prof. Shore, Of Columbia college, il
q heavy built man Of slow movements
i whose personal appearance Is suggest
Il H.. 49, II =. a.