The Miser's Bequest

The hour-kand of Philip Acre's oldfashioned silver wateh was pointing to the figure eight; the snug red curtains shut out the rain and darkness of the i jtfurch night, and the fire snapped and cracked behind the rod-hot bars of the little grate, iu a most eosy and comforta1. Ir soit of way, cii.-ting a rosy shine into ■ tho tlioughtful brown oyes that were i tracing castles and coronotsin thobrightly burning coals. Fat Philip Acre was, for once, indulging himself m tho dangerous fascination of a day-dream. i " If I were only rich !" he pondered to himself. "Ah, '.' Then good-bye to all these musty old law-books ; good-bye to mended boots, and turned coats, and all the ways and means that turn a ■ mau's life into wretched boudage. Wouldn't I rovel in now books, and ; lieious paintings, and high-steppiug , horsos ? Wouldn't I buy a set of jewuls for Edith - not pale pearls, or sickly [ eralds, but diainonds, to blaze like links of tire upon her royal throatf - Wouldn't I - what nonsense I'iu talking, though!" he cricd, suddenly, to himself. "Phil Acre, hold your tougue. I did suppose you were a follow of more sense. Here you are, neither rich nor distinguished, but a simple law stiuU'iit, while Edith Wylüs is as far above your moon-struck aspiratáona as the Quoen of Night her sulf ! She loves me, though- she will wait - and the time may one day come, lí only Dr. Wyllis were not so distrustful of a fellow ! However, I must kmrn to prove inyself worthy of the sweetcst prize that ever Hallo ! come in there whocver you are '." It was only tlie serving-maid of the lpdging-house, carrjing a letter in the corner of her spron, between her lingur aTïd ihuinb. " Picase, sir, the postman has just left it." "All right, Kty. Now, then," he alded, as tho door closed behind Btaty's huust::mtial back, " let's sec what my unknown correspondent has to say. A black scal, eh Not having any relations to lose, I aui not alarmed at the prognostic." He broke the seal, and glanceq leisurely over the short, business-liko coniimiiiication :onljtiiii;d within, with a face variad from increduloua sui-prise to sudden.gladnefcs. "Am I dreiniiinfr'r'1 he murmured, rubbing his eyes, and shaking himself, as ii' to insure complete possession of his senses. " Nó, l'm widc awake, and in my right miud ; it is no delusion - uo part of my body making visins. Bul who would ever suppose that old Thomas Mortimore, whom I haven 't seeu since I was a boy of sixteen, and picked liim out of the rivir half dead between cramp and fright, would die and leave me all hifi inoney 'Í Why, I'in not the hadow of a relatioi) ; but then I nevor heard that tho old m üii had any kith or kin, so I can't imagine any harm in taking advantage of his odd treak. ltich- am I roally to be rich ? Is ni y Aladdin visión to be an actual fact f Oh, Edith, Edith I" He clasped both his hands over his eyes, sick and giddy with the thought tliat the lovely far-off star of his adoration would be brought near to him at last by tho magnei gold. All thoso years of patii nt waitiug were to be bridged over by the strango old miser's bequest ; he might claim Edith uow. How full of heart-sunshine were tho weeks that rlitUsd over thj head of the accepted lover- brightened by Edith's smile - made beautiful by the soft radianco of Edith's love. There was only one alloying shadow- tho alraost imperceptible touch of distrust and suspicion witli which stern old Dr. Wyllis regaraca nis : futuro son-in-law. Ah', he feared to trust liis only ohild to the kcoping of any ïu.iii who had not been provea in the fiory furnaco of triaL It wits precisely a week bcfore tho day appointed tor the wedding, and the soft lights, váilcd b'y shurtus of ground glass, were just Üghtód 'm Dr. Wyllis' drawiagrooni. where Kilith sat among her wliitr roses imd heliotrope ; workiiig a bit of cauiljric rufflin, aud Wtiging U herseli She was a slendfir, lx;atiful girl, with violi -t L-yis, a Mue-vcin4 forehead, and glossy abundant curls of that pale gold that old j)ainter8 lovu to portray. " I wonder if Mortimer Place is so verf lovely V" Bhe said to a silver-haired lady who sat opposite. "Philip is going to take me there, when w return iïom onr wedding tour, aunty ; he ays it is the sweetest placo a poet's faney can devise, with fountains, H)d shrubberies, and delicious copses. Oh, nhall we not be happy there V" . i&ü startcd up. with a bnght, BuddoiJ I blusii ; fef eyeu vhile the wordfj wae trembling on hf-r lip, l'hilip Acre oamfc iiitó the room, his hkndsome face lookuig a little troubled, yet cheerful withal. Mrs. Wyllis, with an aruh nod at her itianA. disuiiiH-ared into the perfumery perMH-ctive of tho conservator)-, loaving t'Jiij lovers to thwnstilves. " You' are Iflokmg grave, PUilij)," said Edith, as "te bent 'ttVCT ana kissod her cheek. f' And I am feeling bo, darlmg. J have a very Bfle#ïpt disclosure to make tpnight - our marriago pijisi bo Iosti)OIlc(i ijidefinituly." " Philiii, for what reason .' ' 'To onaHp me, by diigint labo? at iny profession, to realize 8uffici.:i1 meaaa to swposrt you, deiH-ott, in a maijper wit&acfcf to your father's oximctutions and my wisheg." ' But, l'tiiliti. I ti}0Hg}it- - - "You thought me hcir of Thomas Mortimer's wc.alth. So 1 was, Kdith, a few liourssince, but I havo ïtilinquished all ; claim to it ttow. Whcn I accepted the boquest I was uader tUu unjiression th;;t. ao living heir elfefcect I fe&n to-day tliat u distaat cousia (a -woman) is ühvo, although, my lftWyer tells me, in ignorauco of her relationship to Thomas Mortimer. Of course, I shall transfer tho property to her imuiediatcly." "But, Philip the will lias made it logally your.s." "Lcgally, it has; but, Kdith, could I recoiioile it to my ideas of truth and bonpr to avail mysolf of old Mortiiner's fanciful freak at this womun's expense 't I might take the hoarded wealth, but I should never respect niyself again could I dream of legally defrauding tho riglitful heir. Xiiy, dearest, I may loso name and wealth, but I would rather die than suffer a singlo staiu on my honor as a Christian gentleman." "You have done right, Philip," said Edith, wilh .spuikling eyos. " We will wait, and hope on. happy in loving ono uuother move dearly thun ever. But who is she t What is her name r" " That's just what I didn't stop to inquire. I will write again to my lawyer to ask thesu questious, and to direct that a dood of conveyauce be instantly made out; añil tl.iii, darling " His lips quivertd a moment, yet he maui'ully oomplettid tho sentence, " Then I will begin tho battle of life over again." And KUith's lo-ing eyes told him what she thought of his noblo solf-abnegation - a weet tostimoniiil. " Hein," said Dr. Wyllis, polishing his cye-glasses magisterially, with a silk criruson pocket handkerchiof, "I didn't suppose tho young fellow had 90 much sttimina about him - a very honorable thing to do. Edith, I havo never feit exactly sure about Phil Acre's .being worthy of you belore " "Papa"' " But my mind is made up now. When is he coming again 'f" "This evening," faltored Edith, the violet eyes softly droupiug. "Teil him, Kdith, that he may have you next Wednesday, just the same as e Ver! And as for tho law-praotieing, why there's time enough for that afterward. Child, don't strangle me with your kisses - keep 'em for Phil. He looked at his daughter with eyes straugely dim. " Tried, and not found wanting "' he mutterod distinetly. The perfume of the orange blossoma had diod a way, tho glimmer of the pearls and satin were hidden in velvet cüskets aud traveling trunks, and Mr. and lira. Acre, old married peoplo of full a month's duration, wore driven along a country ruad, in the amber of a glorious June sunsct. " Halloo ! which way is Thomas going ?" said Philip, leaning froni tho window, as the carriage turned out of the niuin road. " I told him tho direction to tuke," said Edith, with bright sparkling eyes. ' Let me have niy own way for once. We are going to our nuw home." ' Are we 't" said Phil, with a comical grimace. " It's to be love in a cottage, I suppose 't" "Wait until you seo, sir," said Mrs. Acre, puraing her little rose-bud of a inouth ; and Philip waited patiently. ' Where are we r" he asked in astonishmi'iit, when the carriage drew up in front of a statuly pillarud pórtico, which seemed not to bo unfamiliar to him. " Suroly, this must be Mortiiner Place !" "Shouldn't be surprised if it was," said Dr. Wyllis, emerging trom tho doorway. "Walk in, niy boy, oome Edith. Well, how do you like your new home ?" "Our new home!" repeated Philip. " I do not understand you, sir." " Why, I mean your little wife yonder is the solé surviving relativo of Thomas Mortiiner, although she never knew it until this morning. Her mother was old Mortimer's cousin, and somo absurd quarrcl had caused a total ctssation of intercourse between the two branclies of tho i'amily. I was awai'c of the facts all along; but I wasn't sorry to avail myK(;li' of the opportunity to see what kind of stuff you were made of, Phil. Acre. And nuw, as the deed of conveyance isn't made out vet, I don't suppose your l:uvyer need to troublo himseli about it. The heiress won't quarrel with you, 111 be bound." Philip Acre's eheek flushed, and tlicn grew palo with strong, hidden emotion, M be Iooked at his fair wife, standing beside him, when tho sunset turned her bright hair to coils of shining gold, and thought how uueiiingly thu hand ot Providence had straightonod out the tungled web of his destiny. Out of darkness had come light.