The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-10
Mr.. Fitz.Humcs's Experiment, ana
How 1t Succeeded.

urious bachelor establishment on b
street and pondered deeply. The subject
of his cositation was wife, or, rather,
how to get one. There were enough young
ladies who would be glad 10 bless their
lucky stars for the privilege of becoming
mistress of his home, as he well knew; but
he also felt tolerably we'll assured the home
was all they cared for. For the fortune they
would wed its owner.
"Dcuce take the money. :" he exclaimed.
Il wish I'd never had a cent, and then
but botheration then | should have been
too poor TO marry any way. Why couldn't
| have had Just wealth enough tor all my
wants, and nothing more: I'll foil them,
though, the mean adycntureSses !"
A furious pull at the bell.cord brought
the housekeeper to the room IN hurry.
"Pack up your traps, Mrs. Ashield,'
he exclaimed, abruptly, for am going
to close the house.
1t was evident he had come to some con-
clusion.
Shut UP the house. Mr.. Fitz-HumeS :"
calculated the houSekecpcr. almost heliev
ing she had lost her reason. "Why, such
Il thing has not occurred since your lament
ed uncle took possession iive-and-torty
wears ago.
"That makes no difference. ma am; I'm
master here now, and | shall close it for the
present. Meanwhile your pay can still 60
on, and that of such donrStics as you con-
slider indispensable. Have you no relatives
you wish to VISIT" he inquired
That settled it. The proller Of continued
pay removed Mrs. AShfeld's Scruplcs quite
etfectlIally. She then remembered she had
friends she had not seen for years.
Three days later Mr.. Augustus FitZ-
Humes was safely domclcd in q quiet
boardng-housc, and shortly afterwards he
began to sell his diamond rings and seals,
and other paraphernana OF fashionable life,
rs we'll as dress himself in palmer clothes.
A rumor that his property had all been
lost through an unlucky speculation was
soon atl0at.
He lost friends rapidly. BY twos and
threes they ceased 10 know him as he met
them on the street. lie only laughed and
snapped his fingers at them behind their
backs. Had his adversely been real he
would not have felt like laughing.
Then came the time when this circle OF
acqualntanceS got narrowed down to three.
But three of all his former friends still chung
to him true in adversely. it is no wonder
that he grew misanthropc.
Out upon the street one day he met
carriage containing some friends Of his for
mer acquaintance, who had been absent
from the city since he closed his house.
lie thought they would not notice him, but
each inmate OF the carriage bowed politely
as Of old.
"Thcy have not heard the news" he
muttered, cyncally.
But he was mistaken. That night the
owner of the carriage came to see him.
.'Rather close quarters, my friend he
SAID, as he took calm survey OF Augustus
not very pretentious surroundings.
Pretty close, that's fact,' said Mr..
Fitz-Humes, Jelly. "But since l lost my
property, of which l suppose you haven't
heard, | have become quite economical"
"But I haze heard" cried his auditor,
abruptly, "and that is why came. Knew
you needed friends no,o If euer, ana the
fact is-well-my daughter, sir-l mean,
came TO offer the position OIL head clelk
Of it,"
"Ahem! Well, I will think Of it. But
it is a long way from my boarding-house."
deuce take your boarding-house. lou
can board in my family rs a-weli, as sort
Of guest, you know"
Augustus locked him over closely. Reu-
ben Stanley was wealthy man-Very
wealthy, he was called-and In his lace
there was nothing to warrant suspicion
that he had learned Augustuss secret, ana
wished to curry favor ny alding NM ~ "m i,ae
speedily dismissed. Of course, he quickly
thanked him, and accepted;
Once costly snugged in the Stanley man.
sion il was not long before he wondered
why he had not noticed Nellie Stanley be.
fore. She did not seem to feel above him,
Notwithstanding the wide difference in their
nositions. and treated him rs cordially
more Cordially, he thought-than before The
change in his fortunes. He would not
have been human had he not learned to
love her.
The climax came when she gave grand
pafty. Then, before the elite of the CITY.
She did not hesitate TO receive attentions
from him, on which but one construction
could be placed. He thought her quite q
heroine, and asked no further proof that
she could love him. .
The next afternoon they met in her "a
theirs library, where he had waited to see
her.
"Nellie," he said, as soon as the usual
courtesies had been exchanged, I" come to
you TINS morning to learn my fate. / know
the difference In our positions, and would
not urge you-onty let your heart decide.
My heart lay before YOU
She blushed prettily, and seemed con-
fused for moment ; then she gave him her
hand.
al have loved you, 0, SO long!" she
said, Sand feared that you would never
love me. You were so jealous before you
lost your wealth that all women were mere
adysnturesses. / was heartily glad when
papa said you had lost 1t, and l."
8 You sent him to negotiate with me !"
cried Augustus, finishing the sentence in-
tnitiyely, and giving 1t labia! emphasis.