Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-24

| talk about her. However We'll tako the re-
sponslbility." And away Philomeua tripod
to get her bonnet and shawl. When she
reappoared, decked out In her finery, my
friend has since said abe reminded him of
two huge millinery establishments rolled
into one. Away they tripped, Phllomena
feeling certain she had made q conquest,
and my friend wishing himself at the opera.
My friend, out of sheer politeness, suggested
that Miss Philomena select the supper,
which she did; and from such a variety of
dishes that he began to get alarmed lest his
purse be found delinquent. She, however,
restored his courage by saying, condescend-
ingly, II was not every one she would 60 to
such places with. She reminded my friend
that she had q remarkably delicate appetite.
lie told me II was remarkable to sec how
much II took to supply It. As supper pro.
ceeded Phllomena opened the big budget Of
her hearts longlngs and dlsappolntmcnts.
She must keep up her literary reputation,
and dash In magniaconco down tho ranks Of
society. How to do these was giving her
deal Of trouble. Her last novel, IT was a
sensation novel; her publisher told her,
did not do well; but Il was entirely owing to
his want OF tact. According to Philomena
her publisher had used her very stability,
and ought to have been hanged. TenI OF
thousands Of copies had been sold; the critics
had called her the beautiful and accomplished
"authoress," and described her book as
very marvel In literature, and yet, "don't
you think" she said, 81 can't get a cont OF
HIM"
The truth was PhllomSna got tho good.
nstured fellows Of the press to rain praise
on her book, to say she was beautiful, ae-
compllshed aud distinguished. But the pub.
lie did not care about beauty in an author,
and understanding the trick, could not be
got to swallow Philomena's novel, which tho
poor publisher, who was amiable enough to
undertake Ii, was forced to sell to market
women for ny-traps.. Phllomena wished my
friend was lawyer, for then she would put
her case against the publisher into his
hands. Her honest demand could not, she
was sure, DO q cent less than twelve hundred
dollars. The poor publisher was out OF
pocket at least hVo hundred dollars, and
there was no sympathy for him. This book
had evidently been the death Of Philomenn,
aud afforded the key to all her troubles.
She had built score or two Of castles with
Il, and they had all vanished into air. She
was four hundred dollars behind with her
landlady. sho has sundry little accounts
out to the amount Of two thousand dollars
or so, run up with Rood-nstured tradesmeu,
who wero taken In with the report OF her
bOing an helress. Philomeua played the
heiress-dodgo very successfully. II paid
better than literature, which has len her
long way behind. Phllomeua drew q clip.
ping from her portmonle, and gave II to my
friend, saying Ii was an extract from the
Home TrHihtetlcr. It described PhIlomena
as the ''beautiful and accomplished author
ess," and said she would favor tho public
with a reading at an early day. Boltcr, her
friend, she said, wrote 1t, and she wished he
had left tho beautiful out. The truth was,
Phllomona wrote 1t herself, and a dozen
more Just like 1t, and gave Bolter no peace
until he put them in. ''PsrhapS," said she,
condescendIngly, "Jou will DO klAd enough
to do me q similar favor In the Dap Thinker;
It will assist Ia keeping me before the pub
lie, you know, and propose to give a read.
ing from the poetS."
OF coSrss my friend could not resist, and
before many dAyI hAd passed the Deep
Thinker endorsed what the Home Truth
teller had said Of Philomsua's beauty and
talents. PhllomenG travels on her beauty
as well as her prstsnIions. Whatever she
undertakes Is thoroughly "Walked into"
She now proposes to delight the great pub
lie with reading. Tho great public cares
nothing for readings, and Won't 60 step tc
hear amateurs. Phllonena knows this
Bat she Is resolved TO ElVothS reading. Bat
there are always Tarlous difficulties In the
way. The memorable landlord must have
hlS rent In advance. PhilomOna gets up O
subscription, aud calls on certain dlgulta
ries, OF whom she demands tribute In name
and money. She makes a specially OF Con
grSssmSn and Cabinet Ministers. There ID
no such thing as resisting her charms ant
her pretty lmportuAltlss. Those who will
not give ten dollars she lets on with five
Mss PhIlomena calls the paper she holds 10
her hand roll-llSt Of her friends. Through
dlnt OF perseverance, PhllomenA GcrapGS to
gether about $500. doubt II she ever gave
a reading. Te tell the real truth, admire
PhllSmsna. admire her for writing her
self down the "beautiful and accomplished
aulhoress." admire her for the victories
she gains over lrreprcsSible editors and
| Congressman just from the country. l ad
mIre her for tho way Sho drives bargain
for fame. She gives modeIty the COLI
shoulder better than any other womS'
within my knowledge.
Phllomena, being In want Of dry good
plays her charms of on certain imprsSsibl
tradesmen, who have weakness for gettin
Into society. She makes the Acquaintance
OF Mr.. Greenenough, through q friend VIII
has a boarding houss acquaintance wilt
him. Greenenough Is struck with Phllo
meuR's artless manners, and the result 10
desperate Irritation, she bringing all her bal
terIes to bear on Grsouenough'S weakes
points. Greenenough believes the girl /
love with him, invites her to the operl
makes her certain little presents. lie Is prou
Of the prospect Of getting into literary soc
ETY.. But PhilomenA cares nothing for hi
heart. Her head and heart are on his silk
and shawlS. He gives Philomena an inVlta
ton to look in at his place Of business som
fine day. Exactly what Philomena wanted
She looked In one days was SO delighted wit
his stock Of silks, and made such n selection
The bill was only two hundred dollars, an
Mr.. GreenenouEh was good enough to sen
It homo with the goods. More than tina
he was kind enough 10 tell the messenger
say 1t was no matter about the money nov
The end Of the quarter would do.
"a admire GreenenouEh, says Philomen
10 herself; che will not be SO ungallant {
to press payment, even If don't pay hi
then"
In another week Phllomeua makes the az
quaintanCe Of Mr.. Dawes, the jewelor, m
cuts Greenenough and his dry goods dead
She Is sure to do Dawes out OF fine set {
| diamonds, and then cut him. She will the