The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-16
Select &listellang,
DEAD BROKE"
'He is dead broke

HOW niucn uOeS ne owe
'One week, tomorrow, over the month,
said the clerk, examining the ledger
'Whew = whistled the landlord, Has he
no friends to pay for him p
'Plenty of friends now, but let them find
out that he is broke and they'll be off like
a convey of birds
Il must see him ! and the hotel propri-
etor, walking out upon the piazza, approach
ed young man leaning against one of the
front pillars.
Nr. Watson, your bill, see. is in ar
rears one week over the settlement-day.
I Why is it?'
The young man flushed at first as if in
anger then a smile overspread his hand
some face \ know / am a delinquent
Major Snow, but can't pay at present
DO you expect money soon 2
'Well, really, don't know who should
send me anything from their surfeit Of
cash.
'Then [ am to understand that you are
not only unable to pay, but do not expect
to be able
Undoubtedly, Major
Sorry, Watson, for you have been fa-
vorite of the season, and don't like to turn
you out before the breakup. Nor will [.
If you can give up your suit of rooms and
take up with one suited to your circum-
stances, I will let you remain the season
out, trusting you to pay me in the future.
'Yo1 are very good, Major, and l guess
II! have to consent
So the baggage Of Robert Watson was
lifed aud borne from the elegant suit on
the second floor GOA little seven by four
teen room on tie fifth floor
How quickly it became known that the
change had been made Every servant in
the house betrayed the knowledge in the
absence of the usual difference paid to the
possessors of 'parlors.' At dinner, the boy
who had been Only too eagar to anticipate
Mr. Watson's wants, suddenly became Oh
livious to those wants, and only answered
them after repeated orders. The cashier
and register clerk, always so obsequious,
grew dignifed and indifferent. Only the
urbane Major preserved kindly greeting
for the guest too poor to pay his bill, and
remaining by suferance,
Queer thought the hotel proprietor.
He certainly had money enough when he
came, for he deposited cool five thousand
in the safe. He hasn't been fast, / am GER
tain, and his bloods have rather played off
from him. But he has been favorite. Not
belle in the room but would have drop
ped her best friend for his attendance
Hang me if 1 can understand it,
Watson, hailing from Baltimore, had !
been. season guest at the Cascade. Friends
he had in plenty. He was courteous, we'll
bred. good-ookins, intelligent, and, appar-
emily, rich-what more could be asked |
Among the ladies' he had moved quite a
prince ; and many were the gossamer webs
woven as tolls to captur him, but to all he
proved very incorrigible recusant-he
wonld rot be any ones prize. The exquis-
lite charm of voice, manner, and sentiment,
the beauty of person, the elegance of attire
all were agreeable to him, deeply so, 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 rottle-headed young Miss Lambert,
nor the naughty, elegant, and exclusive
Miss Percy, nor the very rich Miss Oro-
names, appeared to command him. He was
to all alike, the agreeable companion, the
candid friend, the shrewd resistant of all
arts to lead him into loves labyriuthiue
mazes.
How would all these beauties of the salon
received the announcement sure to be made
IF his altered circumstances, as the Major
expressed it?
Evidently Mr.. Watson was net iudiffer-
mt. He still frequented the piazzas and
oarlors, giving every friend, male or female,
lmple opportunity to 'cut his acquaintance,
,r otherwise to express themselves Ii was
omewhat curious to note the progress of
lis decline, not his fall, for Watson had
hat in his character construction which,
wen in poverty and trial, would preserve
lin from a sacrifice ofpersonal dignity and
elfreliance. But that he was on the de-
line became to him sorrowful fact.
Sorrowful, did we say That is judging I
" the usual standards of human felicity OF
misery. To lose ones friends, TO behold |