The Richmond palladium., 1870-06-25
DEAD BROKE.
He is dead broke.

O0e week, 10 IuOTEOW, over IuS
month, said the clerk. examining
the ledger.
Whew! said the landlord. Has
he no friends, to pay for him?
Plenty Of friends now, but let
them find out that he is broke, and
they'll be off like covey of birds
l must see him; and the hotel
proprietor, walking out on the pi
azza, approached a young man
leaning against one Of the front
pillars.
Mr.. Watson, your bill, see, is
in arrears one week over the settle
ment day. Why is it?
The young man flushed at first,
q if in anger, then a smile over
spread his handsome face. know
l am delinquent at present, but
l can't pay.
Do you expect money soon?
Well, really, I don't know who
should send me anything from
their surfeit Of cash
Then l 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 q favorite of the season, and
[ don't like to turn you out before
the break up, nor will l. If you
can give up your suite of rooms,
and take up one suited to your cir
cumstances, l will let you remain
the season out, trusting you to pay
me in the future.
You are very good, Major, and
l guess I'll have to consent.
SO the baggage of Robert Wat
son was lifted and borne from the
elegant suite on the second floor to
a little seven by fourteen room on
the fifth floor.
How quickly it became known
that the change had been made!
Every servant in the house betray-
| ed the knowledge in the absence
of the usual Difference paid to the
possessors of 'parlors.' AT dinner
the boy, who had only been too
eager to anticipate Mr.. Watson's
wants, suddenly became obliyious
to those wants, and only answered
them after repeated orders. The
cashier and register clerk, always
so obsequious, grew dignified aud
Indifferent, Only the urbaue Ma
jor preserved kindly greeting for
the guest too poor to pay his bill,
and remaining by suffrance.
Queer, thought the hotel propri
etor. He certainly had money
enough when he came, for he de
posted cool five thousand 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 off from him. But
he has been favorite. Not a girl
III the room but would havo drop
ped her hest friend for his attend
ance. Hang me if l can under
stand it.
Watson, hailing from Baltimore,
had been season guest at the
Cascade. Friends he had in plen-
ty. He was courteous, well-bred,
good looking, intelligent and ap-
parently rich-what more could
be asked? Among the ladies he
had moved quite prince; and
many were the gossamer webs wo-
ven as tolls to capture him, but to
all he proved very incorrigible
recusant he would not be any
ones prize. The exquisite 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 Du.
main, nor the rattle headed Miss
Lambert, nor the naughty. elegant
and exclusive Miss Percy, nor the
very rich Miss Oronares, appear
Ell to command him. He was to
all alike. the agreeable companion,
the candid friend, the shrewd re
sistant of all arts TO lead him into
loves labyrinthian mazes.
How wonld these beauties of the
salon receive the announcement
sure TO be made OF his 'altere cir.
cumstances, AS the Major express.
ed it.
Evidently Mr., Watson was no,
indifferent. He still frequented
the piazza and parlors, giving ev-
, cry friend, male or female, ample
opportunity to cut his acquaint
, ance or otherwise to express them
: selves. 1t was somewhat curious
| to note the progress of his decline
, not his fall. for Watson had tha
in his character construction which
, even in poverty and trial would
preserve him from a sacrifice O
, personal dignity and self-reliance
: But that he pas on the decline be
, came to him a sorrowful fact. Sor
, rowful, did we say? That is judg.
, ing by the usual standards of hu-
t man felicity or Misery. To lose
ones friends, to behold your posi-
, ton in society gradually slipping
away, to realize that no longer yol
: are held in coveted consideration
by a chosen few, is ordinarily s
source of sorrow. But in Wat
sons case it was difficult to deter,
mine how keenly the knife cut tc
the quick Of his sensibilities; fcl
while every acquaintance was Civ
en- full facilities for doing the dis
agreeable Office of giving him the
, cold shoulder the Bsltimoreau
appeared like an interested spec
tator, and as unmoved, when pass
ed by a supposed friend without