Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-06-10
Fitz Hume's Experiment,
AND
HOW 1T SUCCEEDED.
by HARLAN E. WARD.

and pondered deeply. The subject of bis cog
itations was a rife, or rather how to get one
There were enough young ladies who would
be glad to bless their lucky stars for the priye-
lego of becoming mistress Of his home as he
well knew, but he also felt tolerably we'll as
sured the home was all they cared for. For
the fortune they would wed its owner.
deuce take the money!" he exclaimed
" | wish I'd never had cent and then-but
botheration Then l should have been too
poor to marry any way. Why couldn't ]
have had just wealth enough for all my wants
and nothing more. I'll foil them though
the mean adventuresses.
A furious pull of the bel-chord brought the
housekeeper to the room in hurry.
"Pack up your traps, Mrs. AshfeldT he
exclaimed abruptly, for | am going to close
the house."
It was evident that he had come to some
conclusion.
"Shut up the house, Mr.. Fitz-HumesT 2
calculated the housekeeper, almost believing
she had not lost her reason. why such a
thing has not occurred since your lamented
uncle took possession five-and-forty years ago.
That makes no difference, ma'am, I'm mas
ter here, now, and shall close it for the pres
ent Meanwhile, your pay can still 60 on,
and that of such domestics as you consider in-
dispensabc Have you no relatives you wish
to visit ?" be inquired.
That settled it. The proifer Of continued
pay removed Mrs. Ashfelds scruplcs quite
efTectually. She then remembered she had
friends she had not seen for years.
Three days later Nr. Augustus Fit2-EIumes
was safely domicilcd in a quiet clearinghouse,
and shortly afterwards he began to sell his
diamond rings, and seals, and other paraphcr-
MALTA of fashionable life, as well as dress him
SELF in palmer clothes. A rImor that his
property had all been lost through an unlucky
speculation was soon atloat.
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 this
adversely been real he would not have felt like
laughing.
Then came the time when his circle Of ac-
quaintances got narrowed down to three. But
three of all bis former friends still clung to
him, true in adversely. 1t is no wonder that
hU grew misaHthropic
Out upon the street one day ho met car
rage containing some of bis former acquaint-
ances who had been absent from the city since
he closed his house. He thought they would
not notice him, but each inmate of the car
riage bowed politely as Of old.
"They have not heard the news, he NUT
tered, cynically. Hewas mistaken. That night
the owner of the carriage came to see him,
Rather close quarters, my friend, he said,
as he took a calm survey Of Augustus not
very pretentious surroundings.
"Pretty close, that's fact" said Mr. Pitz-
Humes, icily. "But since lost my property,
of which suppose, you haven't heard, l have
become quite economical
"But hare heard, cried his auditor, ab-
ruptly, and that is why ] came. knew
you needed fri ends now if ever, and the fact is
-well-lny daughter, sr-I mean | came to
offer the position of head clerk in my count
ing-room. vii you accept itP
"Ahem Well, Twill think ofit BUTT is
long way from my boardiDg-room.
deuce take your boarding house. You
can board in my family as a-well-as sort
of guest you know"
Augustus looked him over closely Reuben
Stanly was wealthy man-yery wealthy he
was called-and in his face there was nothing
to warrant the suspicion that he had learned
Augustus's secret and wished to carry favor
by aiding Linn while under an apparent cloud,
so that idea was speedily dismissed. OF
course he quickly thanked him and accepted.
Once costly snuggled in the Stanly mansion,
it was not long before be wondered 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 cordially-more cordially he
tbought-as before the change In bis fortunes
He would not have been human, had he not
learned to love her.
The climax came when she gave 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 pac-
ed. He thought her quite heroine, and ask
ed no further proof that she could love him.
The next forenoon they met in her fathers
library, where he had waited to see her.
Nellie" be 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
you-only let your heart decide. Ny heart
lay before you.
She blushed prettily, and seemed composed
for a moment, then she gave him her hand.
az have loved you, o so longl" she said
" And feared that you would never love me-
You were so jealous before you lost your
wealth that all women were mere adventures
ses. 1 was heartily glad when papa said you
had lost it, ahfI-
" You sent him to negotiate with me-"
cried Augustus. finishing the sentence intui-