Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-05-26
SELECTED STORY.
EDGAR AsCHRoFT's BAD LUCK

EuSdf ASHCIOlt uufIleu through Lue
streets at an unusually early hour in the
morning: for in general be was given to
late evening hours, and getting up in the
morning whenever he felt like it. He did
not pause till lie reached plain brick house
in quiet street Ringing the bell rather
excitedly, be inquired Of the servant who
answered his summons
els your master in p
'Yes, sir.''
Gland him my card, and ask him if he
will not see me-"
The servant quietly re-appeared, with the
request that Edgar would follow her into
her masters presence.
Edgar was ushered into pleasant sitting
room, where his friend. Charles Holden, a
sedate man, at least ten years older than
himself, was seated at table on which
rested small trunk of business documents,
which he had brought home for examina-
ton, his business being that of lawyer
"What brings you here at this early
hour, Ashcroft % asked the lawyer in sur
prise.
"Bad news" said Edgar, thrusting his
hands into his waistcoat and speaking in
an excited tone.
"Bad news! I am sorry to hear that
But what is it?
"You remember consulted you th' ee
months ago about investing my money in a
copper mine somewhere up in the Lake ST..
perior legion"
Il remember it perfectly. I advised you
| to have nothing to do with it,
Il wish had taken your advice but I
was fool enough to be dazzled by the bril-
liant promises Of the directors; and the long
and short Of it is, invested my entire for
tune in the concern
lis it possible p
II wish it wasn't but it is"
"Well how has it turned out p
1.-THE shares are selling for five dollars
where paid hundred"
''How many have your?"
Give hundred. That is, l invested fifty
thousand dollars, and I could only sell ou
for twenty-five hundred to-day
"Sell out" said Holden, laconically.
"What and sacrifice twentieth
of my fortune p
Better that than the WHOLE
"But don't you think it is worth any
thing 2"
sNot cent"
"There are some good mines there"
"True, but this was got up by swindlers
to cheat confding public out of thei
money. 1t will go down to nothing"
"But twenty-five hundred dollars won
support me- said Ashcroft, in dismay.
s'Do as do, then"
"What p
Earn your living by your own exer
tions'
But" said Edgar, II have never beef
brought up to work"
Everybody ought to do something"
"But consider my delicate health. NJ,
constitution is very weak, | can assur
you"
Il should think it might be-. You turl
! night into day, and day into night. Lat
hours at PAL ties, soirees and theatres ar
enough to undermine any constitution, whel
carried TO the excess you are carrying them.
I EDO you really think that p
eyes, I do"
II never thought Of that. Perhaps yo7
may be right; but if l were able, wha
could l do? Who would engage me a
clerk
"How would you like to follow my pre-
fession p
GAS lawyer
eyes"
"Isn't it hard work p
"Of course it is. Anybody that expect
to succeed in any profession must look fol
ward to hard work"
"Would you recomm end it p
I would recommend you to try it. II
tell you what I'll do. I'll engage you a
my office clerk, and pay you fifty dollars
month. That will be all you will earl
the first year, perhaps more but Pll agre
to give it. Then you can sell out you
shares, and get one hundred and fifty dol
lars annual interest on what is left Tha
will give you seven hundred and fifty dol
lars year income"
''How can I live on that p asked Ed
gar in dismay. I can assure you my tailor
bills amount to nearly that"
"Then you must change your tailor. Ii
fact, you must change your whole mode o
life. You must drop the man of fashion an'
become stcady-going clerk"
cit will be hard" said the young man
his expression indicating mental strug
gle.
"But it is necessary. Then, again, con
slider that it is only for a time. IF 20,
will soon command good income. I an
willing to extend every assistance in M!