New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-11
door. Now see whether you can not become


Lewis fortunes was at its noontide SPLEEN
dor. The beautiful, the brilliant, the
gifted, the illustrious crowded to his halls,
thrOnged his drawingroOms, peOpled his
park and tasted of all the sweets of his
refined and liberal hospitality. He alone
remained calm and easy, might say un-
concerned. Misfortune had hit him hard
and had not stirred a muscle of his face;
fortune was now his genera us friend and
she could barely extort smie from him. l
was, think, more grateful. ! blessed and
thanked-the Fates. For, while any care
as to M means of living was removed far
away from me, neglected no opportunity
OF promoting my own advancement in my
own way. / worked at my profession, and
Lewis was able to introduce me to a first
rate business. | had, at times more than
l could well manage. When was at the
castle would retire from the scene of the
festivities TO my own apartment, and there
turn out my briefbag upon the table and
read into the small hours. Very few men,
/ flatter myself, would have done that,
with the advantages l had within my
reach. But was determined not TO be de-
pendent on Lewis. l was resolved to draw
the line somehow; for, as / think have re-
marked before, l never really liked him.
l grew rich-I do not deny 1t, and 1t was
Lewis money that enabled me to make
figure in the world, which is half the bat
tie in the professions. But he wanted me;
/ was necessary to him, and therefore it
was for himself that he was Open-handed
with me. | am not the first orphan who has
been adopted, nor the first school-chum who
has been befriended in after life, nor the
first man who has owed his stepping-stones
to fortune to accident | don't see why |
should be pestered about it, as though there
was something so very extraordinary in the
case ! make nv Acknowledgements once
for all, and l fail to see why | should be
perpetually uttering thanks. 1t has been
said that gratitude is lively sense of IA
vors to come; / am sure that / expected
nothing more from Lewis. The brougham
in which ride was his, granted; my house
was part of his estate, granted. The case
in which / pocketed nearly three thousand
ever denied it My wife's brilliants
were present made to her by
Lewis when we were married.
Does not this happen every day
in the week. Am bound to like a man,
because he finds pleasure in my society and
profit in my advice! Let me tell my story
in my own way TO the end. We were at
the castle. MY wife and children had been
staying there for months, and had been in
the habit of running down in the intervals
of my arduous professional duties. Lewis
had stood godfather to our eldest boy, and
had settled a sum of money on the engaging
young fellow that insured him good posi-
ton in life; so that we felt bound to humor
the godfather's desire to have the boy as
much with him as possible. Lewis was
very fond of children, and they, l am bound
to add, were very fond of him.
Well, on a certain autumn morning-the |
first on which fire had been deemed neces- |
sary in the breakfastroom-Lewis asked me |
to give him half an hour in the library. / |
had business of my own in hand: but | was |
always a good fellow, | believe.
and l followed my old schoolfellow. He |
began quietly, as when he put the band
round his umbrella when he had gained his
cause:
The vicissitudes of my life are not ended
vet. Nv dear old schoolfellow, learn that
once again l haven't a penny"
AT this point begged him TO excuse me
Tor a moment; and l ran to my wife's bou-
1oir and told her to have everything ready
ior the midday train. Above all, she was
lot to forget her diamonds. She was the
most obedient of consOrts, and | would do
Ter the justice to say that she did not forget
to the baby's socks. | re-
he hand, expressed my regret. He CON
inued: FEr - 'FT0
mot penny in the world, am beg
Jared, my dear friend, by the men whom |
ave helped to atfiuence. My own people
nave turned upon me. NY own stewards
rave destroyed Inc. The people and places
found poor and bare, and that are now
hriving, are the centres of the infamy
hat has stripped me. You heard one of nv
,ailiffs this morning give NE notice. This
ascal is rat number twenty, and carries off
! handsome competence with him. But
ONE are not at the trouble of masking their
ngratitude. There is no creature upon two
egs, nor upon four, half SO ungratefu as a
lad servant that you have petted and can
yet no longer. See that fellow crossing the
ark with a loaded cart. He came to me
hirtless; rat number twenty-one"
But how has this come to pass. nv dear
lewis % | asked. lis it altogether irrem-
diable r. Ht
at has come to pass as 1 have told you.
very man on whose honor l relied has be-
rayed me. My model cottagers. am told,
augh at me for fool. | have trebled the
rade in my county town, and the towns
DIX haven't good word for me, although
hey had plenty yesterday.--T local pa
er has turned about with its readers
last week was munifcent; but in to-days
opy | am fool; in the next edition shall
e rogue. l should advise you to clear
ne sinking ship while there is boat-that
a coach-at hand" u
Leave you, Lewis. at such a moment ~
reclaimed, for l was hurt at his suggestion,
hich was not q very delicate one under
he circumstances Leave you now! |
ould not think of such thing; nor should
nything less than the case-the remarkable
sse of Thunder vs. Butler drag me from
our side tomorrow" {
A smile passed over the placid face of
evils while | spoke. 1t was a smile | had
zen before, and at which less amiabe q
an than can say without vanity am, {
light have taken offense.
You leave tomorrow, then" Lewis {
sked.
Il must
well we shall tide over the week, dare
y; but there will be elbow room in the
lstle before then, can see." S
did not like Lewis style. OF course l +
ade every allowance for him under the .
and when | had seen nv =
life to the station with the children the I
aids, the jewel and dressing cases, and nv Il
spatch box, in which my deeds were safely II
lder lock and key, made a second at
mpt to be kind and sympathetic. l asked G
neither there was anything | could do for 5
M in London. q
Yes" he said, raising his cold blue eyes,
I'd cutting his words with his glittering 7
eth. Yes remain in it,"
This was too much, and left him Now
my impressions as to his character were "
and l could understand thor Ct
ghly why | never liked him. q
At the railway station-for | left that O.
ry evening" found more than half the H
site servants. The statIon-mastcr was ii
mpelled to put on three or four extra lug N
ge vans; and kept the train quite five tt
cutes, getting my boys pony Lewis last
esent) into a horse box r.
When | reached town | heard more than fl
ARE to relate about the immense ruin in h,
lich Lewis had involved himself. He had G