Memoirs of a millionaire — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Memoirs of a millionaire
John Stuart Mill · en
MILDRED’S MILLIONS.—BOSTON’S BEAUTIFUL BELLE FALLS HEIRESS TO A
FORTUNE ESTIMATED AT THIRTY MILLIONS! MISS MILDRED BREWSTER THE SOLE
HEIRESS.
When the rumor in yesterday’s South American despatches hinted that the
colossal fortune amassed by the late Mr. William Dunreath was, according
to his will, to be transferred _in toto_ to a Boston lady, when
moreover, on investigation, the name of the aforesaid lady was disclosed
by her lawyer, an enterprising representative of the “Herald” was not
long in finding his way to the residence of this favored daughter of
fortune.
Two other journalists, with pencil and pad in readiness, arrived almost
simultaneously and were shown into the reception room.
Miss Brewster was out.
Would her ladyship soon return?
That was doubtful.
A skillful use of some of Uncle Sam’s coin, however, secured an “aside”
in the library with the sable domestic whose acquaintance with desirable
facts proved a godsend.
“Was Miss Brewster young?”
Certainly. She had just celebrated her twenty-fourth birthday, or, to
quote our informant more literally, “Yes, sah, she is done gone
twenty-fo’ shuah, fo’ I made her buffday cake.”
“Was Miss Brewster handsome?”
In response to this momentous question this jewel of a Chloe produced
from a corner of the library a photograph album containing two cabinet
photographs, taken in Boston and Paris respectively, and representing
one of the most attractive types of petite female beauty. One picture
was taken in a jaunty riding habit, displaying to good advantage a
slender, trim figure, with a graceful poise to a very pretty head, and a
pair of fascinating dark eyes looking frankly at you from under the
hat-brim. The other was in a white evening dress modestly covering the
sloping shoulders, the hair worn Pompadour, and no ornaments save
flowers. There was a delicacy and refinement indicated in the small ear
and sensitive mouth, which betokened generations of the best blood and
culture. It was gratifying to perceive that the enviable possessor of
one of the largest private fortunes in New England was evidently richly
endowed by nature with every charm which could lend grace to the
brilliant position in society that she without doubt is destined to
fill.
The “Herald” representative inquired further as to the past history of
Miss Brewster, and learned that she was the only child of a physician,
was born in Cambridge, has spent some years in foreign travel and study
under the chaperonage of a distinguished leader of society, was
presented at the Court of St. James, and received marked attention from
some of the scions of the oldest and noblest houses of England.
She is supposed to have had a small independent fortune of her own, but
having literary and philanthropic tastes, has quietly devoted herself to
study and works of charity, thus depriving society of one peculiarly
fitted to be one of its brightest ornaments.