Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-06-06
a BAD LOT.

On June morning in the year 1875,
Mai. Cyril Palmer and his friend, Amos
Maxwell, sat in the bay window of the
formers country house, discussing q
certain weighty and private family af-
fair.
The Maior-or rather ex-Major, for
he retired from the army after serving
In the late war-was man of 40,
bronzed, wrinkled, trifle gray, stern
featured and leaden-eyed. Though quite
wealthy, he affected a disorderiy pow
erty of dress, and INDUCED in those
habits of cheap dissipation which mark
the decadence of so many scions of old
and influential country families.
MAXWELL small attorney, of political
aspirations--was very different man in
outward semblance to. the ex-officer,
though their characters were quite SINH
lar. In place of the Majors brown and
toughened face. ornamented with q
coarse nose, q thick bristiy mustache
and those side whiskers which define
the lower line of the inferior maxillsry
bone, the lawyer presented pale, sharp
countenance, smoothly shaver, and al
most devoid of character. The habits
which had left the Majors cheeks and
nose empurpled by tiny veins, which re-
manned injected with blood, had in
creased the pallor of the attorneys face
and made it more striking by sundry
black specks and pimples, which were
horribly suggestive of modification. In
place Of the Majors bull neck and ro-
tnnd chest, his friend exhibited throat
like that of turtle, and cavernous
thoracic region. Their dress, too, was
almost at opposite extremes. The Off
Ger sported his clothes, and the lawyer
was merely covered by his. The former
wore dark-blue frogged frock coat,
gray pantaloons,, q small glazed cap
with gilt buttons, and carried heavy
malacca cane; while the latter wore a
conventional suit of rusty black, and
silk hat, half covered with bombazine in
lieu Of Grape.
eff had the whole property" re-
marked the Major, 81 could live very
comfortably. 1t is not enough for two.
however and the sooner i can get Liz
married off the better"
"But she won't marry against the pro
visions of your excellent fathers will"
replied Maxwell. "You can't make her
marry young Davis unless she wants to.
II / understand it, she is to marry the
one You approve OF. or lose her half OF
the estate"
eyes"
"Well, the chsuces are-youTl excuse
me-the chances are that she will out
live you twenty years. II you die. the
whole goes to her, don't it ?"
Yea"
"Thsn what are you going to do about
IT. I don't see how you can gain any
thing by her marrying"
81 can't, unless I make her marry
somebody disapprove Of.
s1hs IN . lDol. Che won't many
Im love z . cottage. and lose hsrpropsr-
Naj. Balmer Wa forced 70 confess that
- didn't think Il likely. No one who
had ever seen the cold, still, dispassion.
ate. toeally selfish beauty Of Elizabeth
RAlmar could have suspected her OF any
Guch weakness.
~ know" said the Major, .'that she
would give her right hand to marry Bill
Davis. but --"
Bat aha wouldn't give $50, 000."
No; she's fond Of him-very fond
G him-but abe has sense with It; and,
What il worse, thinks that she will only
hsys to wait . couple Of years 70 SEQ me
Inn. my toes mp; then she'll marry
yhqm she HES end have the WHOLE pile