The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-12
THE MISER,s STORY.

They all believed that l was dead
and out Of their way; aye, they were
sure OF it, Ny plan had been well ll,i
and WAS completely succ,siful A very
little money suficed to buy the neces-
sary evidence Of my death from those
rsscally Syrian officials. aud when the
news reached England that old Hawke.
the missr. (.o they called me, you
know had died Of plsgue while travel.
ing on some Of HE usurious busines, in
the East. everybody. and tho expsctant
heirs especially. were too delighted
with the glad tidings to make further
inquiry. but for all that. l reached
London as soon as the news.
You are ut q loss to unior.tsni my
conduct Well. I will explain, but |
must go back many years to do SO. |
once had sister who was dearer 10. me
than oil else in tho world -dearer than
money. We became orphans when we
were mere children. and wo were left
without = penny. We had relations.
and our father. y widow.r. who had
committed suicide on losing everything
in . speculation. had always thought he
had plenty Of friends. But all these
turned their backs upon the penniless
little orphans and We were seht to u
charitable institution. But l had II
will aud spirit Of my own. At zen
could support myself hy backing boots
and selling newspapers. aud At fourteen
was Lble to make enough for the
scanty support of my sister as we'll. l
otn hv
after many years Of work aud saving. l
rose ut length to wealth and position.
Suffice it to say that l accomplished
this; but the struggle was q long and
bitter one, ard came out of it mis- =
authrope and-a miser. But not to-
ward my sister. She was still ~ dear
to me as ever; nay, dearer; for WAS she
not all that I had to love-except my
money bags9 Perhaps even to her l
was rather stern and austere; but she
knew my affection for her and returned
it. True. she stood in some awe of me.
and l never knew her to ask me for
money; but she never wanted for sny-
thing. II sha did 1t was because she
stintsd horself TO give to others; but
she never told me so. Still her life
was lonely aud gloomy oue-I eau see
it now .. look bsck-and there came
. day when she left mo for another.
That other was . captain in o dashing
cavalry regiment. well-born and hand
some. but spendthrift. a gambler and
. roue OF the worst type. 1t was my
business to lend money to his sort, and
one day, when l was absent OH long
journey. not finding me at thy Office.
he went to my house. There he saw
my sister, and then it was that be con-
ceived the ides Of paying off his debts
by holding ~ his hostage the one NOR
tai the usurer loved. How he won the
poor girls heart with his dash,ng ways
and smooth tongue is easily imagined.
When 1 returned they were married.
He thought to act the customary farce
Of begging my forgiveness. But before
he could screw up his courage to face
me. I wrote to hlm in these words.
"Send my sister back to her homo and
l will send you . check for ten thous-
and pounds. Reiuss-but l need not
say that. You see I know you better
than you know me-"
have positive proof that he did not
refuse; that on the contrary, he urged
upon his wife the duty Of returning.
since her brother objected 30 strongly
TO the match. But che clung to her
husband. poor. infatuated child; and
even he wSs not quito brute enough to
drive her away. Then. in my fury, l
cursed them both. and ruined him In
q month. He sold his commission and
both went to the Continent. There he
went utterly to the dogs. From being
q gambler, he became . cheat, then
forger. and two years later died IN q
Prussian prison.
Then went in search OF my sister.
but reached her wretshed lodg,ngs only
inst in time to obtain her forgiveness
and close her eyes in death. But l
brought back with me her baby daugh'
ter. Who was thence forward . living
reminder Of the great wrong had
done. and, If I may use tue expression.
4 constant altar Of atonement Upon
her l lavished money. affection and in
dulpsnce; there WAS no advantage, NO
care that wealth could procure that wss
not hers. The old selfish ides that l
had entertained toward my s'ster-that
sh. should devote her life to me and
make my life and hers ooe-I gave up
completely. Iwas willing thst Mabel
should marry, bnt l WAS anxious thas
she should marry . man o! wealth ana
standing. Yes. Of course you sm'le s'
you think you hear the m'ser t:ik; Du.;
believe me. my knowledge OF the world