The morning call., 1894-10-21

where some sorrow or regret might nave
naturally been expected.
Some six years ago there came to Santa
Barbara two women of advanced years
mother apd daughter. Both were blonde
of complexion and stout of figure, con-
spicuous in their oddities of speech and
manner, but nevertheless giving unmis-
taxable evidence Of past culture and social
position. They were in command of con-
siderable money, which they lavished
freely upon themselves. although it was
soon whispered about that such property
as they possessed was not in their own
hands but in the custody of a guardian,
who paid out TO them each month GER
tain allotted amount. 1t was noised
around that the elder lady was countess,
but whether this Information was born of
the idle fancy of some local wag or was
based on statements made by the old lady
it is difficult to ascertain. Her autocratic
bearing. her outspoken contempt for lesser
social lights and her violent attempts to
domineer local society so impressed the
gentle people of Santa Barbara that the
title was generally accepted. and as the
Countess the lady was known to the day
Of her death, although there were some
who called her the Griffin, the latter being
the surname which she signed to business
documents.
The daughter was smaller edition of
the mother, reticent where the latter was
talkative, more subdued and much more
peaceful in manner and disposition, yet
| bearing a striking likeness to her in char
acter and person. The mother looked
young for her age, the daughter was old
for hers, and persons seeing them together
were disposed to take them for sisters, a
! fact which delighted the old lady, in whom
vanity of person eclipsed every other
worldly interest-and she was an indi-
vidual strongly tinctured with worldiness.
1t soon became evident that the Countess
| and her daughter could not live harmoni-
| ously together, and although they were
often seen in company, the younger woman
took up separate quarters. and has long
| lived an aimless life at one of the hotels
| in the lower part of the city. while she and
her toy terrier Teddy" her inseparable
companion, have been conspicuous fig
ure of the streets.
The Countess tried life at the more arIs-
tocratic hotels, but her peculiar habits and
traits of character made her an undesir-
| aDio gu6sl. Az QUO pldCo buc ODlocUPu lC
| the music of baujo which was being
played 10 q room across the hall, and when
| her angry demand that the music should
be instantly stopped failed of effect, she
tried to force an entrance to the room, and
attempted to kick the door down. The
next day she received polite invitation
to vacate her rooms. Next, she tried diff
ferent private boarding-hoHses and private
homes with similar results. AS i
became generally known that she
was willing to pay S25 a week
for her board and lodging, there were
many who were willing to try the expert
ment of keeping her in their homes. for
since "boom" times, there has not been
superf1uity of money in Santa Barbara
Some of the leading citizens opened thei
homes to the Countess, but her stay witt
them was cut short by their request. On,
young married woman, fancying that sh,
saw an opportunity to help her younI
husband on in the world, took the old lady
into her pretty home. declaring that Ssh,
had never seen the woman she couldn'
get along WITH" but her courage waned a
the end of two weeks. The day cam
when the old lady's well-6lled purse coult
no longer buy her an entrance into hous
or hostelry and she must perfOrce fin,
quarters of her own. This she did som
two years ago, renting pleasant cottag
on upper Bath street, In one of the bes
quarters of the town. Here she has dwel