The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-01
miscellaneous.
DEAD BROKE"

\ Il u1u>t >ct nm, anu tno hoeci psopa'
etor. walking out upon the piazza. APP
preaching young man leaning against
one of the front pillars.
Mr.. Watson, your bill, see, Is In ar
rears one week over the settlcment-day.
Why Is it''
The young man flushed at first rs II in
anger; then smile overspread his hand
some face. i know am delinquent,
Major Snow. but can't pay Mt present
do YOU expect money sOonP
We'll, really. don't know who should
send mo any thing from their surfeit
Of cash.
Then am to understand that you are
not only unable to pay, but do not expect
to be abler
Undoubtedly, Major
Sorry, Watson. for you have been ia
vorite of the season. and don't like to
turn YOU out before the breakup. Nor
will |. If you can give up your suit oil
rooms and take one suited to your cir
cumstances, / will let you remain the
season out trusting you to pay mo in the
future
You are very good, Major. and I guess
I'll have To consent
So the baggage of Robert Watson
was lifted and horne from the elegant
suit on the second floor to q little seven
by fourteen one on the fifth floor.
How quickly il became known that the
change had been made! Every servant
in the house betrayed the knowledge in
the abrence Of the Difference paid to the
possessors Of "parlors." At dinner. the
hoy who had been only too eager TO an
ticipate Mr.. watson's wants, suddenly
became oblivious to those wants. and only
answered them after repeated orders.
The cashier and register clerk, always so
obseauious, grew digniiied and indiffer-
ent. Only the urbane Major preserved
a kindly greeting for the guest too poor
to pay his bill. and remaining by suffer-
ence.
Queer thought the hotel proprietor.
lie certainly had money enough when
he came. for he deposited cool five thous-
and In the safe. He hasn't been fast, l
am certain. and his habits have been so
good that the young bloods have rather
played OF from him. But he has been
iavorite. Not belle in the room but
would have dropped her best friend for
his attendance Hang me If l can under
stand it.
Watson. hailing from Baltimore, had
been u season guest mt the Cascade.
Friends he had in plenty. He was court
eous, well-bred. good looking. intelligent,
and apparently rich-what more could be
askedt Among the ladies he had moved
quite prince; and many werc the Cos
samer webs woven rs tolls TO capture
him, but To all he proved very incor-
riyible recusant-he would not he any
ones prize. The exquisite charm OF
voice, manner. and sentiment, the beau.
ty of person. the elegance of attirc-all
were agreeable to him, deeply 50, for he
seemed To enjoy them all Immensely;
but not the brilliant poetess, Miss Mount
joy, nor the coy and artless Miss Dumain.
nor the ratile.headed young Miss LAM
bert. nor the elegant, naughty, and cx-
elusive Miss Percy, nor the very rich
Miss Oromanes, appeared to command
him. He was 10 all alike, the agreeable
companion. the candid friend, the shrewd
resistant Of all arts to lead him into loves
labyrinthine mazes.
How would all these beauties Of the
salon receive the announcement sure to
be made of his 'altercd circumstances,
rs the Major expressed it3
Evidently Mr.. Watson was not indif.
ferent. He frequentcd the piazz,s and
parlors, giving every friend. male or fe-
male. ample opportunity To "cut" his ac-
ouaintance, or otherwise express them
selves. II was somewhat curious To note
the progress Of his decline. not his fall.
for Watson had that In his character con-
struction which. even in poverty and tri-
nj. would preserve him from sacrifice of
personal dignity and selfreliance. But
that he pds on the decline became to him
sorrowful fact.
Sorrowful. did VIC say3 That is, judg-
ing by the usual standards Of human fe-
lcity or misery. To lose ones friends,
10 behold your position in society gradual
ly slipping away, to realize that no longer
YOU are held in coveted consideration by
chosen few. Is ordinarily, u source Of
sorrow. But in Watsons case II was
difficult to determine how keenly the
knife cut TO the quick OF his scnsibilitics;
| for while every acquaintance was given
full facilities for doing the disagreeable
Office OF giving the cold shoulder the
Baltimorean appeared like an interested
spectator, and was rs unmoved. when
passed by supposed friend without the
slightest notice, rs il he was n newspaper
reporter. anxious to see the act and note
the fact.
Into the parlors during the evening he
particularly pressed his way. IL n bevy
of gay fellows surrounded Miss Mountoy.
he worked his way to the circle, and Mt
last, received from that lady Of Sappho-
like lips his discharge. She did most
gracefully and crishingly turn her hack
upon him not three days after his removal
from the second floor.
Miss Dumain he sought, confident that
one so artless certainly would he above the
hollow hearted crowd, and still give him
her kindly greeting. Vain conception!
The artless girl was coy indeed; and
when at length he cornered her. 1t was to
his discontinue. She suddenly turned
and forced her way past him, without
even one Of her downcast glances. On
the contrary. her eyes were fixed fully on
his face, and plainly said. Sir. we are
stangcrs.'
Next he tried rattle-headed Miss LAM
bert and she ratified on quite as usual; but
Watson soon discovered that the rattle
was not for him.
Strangely enough, the proud and exclu-
sive Miss Percy unbent somewhat from
her lofty carriage. and gave him well
come; but over it all was n shadows
fear, apparently, which made Miss Percy
shy rather than naughty; and Watson
began to catch glimpses Of u character
beneath all that conventional veil which
he had not expected to find.
or course the wealthy Miss Oromancs
would scorn his further friendly relations.
Her rooms were near his own second-tloor
apartments; she daily. all the season. had
encountered him In his walks through the
long corridor. and must have been one OF
the first 10 learn of his fallen fortunes.
/ IuJc..1 he half snrnis.sl that hcr sre<s-