Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-30

partnership with him would not be advisa.
BILE. The dear girl herself seemed almost
hurt about it; but whispered to her that
she must trust me entirely, and said no
more, Nellie had wonderful faith in my
infallibility then. As,s 3ls
1T would have been great comfort to
me to tell her all about the venture OF
mine, for l grew quite haggard with keep
ing it to myself. And how watched that
solitary plant! If 1 saw the least sign OF
amendment in it's appearance trembled
and the more the leaves dropped the more
did my spirits rise. / was like fellow by
the sick bed of one from whom he expects
rich legacy. You see 1 not only embark
ed all my cash, but all my future prospects,
in this one venture. If lost my money l
knew / should be sure to lose Nellie also.
The successful Spectator is feted as
shrewd man, and his fellows talk of his
talent for business the unlucky one is
stigmatized as gambler and mad man.
But my anxieties did not last long. The
certainty of failure in the crop became
known, and there was an outcry in the
market. Nobody knew where all the hops
were gone to. The brewers, calculating on
diminished prices, had but few on hand
when the blight came, and they eagerly
sought to increase their stock. You will!
guess how I held back, and then sent IN
my precious commodity in small quanti-
ties, and how my capital was quadrupled
by abe transaction
Il see it all row, interrupted I: 'you-'
stop. and let me finish. Don't be rude
and spoil my story; it is nearly DONE
When had parted with my last parcel of
hops, and found myself possessor of sixty
thousand instead of fifteen thousand dol
lars, marched boldly into old Stanley's
office. Il want to speak to you about the
partnership you were good enough to pro-
pose,' said 1.
$50 you think of trusting your fortune
in the concern p
4 took no notice of the taunt, but mere
ly answered Not exactly the amount
first proposed 1 quite enjoyed the mis-
understanding, for saw he thought on
ly wished to venture part of my cash,
since he told me very coldly had better
retain the whole, as he should object to
having anything to do with such very
trifing matter.
i9'sYou are laboring under mistake, Mr..
Stanley I answered. ! wish to add larger,
not smaller, amount to the capital OF the
firm. have forty-fve thousand dollars,
the result of my first mercantile venture,
to add to the fifteen 1 possessed a short
time back > and then told him all. Iwish
you could have seen the old fellows face.
It was not the money he cared for, after
all, but the fact of my having proved my
self wide awake He said-and he could
not imagine a greater compliment Swim
ton, you deserve to be my son-in-law.'
4 went home with him; and after din
ner, when Nellie-she had no motheE-was
going to withdraw, he said !: Take Swim
ton with you and fix the wedding day.
And so she did, like dear, dutiful daugh-
ter as she always was. Old Stanley behaved
very handsomely. This pretty home of
ours was his wedding present, and cost
more than all my fortune. l need not say
why it is called Hop Villa; and when /
tell you that the old vine that we lamented
the death Of to-day is a veritable scion of
the one which laid the foundation of my
you will not wonder at our re-
greet at losing it, ab'
'Just one more question before we join
the ladies, Swinton. Was this your only
gambling transaction MP ef+
Really and truly, yes. Remember [ ran
the risk Of losing money to win home
and a bride; and having gained these,
would endanger them for money only,
think you?' tui