Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-23

THE BAMBER FORTUNE.
\ New YEARS STORY.
TcoxrrSuEp FROM YESTERDAY

| fkOA IESTEkDAI.
New-Year's Day dawned on Stonepor
bringing Joy to many hearts, and striking
like knell on other lives that found their
burden greater than could be borne. All
nature smiled beneath cloudless skv;
the snow was rose-fushed on the slope.
and the shrubbery glistened as if powdered
with diamond dust; the harbor where two
schooners rode at anchor, was deep blue
Stoneport did not keep the holiday espec-
tally, although it still adhered to the Puri-
tan belief that New Years Day should be
sanctified rather than Catholic Christmas.
On the hill the young ladies appeared in
pretty dresses of blue and pink, and there
were cake and wine on the side-board
should the young men call The shops
were open. At ten clock man passed
along the main street, paused before Mrs.
Bamber's shop-window, shaded his eyes
moment and walked on. Mrs. Bamber
observed him with the habitual curiosity
of the resident of a small place. He was
an Insignificant person with gray coat,
with red whiskers and a round face. That
was all. Pale and anxions after sleep
less night, she stood with her eyes fixed
apprehensively on the clock. 1t could not
be long before Hiram briggs wonld do
his worst. The shop bell rang sharply.
What 90 you ask for your pictures.
ma am ?"
"Five thousand dollars. I" muttered Mrs.
Bambcr, abstractedly, still staring at the
clock.
What was that? The insignificant stran-
ger in the gray coat had reached for the
pictures, and was unceremoniously strik-
ing off the splendid gilt frames with his
stout cane.
Mercy Stop What are you doing p
Mrs. Bamber ran nimbly to his side and
arrested his hand
II don't want these frames," said the
stanger cOntemptuously. You set your
own price, and will give you five thou.
sand dollars"
Mrs. Bamber sat down on q stool in
speechless astOnishment. How unreal
every thing had become-the snowy street
the shop, man in gray coat Surely
Nanny would soon tap on her bedroom
door and tell her it was time to get up.
Then. by sudden and not unnatural tran
sition of awakening, she became suspici-
cious and vigilant Her visitor wasted no
no superfluous words; his broad ruddy
face betrayed not trace of emotion as he
produced crisp bit of paper. dipped
pen into Mrs. Bamber's ink. and began to
write.
"If you are rot cheating me, let me see
the money" interposed Mrs. Bamber.
sharply.
He wiped the pen. restored it to silver
sheath in his pocket, and took up the
draft.
"Very good" was his sole comment,
and he went out.
Mrs. Bamber laughed Historically
Would he ever return? Perhaps he was
a maniac. 1t seemed an hour before he
returned, and counted out pile of broad
shining pieces that made a pleasant clink-
ing music as they fell in a glittering heap.
Five thousand dollars!
Still phlegmatic, and apparently un-
moved, the purchaser folded the pictures
beneath his ample coat, and returned to
the Stoneport Hotel, where he was the
solitary guest. Once in his chamber his
reserve melted; he beamed in broad
smiles, and rubbed his hands with a sub
dued chuckle of triumph
dirt cheap!" he said to himself, and
fell TO studying the dim canvas with the
aspect Of connoisseur. He then wrote
the following letter:
"1O The Right Honorable The Earl of H:
MI LoRD,-l nave the Satisfaction OF
informing you that have found the three
pictures, after two years search in the
States. They were in the possession of
an ignorant woman, keeping shop in an
obscure town OF the New England coast.
who sold them to me for fl0O0. The pic
lures are undoubtedly the missing origi-
nails of Raff,elle Sansio. and will complete
your lordship's collection. l tracked the
Italian, Luigi Carnole, to the haunts OF his
face in the city of New York. and was
obliged to proceed with greater caution
from the fact that he appears to have been
CONCLUDED ON FOURTH PAGE.