Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-05-09
Hither Mr.. johnson hied himself.


and shams of fashionable life. When
Mr.. johnson staggered across the floor
Of the hotel, followed by his servant,
he was set down at once by virtue OF
his lofty bearing, and the servile de-
meanor of bis attendant, as a. million
laire, at least. -
When Mr.. J. registered his name, he
looked sinificantly at the clerk of the
hotel, and said:
Sim not rich man, and only want
modest apartments, and don't mean to
pay for any extras"
When James o. Donnohue registered,
hes&id to the clerk also Significantly:
"Master's very rich man, but doesn't
wish it known. Give him the best room
in the house. can shake down any
where"
The clerk, as in duty bound, believed
truthful James, and did accordingly.
| In less than q week every one within
telling distance, had been conidentially
informed that Mr.. johnson was mil
Ilionaire, who wished to be i,,cog. Re-
specting this tender foible of his, the
multitude fawned obsequiously before
him and upon him; and all the scheem.
ing mamas, and ambitious papas, who
had marriageable daughters, or who
wished to be known as the acquaint-
ance of so wealthy gentleman, piled
their cards upon his centre table; and
there was a goodly stack of them.
Meantime he kept his room, for
stephen Johnson was knowing youth,
and in solitude he suffered balls, hops,
and parties to pass unnoticed. One
day truthful James met another Of his
vocation, an attendant upon a family
srom the south. What particular part
of the south, no one knew-not even
the garulous and not over comunica-
tive servant, whose name was Abel
Hartshorn, but known only by the
handle of his cognomen, Abel.
The family was known as the Mont
Igomery's, and consisted of Mrs. Mont
gomery, relict of old Montgomery, and
her daughter, Celestia Montgomery, 8
young lady Of fewer than thirty sum.
mers. The following dialouge ensu-
ed.
James.-Good morning, Abel. The
Montgomerys are quite healthy this
morning, hope?
Abel. They are, indeed. And ]
trust Mr., Johnson is well?
James, Middling. He keeps his room
too much. He oughtto get out more.
Al, when 1 was In Italy with the EN-
mersons, things were different. Nc
such hum-drum life as we lead here;
but then they were not SO rich as Mr..
Johnson.
Abel,-And Mr. Johnson is SO very
wealthye VI
James.-Oh, fearfully rich! He owns
bank, and three blocks of brown
stone fronts in New York, and an Inn
mense warehouse, and has an income of
over million year. .erh isv
Abel You don't tell mel Isuppose
he has seen great deal Of the world
and now seeks retirement?
James. YES hes rather after retire.
ment now; but 1 hope to bring him
out in a few days, and he'll be himself
again.
= Abel.-He ought to make the &C
quaintance of the Montgomery's. They
are very wealthy family too, and
when Mr.. Montgomery was alive they
were the very high ton of society; and
they have an immense estate in the
South, where they spend their winters;
land then they come to the North to
lspend their summers.
With q more than usually cordial
handshaking the precious pair Of liar
l(this is harsh word, but it is the only
lone that expresses the truth in this
csse,) parted, with their respective
heads full of Information for their re
lspective employers. They not only re
tailed all that each had told the other
but they improved upon the orig
inal statements, so that the result was 6
mutual inclination on the part of these
two wealthy representatives of Amer
lean high life, to know more of each
other.
From morose invalid, Mr.. johnson
suddenly became one of the jolliest of
tmen. He chaperoned Miss Celestia to
balls and parties, and was her indie
fatigable escort en- moonlight rambles
or boat-rides, on drives, and on horse.
back exercises.
One evening, as these two inseparable
lovers sat whispering soft nothings to
each other [for they had cometo that Al
last), Celestia softly murmured:
"How could you, Mr.. johnson, a
man of so much wealth and refinement
ever stoop to notice so poor and insig'
nificant girl as I amp 4 -
'sOh," replied the veracious Stephen
J., "the poverty is all on my side. Pos.
litively ! have nothing that may enti
tile me to be considered rich."
That's just what you always say;
because, 1 suppose, you under-rste
Yourself. No, mol Ii is you who arr
rich, and 1 who am poor k5
land just what you always say, my
dear; but..I presume you do not put asuf
ficently high estimate upon your estate,
in comparison with blocks Of brown
stone fronts, or banks and dingy store
houses. Ahlthe country for me aftei