Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-21
nailu Asnnebet Sournal.
THE BixBER FORTUNE.
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4 New YEARS STORY,

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source. to his owndingy warehouse. Mi
serly aud reticent in the extreme, Stone
port had not OWNED his riches until the
son, now forty-fve, suddenly emerged
from the bondage in which he had been
held by his stern parent, while hVmg, 10
assume the role of millionaire. Hence !
the establishment OF the town; hehce
Hram's love of display.
In Mrs. Bamber's shop the two women
grew rigid as the sleigh passed. the widow
with Indignation, and the young school,
mistress with a curious admlxture oil envy
and repulsion. Had she not been urged;
nay, almost threatened in all that she heid
dearest-her plighted troth with Charley
Platte share the sleigh with its heecy
robes? Might she not save the Platt
homestead. indeed, by paying this very
price Of marrying Hiram Driggs' Mrs
Bamber took her hands.
Charlotte, let us go to this man, and
beg him to release them," she said ear
nestly. You must have influence Win
him."
IL am afraid to co. said Charlotte.
"Afraid When you are to be Charley's
wife? We must fight for him, my dear.
These two companions saw the sins OF
Mr. briggs in the light of intense parti-
sanship. He was mean man, and the
power of money would naturally make
him tyrannical; moreover, he had select
ed Charlotte Eaton to fall in love with as
the sweetest and most blooming young
lady in Stoneport. Hiram briggs could
certainly afford to please himself at last
IMMERSED in the delicate phrases OF ro-
nance, he could by no means win smile
from Charlotte. and discovered in wrath
and CONSERVATION that Charley Platt was
his rival. He would foreclose, and take
possession of the house. Stoneport saw in
this measure only the grasping tendencies
OF the man who wished to establish home,
while the victims detected revenge. Prob
ably both factions were wrong.
Mrs. Bamber, with trembling Charlotte
by her side, presented herself before the
tyrant. He still dwelt in the wing Of the
warehouse where his father had been con-
tented to abide. Perhaps he was cha
grined to be found in the small parlor.
which he had furnished with yellow satin
curtains and sofas, when he would so soon
take possession of the house on the hill.
The mission was scarcely a successful
one, although Mrs Bamber made herself
spokeswoman on the occasion with all
possible energy. She even offered up her
shop, since DR.. Plat had given it origi-
nallv, and was laughed at tor her pains.
Mr.. Hiram briggs was not pleasant man
to ask for favors, especially when he came
quite close to Charlotte, and said, harsh.
ly, ..You know my terms"
After that Mrs, Bamber drew her COM
panion away without another word.
He is a BRUTE" said the little woman,
tingling with modification at the remem-
brance of the coarse laugh which greeted
her proposal of yielding up her all.
They met young man at the corner OF
The street.
"Take care of her," said Mrs. Bambet.
transferring Charlotte to his charge.
.sMy dear Mrs. Bamber, l do not need
The Injunction" said Charlie Plat in a
voice he strove to render steady and cher
full, as he drew the girls hand through !
his arm with an air of tender protection.
Charlotte and Mrs. Bamber looked at
each other meaningly then the latter turn
ing away with little pang at her heart |
These two were made for each other. hand |
some Charley and pale. frightened Char
lottee but how would it be with them ii
evil In the shape OF Hiram briggs stepped
between ? When she reached her own |
door Mrs. Bamber was not only disturbed
and distressed as she had been all day, |
but thoroughly out of temper. She would |
have liked to set the world to rights, and |
had succeeded in rufliing her own amour |
pr0pre in the interview with brusque,
rude millionaire. Perhaps it was this |
mood that made her shake her head at the |
three picturesin her window.
''Oh, there you are only wish could .
recover the sum your frames cost me.
Old masters, forsoothr'
The pictures were small and dark, as if
some shadow obscured their original mean
ing, even as brambles and moss might
have overgrown the artists grave. The
sun shot golden arrow in the window
rs Mrs. Bamber paused, and illuminated
the dim canvas. Perhaps the radience of
revelation reached her soul in that glimpse
however family. the CLEAN of an angels
wing cleaving the sky. the wonder Of the
Virgins upturned face: but. the sunset
faded, and Mrs. Bamber was lett to sor-
rowiul contemplation of the garnish
frames. "Some papist trash. she solio-
qnized. whatever possessed me to get
'em new frames! / shall never see the
money back, I'll be bound, I'm sure
would be thankful to get twenty-five dol
lars apiece, allowing twenty for the frames
aud | suppose the pictures are worth five.
if they amount to anything. Nobody will
give that, though.
A year before the shop bell had brought
Mrs. Bamber from her supper to the con-
temptation of thin. cadaverous stranger
Of the brigand type, wrapped in a cloak,
and with broad hat drawn over his
brows. The man was faint with cold and
coughed dolefully; he had no money, and
no friends Mrs. Bamber was not the per-
son to send away such waif empty hand
ID She placed him before the fire in her
own tiny kitchen, and made Nanny, her
small handmaiden, serve him with hot tea
she wrote note to the clergyman, who
dispensed charity. to find a lodging; and
she finally despatched hun with bottle OF
Bamber' Drops as a gift. The stranger
fingered in the garnet furnished him, re-
served, trife sinister, and only known
to smile when Mrs. Bamber preached to
linn in language which he but impeif feet
ly understood.
There came day in rude March, when |
so many leaves drop from the tree Of life.
that the foreigner sent for Mrs. Bamber. |