The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-10-11
The Golden Test.

me U0luen TEST.
Lionel Harcourt at twenty-one be-
came absolute master Of quarter Of a
million. No wonder life looked bright
to him. He had but to form a wish
and his purse enabled him to crafty it.
Friends hocked around him such as the
world calls friends They ate his din
ners, drank his wines, borrowed his
money, fattered his taste protested
the warmest friendship, and he in the
warmth of his heart and the singleness
ofhis nature believed their professions,
never suspecting what it was that made
him such a favorite.
So two years passed. He had spent
large sums; how large he did not
know for he kept his money in the
hands of business friend.
One day he dropped into the Office of
his agent and called for a thousand
dollars.
"You are spending money fast Har-
court, said his friend gravely.
That's what money is made for isn't
il p said HarcouTt
Yes but
"And l am literally provided 1t
will take me long time to spend a
quarter OF million"
"No, not at the rate you have been
spending money for the last two
years.
You don't mean that, said the
young man seriously.
"Yes | do"
/ "Have l exceeded my income ?"
/ Largely
How largely ?"
within tie last two years YOU have
/ got rid of one hundred thousand dol
lars. You can Judge how long your
money will last at that rate"
"Ihree more years.
Eyes If you continue; but that hope
you won't do
"And yet, said Harcourt respect
/ fully, 1T has been SO pleasant to gath
er my friends about me- Such warm
hearted pleasant fellows !"
His friend regarded him fxedly.
You have perfect confidence in their
friendship
/ yes"
and you don't think they are at
tracted by your dinners and your read
mess to lend them money, or rather to
give it, since not one in ten OF your
loans will ever be paid p
"Of course do not think SO basely
of them, said the young man indig-
+ nantly.
"You think their friendship would
be unchanged if YOU were to lose your
money p
Certainly; you are a cynic Mason
or YOU never would doubt it.
Suppose you put them to the test,
said his friend quietly.
How do you mean p
This Let me report that you have
lost money 10y speculation-you know
you lost by that Grand Combination
Petroleum Company shut up your S
adjustment, give up your luxurious
habits, come into my Office as a clerk
for month and see how yonr friends
will stand the test.
The novelty of the plan struck Har-
court. 1t would be clever mystifica-
ton.
"I1l do it, he said promptly. When
shall | commence p
Next week BY that time the re-
port will have got round, You musn't
forget yourself Lay aside your fine
clothes and dress in accordance with
your altered circumstances Seek a
cheap boarding place and we shall see
what will be the result"
Very well You'll find l am right
and that don't rely vainly upon The
friendship of such men as Bolton, Gray
and ponsonby."
Il hope you may be right. 1t vii
increase my respect for human ma
i ture.
The next day it was currently re-
ported that Lionel Harcourt was a
bankrupt. His extravaganza living ano
, unfortunate speculations had brought
+ about this disastrous result. Every
I body was surprised at first, His friends
+ regretted the dinners they had lost
and the purse which had ever beer
open to them. How much more they
regretted will appear in the sequel.
1t was rather singular feelings tina
= Lionel Harcourt started to visit hii
. friends, knowing that his bonkruptc,
- had been reported.
d, He met Fred Bolton in the street.
"Ah, Bolton, said he, "How arr
you ?" .n ~
Glow are you, Harcourt ?" said Boil
ton. but not with his usual cordality
"Sorry to hear of your loss OF for
tune"
ayes, it is unlucky, but never val
ned money so much as friends. l an
young and may get back my money.
, Eyes of course, said Bolton N al
t embarrassed manner Il hope yo'
J. will"