Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-14
MIR. Fitz-Humes Experiment, and
y efHi In How IL Succeeded.

coming mistress of his home, as he well
knew; but he also felt tolerably well as
sured the home was all they cared for.
For the fortune they would wed its owner.
Deuce take the money! he ex-
claimed. II wish I'd never had cent,
and then = but botheration then |
should have been too poor to marry any
way. Why couldn't have had just
wealth enough for all my wants, and
nothing more2 I'll foil them, though,
the mean adventuresses"
J A furious pull at the bell-cord brought
the housekeeper to the room in a hurry.
"Pack up your traps, Mrs. Ashfeld," Z"
he exclaimed, abruptly, 7" for | am going
to close the house"
1t was evident he had come to some
conclusion.
Shut up the house, Mr.. Fitz- -Humesl' p
calculated the housekeeper, almost be-
lieving she had lost her reason. Why,
such a thing has not occurred since your
lamented uncle took possession fve-and-
forty years ago.
"That makes no difference, ma am; |
am master here now, and shall close it
for the present. Meanwhile your pay
can still go on, and that of such do
mestics as you consider indispensable.
Have you no relatives you wish to visitY'
he inquired. ? htNfaa'
That settled it. The proffer of con-
tinued pay removed Mrs. Ashfeld' s
scruples quite effectually. She then re-
membered she had friends she had not
seen for years.
Three days later Mr.. Augustus Fitz-
Humes was safely domiciled in a quiet
clearinghouse, and shortly afterward he
began to sell his diamond rings and
seals, and other pharaphernalia of fash
ionable life, as well as dress himself in
palmer clothes. A rumor that his prop
erty had all been lost through an un-
lucky speculation was soon ahoat.
He lost friends rapidly. By twos and
threes they ceased to know him as he
met them on the street. He 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 acquaintances got narrowed down to
three. But three Of his former friends
still clung to him true in adversely. 1t
is no wonder that he grew misanthropic.
Out upon the street one day he met a
carriage containing some friends Of his
former acquaintance, who had been abb
sent from the city since he closed his
house. He thought they would not no
tice him, but each inmate of the carriage
bowed politely as of old.
"They have not heard the news" he
muttered, cynically.
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 surround
ings: ,
"Pretty close, that's fact" said Mr..
Fitz-Humes, icily. But since lost my
property, of which suppose you haven I
heard, | have become quite economical.
"But have heard" cried his auditor
abruptly, "and that is why l came. |
knew you needed friends now if ever,
and the fact is-well-my daughter, sir
Il mean, came to offer the position OF
head clerk in my counting-room. viii
you accept of it2
Ahem Well, | will think of it.
But it is long way from my boarding
house."
Deuce take your clearinghouse.
You can board in my family as a-well,
as a sort of guest, you know"
Augustus looked him over closely.
Reuben Stanley was wealthy man
very wealthy, he was called-and in his
face there was nothing to warrant sus-
picion that he had learned Augustus s
secret, and wished to curry favor by aid
ing him while under an apparent cloud,
so that idea was speedily dismissed. OF
course, the quickly thanked him, and ac-
cepted.
g Once costly snugged in the Stanley
mansion, it was not long before he won
dered why he had not noticed Nellie
Stanley before. She did not seem to
feel above him, notwithstanding the wide
difference in their positions, and treated
him as oordially-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 q
grand party. 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 a heroine, and asked no further
proof that she could love him.
The next afternoon they met in her
fathers library, where he had waited to
see her.
Nellie he said, as soon as the usual
courtesies had been exchanged, " come
to you this morning TO learn my fate. |
know the difference in our positions, and
would not urge yonzonly let your heart
decide. My heart | lay before you"
She blushed prettily, and seemed con-
fused for moment; then she gave him
her hand.
" have loved you, o, so longl" she
said, "and / feared that you would
never love me. You were so Jealous be-
fore You lost your wealth that all women
to you we're mere adventuresses. L was
heartily glad when papa said you had
lost il, and l."
You sent him to negotiate with mel
cried Augustus, finishing the sentence
intuitively, and giving it labial emphasis.
II loved you so, she murmured, de-
pgecetingly.
"I do not doubt it, dearest" And
Mr.. Augustus Fitz-Humes believed him.
self the happiest of men.
They we're married. The wedding was
very unpretentious, as became the bride.
groom's straitened circumstances, and
be eEss in constant ecsiacy as he thought