THE MISER'S BEQUEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 127, 14 July 1870, Page 7

THE MISER'S BEQUEST.

The hour-hand of Philip Acre's oldfashioned watch, was pointing to the figure eight — the snug red curtains shut out the rains and darkness of tlie March night, and the fire snapped and cracked behind the red-hot bars of the little grate, in a most cozy and comfortable sort of way, casting a rosy shine into the thoughtful brown eyes that were tracing castles and coronets in the brightly burning coals.

For Philip Acre was, for once, indulging himself in the dangerous fascinations of a day-dream.

"If I were only rich !" he pondered to himself, All, if I Then good-bye to all these musty old law-books ; goodbye to mended boots, and turned coats, and all the ways and means that turn a man's life into wretched bondage. Wouldn't I revel in new books and delicious paintings, and high-stepping horses 1 Wouldn't I buy a set of jewels for Edith — not pale pearls, or sickly emeralds, but diamonds, to blaze like links of fire upon her royal throat! Wouldn't I — what nonsense I'm talking, though !" he cried suddenly to himself. " Phil Acre, hold your tongue. I did suppose you were a fellow of more sense. Here you are, neither rich nor distinguished, but a simple law student ; while Edith Wyllis is far above your moon struck aspirations as the Queen of Night herself ! She loves me, though — she will wait — and the time may one day come. If only Dr. Wyllis were not so distrustful of a fellow ! However, I must learn to prove myself worthy of the sweetest prize that ever — Hallo ! come in there, whoever you are !"

It was only the serving-maid of the lodging-house, carrying a letter in the corner of her apron, between her finger and thumb.

" Please, sir, the postman has just left it." "All right, Katy. Now, then," he added, as the door closed behind Katy's substantial back, " let's see what my unknown correspondent has to say. A black seal, eh ? Not having any relations to lose, I am not alarmed at the prognostic."

He broke the seal, and glanced leisurely Qver the short, business-like communication contained within, with a face that varied from incredulous surprise to sudden gladness.

"Am I dreaming?" he murmured, rubbing his eyes, and shaking himself, as if to insure complete possession of his senses. " No, I'm wide awake, and in my right mind, it is no delusion — no part of my waking visions. But who would ever suppose that old Thos. Mortimer, whom I havn't seen since I was a boy of sixteen, and picked him out of the river half dead between cramp and fright, would die and leave me all his. money ? Why I'm not the shadow of a relation ; but then I never heard that the old man had any kith or kin, so I can't imagine anj r harm in taking advantage of his odd freak. Rich — am I really to be rich 1 Is my Aladdin vision to be an actual fact? Oh, Edith, Edith !"

He clasped both hands over his eyes, sick and giddy with the thought that the lovely far off star of his adoration would be brought near to him at last by the magnet gold. AH those years of patient waiting were to be bridged over by the strange old miser's bequest ; he might claim Edith now.

How full of heart-sunshine were the weeks that flitted over the head of the accepted lover — made beautiful by the soft radiance of Edith's love. There was only one alloying shadow — the almost imperceptible touch of distrust and suspicion with which stern old Dr. WyDis regarded his future-son-in-law. Ah ! he feared to trust his only child to the keeping of any man who had not been proved in the fiery furnace of trial.

It was precisely a week before the day appointed for the wedding, and the soft lights veiled by shades of ground glass were just lighted in Dr. Wyllis's drawing-room, where Edith sat among her white roses and heliotropes, working on a -bit of cambric ruffling, and singing to herself. She was a slender, beautiful girl, with violet eyes, a blue-veined forehead, and glossy abundant curls, of that pale gold that old painters love to portray. " 1 wonder if Mortimer Place is so very lovely," she said to a silver-haired lady who sat opposite. " Philip is going to take me there, when we return from our wedding-tour, aunty ; he says it is the sweetest place a poet's fancy can devise, with fouutains and shrubberies, and delicious copses. Oh, shall we not be happy there ? " She started up, with a bright sudden blush ; for even while the words, were trembling on her lips, Philip Acre came into the room, his handsome face looking a little troubled, yet cheerful withal. Mrs. Wyllis, with an arch nod at her niece, disappeared into the perfumed perspective of the conservatory, leaving the lovers to themselves.

"You are looking grave, Philip," said Edith, as he bent over and kissed her cheek.

"And I am feeling so, darling. I have a very unpleasant disclosure to make to-night— our marriage must be postponed indefinitely." " Philip, for what reason ? "

"In order to enable me, by diligent labour at my profession, to realise sufficient means to support you, dearest, in a manner satisfactory to your father's expectations and nay own wishes." " But, Philip, I thought — -" •" You thought me the heir of Mr.

Mortimer's wealth ? So I was, Edith, a few hours since, but I have relinquished all claim to it now. At tiio time I accepted the bequest, I w;is under the impression that no living heir existed. I ltiarnt to-day that a distant cousin — a woman— is alive, although, my lawyer tolls me, in ignorance of her relationship to Mr. Mortimer. Of course, I shall transfer the property to her immediately." " But, Philip, the will has made it legally yours."

" Legally, it has ; but, Edith, could I reconcile it to my ideas of truth and honour, to avail myself of old Mortimer's fanciful freak, at this woman's expense ? I might tako the hoarded wealth, but I should never respect myself again, could I dream of legally defrauding the rightful heir. Nay, dearest, I may lose name and wealth, but I would rather die than suffer a single stain on my honour as a Christian gentleman.

" You have done right, Philip," said Edith, with sparkling eyes. "We will wait, and hope on, happy in loving one another more dearly than ever. But who is she % What is her name V

" That's just what I didn't stop to inquire. I will write again to my lawyer to ask these questions, and to direct that a deed of conveyance be instantly made out; and then, darling——" His lips quivered a moment — yet he manfully completed the bitter sentence, " Then I will begin the battle of life over again." And Edith's loving eyes told him what she thought of his noble self-ab-negation — a sweet testimonial. _ " Hem !" said Dr. Wyllis, polishing his eye-glasses magisterially, with a silk crimson pocket-handkerchief ; " I didn't suppose the young fellow had so much stamina about him — a very honourable thing to do. Edith, I have never felt exactly about Phil Acre being worthy of you before " " Papa !" "But my mind is made up now. When is he coming again??"

"This evening," faltered Edith, the violet eyes softly drooping. " Tell him, Edith, that he may have you next Wednesday, just the same as ever ! And as for the law-practising — why, there's time enough for that afterwards. Child, don't strangle me with your kisses — keep 'em for Phil." He looked after his daughter with eyes that were strangely dim. "Tried — and not found wanting!" he muttered, indistinctly. The perfnme of orange-blossoms had died away, the glimmer of pearls and satin were hidden in velvet caskets and travelling trunks — and Mr. and Mrs Acre, old married people of full a month's duration, were driving along a country road, in the amber glow of a glorious June sunset.

" Hallo ! which way is Thomas going ?" said Philip, leaning from the window, as the carriage turned out of the main road.

" I told him the direction to take, Phil !" said Edith, with bright, sparkling eyes. " Let me have my own way, just for once ! We are going to our new home."

"Are we?" said Phil, with a comical grimace. "Itisto be love in a cottage, I suppose ?"

" Wait until you see, sir !" said Mis. Acre, pursing her little rosebud of a mouth. And Philip waited duteously. " Where are we ?" he asked, in astonishment, when the carriage drew up in front of a stately pillared portico, which seemed to be not unfamiliar to him. "Surely this is Mortimer Place !"

" I shouldn't be surprised if it was !" said Dr. Wyllis, emerging from the doorway. " Walk in, my boy— come, Edith \ "Well, how do you like your new home ?'

"Our new home?" repeated Phiiip "I do not understand you, sir."

" Why, I mean that your little wife yonder is the sole surviving relative of Thomas Mortimer, although she never knew it till this morning.- Her mother was old Mortimer's cousin, but some absurd quarrel had caused a total cessation of intercourse between the two branches of the family. I was awave of the facts all along ; but I wasn't sorry to avail myself of the opportunity of seeing what kind of stuff you were made of, Phil Acre ! And now, as the deed of conveyance isn't made out yet, I don't suppose your lawyer need trouble himself about it. The heiress won't quarrel with you, I'll be bound !" Philip Acre's cheek flushed, and then grew pale with strong, hidden emotion, as he looked at his fair Avife standing beside him, when the sunset turned her bright hair to coils of shining gold, and thought how unerringly the hands of Providence had straightened out the tangled web of his destiny. Out of the darkness had come light !

A ]STorfch Carolina paper says there is a man living in the mountains, not far from Greenville, who is 143 years old. "At the time of Braddock's defeat ho was twenty years old, and had a wife and three children. A gentleman at Groenville informs us that this man has come down to us from a former generation, has always been in moderate circumstances, lived upon a plain, coarse, vegetable diet that he has never drank any liquid but spring water, and bids fair to live many years longer. He enjoys perfect health, possesses all of manhood's attributes, and wants to marry. He has survived seven wives, and having lost his last one about sixty years ago, he now begins to fee quite lonely."