The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-31

and the young men stopped, Lee hating first
no wever, and Freely following his example,
as # he could not well help II.
Dick paid but little or no attention 10 the
women, ba, Fred resar ed them eafnes'iy and
atfentlvely.
Ibid ! arderstand yen TO solicit chsrity ~
said the latter, kindly addressing the tnend-
cants. Are YOU really in want ~
painfully 80, sir 80 was the snotherei re-
ply. "My mother Is very Old and treble. IA
you may see, aud my own days are swiftly
passing away. We have no friends al all to
keep as, and nothing 10 depend on but the cold
charity OF the world. [ worked IA long as
able; bat this winter | eould not find n
great deal Of employment, and what little !
could was almost too much for me. We live
in n garnet, sir, and never pass 4 day that we
10 not experience the direst want. All, me -
sighed the woman, in conclusion.
The old story, Lee. abruptly cried Freely.
"Gou' "A meet dozen such in every square OF
the city; aud they'll tell the same winning,
pitifui tale. D3n't give en- cent. l won
II they are rs bad off they say they are, let
EN- go to the poor house-thats the place for
all such Vagfants.''
You ana /, Dick, have different notions on
good many subjects :" responded Lee and
contrary 10 yoor advice, shall aid these poor
creatures ~ the best OF my ability. II they
deceive me-, the punishment VIII ne theirs
not mine farming to The women, AT inc
same time wing some coin from ms pocAet,
he added "HeTe are II couple CT dollai : for
your present needs and II you VIII call at
nv place of business, NO. -. - street,
and inquire for Frederick Lee, l VIII see II
something more cannot be done to aid you"
s'tsocl biass your kind heart - simultaneous
" responded the two women, In deep earnest
tones.
Wont you give them a trifie, Diok2" add
ed r red, turning TO Freely.
mot u farthing, Lee 1 can lay my money
out 10 Il better account than that, tell you -
Wen. If you won't, you won't, ! sup.
pose reioined Lee "but in such case, l
mink the money is we'll invested
:" And don't, my boy; so here's joss the
III ference bet ween rs =" responded Freely,
turning upon his heel and moving OFF.
After again requesting the mendicants TO
call upon him, Lee followed bis heartless,
selfish com pagiOn.
With very little conversation, and tina;
nearly all on the part OF Freely, the young
men reached Miss Darcy residence, and were
shown into the parlor, with the assurance
that the ladies would make their appearance
In few minutes.
Immediately after parting with the yonng
men, the beggsr women turned down the cross
street out OF sight; and II was strange TO see
what d great aud sudden change came over
them. The decrepid old woman Strengthened
herself up, and both appeared 10 forget their
ieebleness and regain new life. with rapid
steps they FASTENED through n small, back
street 10 the rear Of Miss Darcv's home,
which they entered through Il back yard.
Need tell the reader that the begsar wo-
men were perSonated by Miss Darcy and Miss
Cary thu the former made good her word
in regard to Frederick Lee and Richard Free
IL l think not.
Upon reaching Eva's apartment, the young
girls hastily threw OFT their DISCUSSES, and
prepared to go down into tbs parior.
"Well, Florence, are you conyinced?" de-
nanded Eva, meantime.
"Entirely SO !" was the emphatic response;
''aTd If ever any one says, III my presence,
that Fred. Lee is stingy, shall contradict
them. As for Dick Freely--hes Il brut e, ana
I'm done with him -
II am pleased to hear you express such SEN
timents, Florence ~ responded Eva, land l
hope that our adventure Will open your eyes
fully. Now, let ia go down stairs; but not
4 word sign about our escrpade. Il was
rather mprndent upon our part; and the CEN
serious world might not give Us proper credit
for our prac teal tx pertinent
81 be quite dumb the subject, nv dear
Eya-though | sh0uldn't wonder at all if
we're a little hudy to Mr.. Dick Freely. Just to
think OF the puppy spending fifty dollars for
a bracelet for me-, and refusing pittance TO j
poor, sick woman -
ION but he's so generous $50 free :" re-
sponded Miss Darcy. with 4 slight laugh.
Don't! now DON I, Eva, if you love me ~
The young girls tripped down stairs and
int the parlor; and in an hour or so afterward
Florence departed for her home, accompanied
by Freely, whose escort, under the circum-
stances, she could not we'll refuse Frederick
Lee, however, remained all the evening with
Miss Darcy, Int neither before nor after the
departure Of Florence and Freely was any
reference made to the mendicaut women.
Richard Freely, probably, did not give the
IN after O second Observation-Disclosures Lee TOO
freq uently exercised his charitable feelings TO
think the subject of any particular impor-
tance-apd the girls had their own reasons for
avoiding the topic. Both the young ladies
We're little cold to Dick, however; and, out
for fear of betraying their secret, would prob.
ably have displayed their feelings still more
pointedly.
GA the plea of headache, Florence excused
herself for not inviting Richard Freely into
the house, as usual; and the next day-being
really a woman OF right mind and good prin-
ciplPs-she returned the young gentleman his
bracelet, and respectfully, but decidedly. de-
clined the honor OF his company, in any other
respect than as an acquaintance.
Dick was very much put ont at this un-
looked for turn IN events; but though he tried
hard, he could not change the fat that had
gone forth. At Icing tn ne yielded TO his fate and
went his way, aud without the satisiactio of
knowing what had led to his dismissal.
A short time afterward, Frederick Lee and
Eva Darcy were married. and the happy
young bride never Ind the slightest reason 70
regret her choice of hush md. IL u few
years, Lee became a man of means and infu-
cnce, and was much beloved abroad, as ne was
at his own pleasant iiresid-.
Florence Gary soon found another suitor :;
but her new admirer was an entirely differ.
ont man from Freely. A year or SO after
Eya's marriage, she, TOO, gave herself away
cohitueHt, inns TINE lnat she oao MADE Il
good selection, and would not b5 disap-
pointed
HIS just like your Fred, am sure - she
whispered TO Eva, on her wedding night and,
happily, after times proved that her words
were prophetic.
He ecas like Frederick Lee ; and two better
men, or TWO happier women, The sun ne'er
shona upon.
Subsequently,, the gentlemen were let into
the secret OF he little event which 1 have
Just recorded F.; ana, at the time OF the reyela-
tion, Eva returned to her husband the two
doliars-always carefully preserved-which
he had so kindly bestowed upon the sol dis1nt
heggars. The money, with considerable al.
dition, was afterwards handed over to de-
serving charity.
As for Dick Freely, reader, he married an
heress, spent her money, broke her heart,
and went to the bad" in a few years.
pROFESSIONA CARDS.