The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-12-19
a Perfect Miser.

A rnlser, Sal. a fniser, IL Is lad
enough 60 see Al old man avaricsoas and
saving. but in mar OF Stephen Bas-
combs age il j. simply cousenp able
The OIL lawyer who spoke ~as one
vito lad known stephen B,-oomb from
g boy, and ne looked his indignation as
plainly IS he spoke ii, HIS companion,
au old frieud be- had met 3: Long
Branch, had commented upon tue very
cheap apparel Of tue young gentleman
20 severely criticised. Now he spoke
again;
'Bu. is lac as wealthy ss they
say
.'He inher.ts half million under the
will Of his uncle, Charles Bascoub.
drew up the will my self, AND more than
thas. ] oanage tlis sstats. Wleh sseh
fortanc af his commsnd, stephen
Basconb lives in q hail-roon in smali
boarding. house, wears the cheapest ap-
parei tn be found in New York, and
hoards his mehey. put il in the bank
when collect his rents and interssta.
and tlDers j. lies hate such n1g
gardly spirit"
Bat he comes to Long Branch >"
That is the odd part Of it. He
hsunts the l,sN VI society. and the best
of society cxavts him. knowing his real
wealth. assd ettribusing his manners tn
eecentsfs6ty . RatAi.h -
Il like Tim, for sfi. said Mr.. Rus
sell, the cCmysnisp Of tl,s old lawyer,
Judge ElieFtsa--f iihe him"
"Of courss You do" snapped the
Judge. "everybvay doeA He is the
very soul Of homer, . man Of undoubsed
talent, brilliant in conversation. and .
perfect gentleman. Before his uncle
died he vas one of the most fastidious
and elegant men ever knew. Now
look At hint
Mr.. Russell locked. He saw, lean
lug against tile pillar of the porch. =
tall. handsome man Of twenty five. in
an ill-fit:ing suit OF coarse material
gloveless. with cheap bat clean linen
and comman straw hat. And yet .
man who carried his head erect, aud
looked at the world from pair of large.
brown eyes that were the fearless. hon.
est eyes of nau who carried an easy
conscience.
As these same eyes looked out over
the groups upon the beach, they sud
/ denly Lighted with flash of radiant
pleasure, then shaded gruvely till they
expressed only proud sadness. Mr..
Russell. followingtheir glance, found It
rested upon his own niece. his pride
aud darling. Edna. She was coming
+ towards tue porch. but still at some
I distance.
"Ellerton," said be. suddenly. have
You no reason to ascribe Stephen Bas-
combs eccen.ricity. as you call it, to
any other cau-e than mean. avaricious
| svlr ~
The old lawyer look ked keeniy int
| the face of his friend
AN odd question: he said gravely.
But one | hope You will answer.
You know how dear Eiua is to me, and
you may have seen that she accepts
Stephen B.scomb's attentions with
pleasure lie has spoken no word yet
Ia bind her 10 him. ard yet he loves
her. Wouid you give ii daughter of
/ your OWN iulb
"A year ago should have said yes.
with all my heart Bat now, since his
uncle died he has so changed and
! yet -"
There. there. tell mc what | know is
near your lips. l. 1t all meanness. or
/ may there be some other motive"
/ "In Charles B~scomb's will there
was sealed letter for his nephew, to be
( delivered after the will WAS read.
/ delivered it What il contained | never
7 knew
| Ii IN It's a queer woriU
/ Stephen Bascomb thought i, was a
/ queer world too. as he sauntered into
the hotel just as Eina Russell reached
/ the porch steps. lie saw the look Of
! pained sarpriso in her eyes. aud yet he
went from her. though his heart went
| out 10 her with all IT. burden IF love.
| In his own room, he took from his
! bosom "a scaled letter. hrok. the con
i;n,ng wax and read il slowly.
"Ouly his TO burn he thought
aud love, wealth aud happiness are
mine have searched faithfully
/ Ru, my time of probation has only oom-
meuced Ii Edna knew-she shalt
know She shall AT las, know how !
love her
Full of ,liis new resolution. Stephen
Bascomh once more sough, the porch.
| where Edna still fingered hy her uncle
| si,is She was u lovely girl OF abou,
/ nineteen. with soft. violet eyes. and Al
/. L.. =.
lets atsave low. broai brow. Wishou,
startling lteaa,y. her face was moe,
w,nsome. and it had charmed stephen
Rascomh from tie first hoar when hi.
eyes rested upon IT,
The aftsrno,n sun was creeping IL
thc wide porch. and the guests Of the
hotel were enjoying nap before tbs
evening shoull call them froaa their
room< in al The gloF,es Of full dress
E,ina herselt WAS thinking OF goins
up stairs when stephen joined bet
uncle
There Wa An esrpe>tuc>> that wa
almost >olemniyy in the Young man
saCs - he came forward. And his wori'
were scarcely le,es-like. though they
made E.lma's heart throh With sgiss
tson
'WiIl yeu grant ure sn iaiers'es
In your private parior. Mr.. ku>sell
he SAID. ''snt aill you. MISS f,i7la. lol,
as" lwish 10 sp,ak' q yoa both I've
isre | go ~ >ars'ogs
Wondering. Etns obeyesi, leaains
upon her uneIe's arm. hu, upon Mr.
RussciI's fane- ;bcFc was a strange
tender sm,llc IS II he was scarcely