Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-06-24

upon occasion.
Clara Passavant, the daughter, was
commonly accounted handsome
woman, of pale, blonde, stately type
of beauty; she was thoroughly mer-
cenary, brilliant as an icicle and near
ly as cold. heartless, vain, and ambi-
tious Her all-consuming aim in life
was to contract splendid marriage;
in her eyes money was the indis-
pensable requisite for human happi-
ness; and, although she probably
never shaped the thought in SO many
words, she would undoubtedly sell her
self to the highest bidder.
Father and daughter were sitting
over their dessert on the evening of
the day which brought to Wilfrid the
tidings Of his stupendous change in
fortune. The scene was far as the
antipodes from the humble interior
over in Macdougal street, where an
other and a more momentous inter
view was at that very moment also
taking place
Now tell me about this Mr.. Stennis
Of yours, papa" said Clara after the
servants had retired rs he at all
presentable?"
Not half bad, my dear" returned
the lawyer; "a trifie raw and un-
formed perhaps, but under the proper
tutelage | imagine he will become
very valuable adjunct to society. He
{, - In, ba
world, remember"
How rich, for example?" queried
Clara. absently admiring the flash and
simmer of her bracelet.
His income from his mining prop
critics alone is 100000 a year, and
there is a capital nest-egg of at least
twenty-five million back of that
"A million dollars year." unused
Clara aloud; "one could support an
establishment anywhere very com
fortably on that"
Her father gave vent to an excla-
nation that was very like a snort of
disgust. "One year of his income is
more than I have amassed in all my
professional life!"
When does he come into his prop
erty?" was the beauty's next ques-
ton.
"Oh. practically Immediately. There
are but few legal formalities to be OBJ
served"
Il should think he would feel very
grateful to you" continued Clara, for
rescuing him from poverty and OBJ
scurity"
Well, you see, my dear" said Mr..
Passavant, rubbing his double chin
obviously at this characteristic fem
mime bit of logic, the facts being as
they were, we could hardly help find
ing him; there was really no trouble at
ALL any other firm could and would
have done as well | do not exactly
perceive why he should be especially
grateful on that score. No doubt the
young man feels kindly towards mel
have every reason to believe that he
does, in point of fact"
What has he been doing for a liv-
ing all these years?"
His vocation has been that of a
downtown"
Il suppose he knows nothing what
ever of society, papa? He could have
no really nice people among his &C
quaintances?"
Highly improbable, | should say
was the rejoinder Il was thinking
Clara, that we might do the poor fell
low a signal service by taking him
up--introducing him in the right quar-
ters, and all that sort of thing" with
an airy wave of the hand.
Very likely he gobbes his soup and
eats with his knife! Do you suppose
he ever walked through a cotillion in
his life?" said Clara, with supercilious
disdain Her father gave ventral
Chuckle
Come, come, my dear, we must not
be too hard on young Stennis. He
has really quite passable manners.
and impresses me as man who
would quickly fall into civilized ways"
"Oh, you men do that better than
women anyway" commented this ma
ture girl satirically. Has he any
drawbacks in the way of detrimental
relatives-any sisters?"
He is absolutely alone in the world,
my dear. He was the only son of his
mother. and she was a widow His
father was civil engineer by pro
fession"
That's something in his favor" ad-