Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-05-26

y
''You think my health will allow of tn
necessary labor ?"
II do"
"Then I will make up my mind to it
"Come in next Monday. Meantime
make the needful arrangements.
So I am going to be lawyer, though
Edgar Ashcroft, as he left his friend
house. If any one had told me that
month ago, I should have pronounced hin
insane. Well, circumstances alter cases
that is certain What will my fashionable
friends say?
This was, after all, the greatest trial tt
Edgar. To subside from the position of
man Of fashion to humdrum clerk in thu
Office of real estate lawyer seemed to hin
a great decent, though in the view of right
thinking people it will be regarded as al
ascent.
! In week change was made. Edga
realized the sum he expected on his mining
shares, and invested it in substantial bank
shares, which yielded him net income o
one hundred and seventy five dtllars year
I Upon this and his salary he must live
Considerably against his will, he took quar-
tiers in comfortable but moderate pricec
boarding house; and began life on new
footing.
AS he anticipated, there was considerable
talk about his change of fortune, and mos
of his fashionable acquaintance forgot to in
clude him in their future invitations, while
some whom he had known intimately appear
ed to forget that they had seen him. This
troubled him considerably at first, but there
was one good effect resulting from this neg
lect by his fashionable friends Not being
invited to parties, he no longer had occa
sion to keep late hours, and his health anc
strength visibly improved. This surprised
him, as he was occupied with Office work du.
ringt he day.
Il declare, Holden, he said one day, I've
gained fifteen pounds in the last three
months"
s'Work seems to agree with you, Ash
croft" was the reply
II feel stronger than used to-
II told you how it would be"
''But did not believe you at hat time.
Late hours are more trying to any con
stitution than hard work"
$50 I begin to find it.
Just at first Edgar found his Office work
a task but soon it began to be pleasant
He became interested in the profession he
had chosen, and, as he was by no means
deficient in natural talent or education, he
became, before the year closed, valuable
assistant TO his friend Holden.
| Just before the close of the first year, the
lawyer said:
edgar, if you have no objection. I NEAR
to double your salary"
THANK you, Holden, but I don't wan
you to do it unless you think | am wortt
the increase"
II do think So You have made your
self very valuable to me, ard have full,
mastered the routine of work in the Office
: Then I will accept it gladly for thong
don't want to 60 back to the old scale o
expenditure, would like little bette
room. and little better table,
So the arrangement was made
One day Ed gar met in the street Mr.
Bullion, 'heavy" Nan in the parlance 0
the street, and president of one of the cit
banks.
He tried to avoid him, having two year
before proI osed for the hand of Miss Fam
Bullion, and, though favored by the lad
had been unceremoniously rejected by tn
father
But to his surprise, Mr.. Bullion advance
to him, and said cordially:
"How do you do, Mr.. Ashcroft 2"
|
rather embarrassed.
, ''Come round to the house. We hall b
glad to see you"
Edgar's face betrayed his surprise.
7 "Pll tell you secret, young man. Tw
years ago refused your suit to my daugf
ter. Shall I tell you why p
eff you please, sir"
5 because I saw that you were mer
man Of fashion. doing nothing useful, sur
to run out of money at last, and with n
occupation to fall back upon You 10:
your money sooner than I expected but t
my surprise, you have acted like sensibl
man. hear good reports of your talen
and industry. Come to my house whene,
r er you like, and, if ever you have any prop
osition to make to me, I will take it int
t consideration. "
Edgar needed no second invitation. H
made an early call, and found that Fam
Billions heart was still his One day b
: made bold to lay the matter before Mr. Blu
lion.
1 "Fanny loves me- and I love her,"
said, "but my salary is only twelve hur
dred dollars year, and my fortune is r.
y duced to twenty-five hundred dollars"
e Frankly spoken, young man." said Nj
Bullion. II don't care for your poverty
q You shall marry Fanny, and I'll see th'
e you have enough to keep the pot boiling
e So Edgar married the daughter of a mi
d lionaire He was at once taken into par
. nership by his friend Holden, and to-day
is millionaire himself, having inherite
the bulk of his tather-in-law's property
u So his bad luck turned cut to be the best
t good luck, after all.