The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-25
NY CHRTsTMAs IN. 1877
A Rscnmous, Christmas story.
.mr,.,sn "a. the n,snn,ch.I

RfcnmoMa Gnr1stsnaS SsONSsf
,wr,tten Cor the Dispatch.I Et
Awaking late on Christmas morning ID
1eYf Iarose and nut OF, my clothes 10 haste,
uhen remembered that on that day J. was
tn receive one Of the haudsomest OF presents.
From, nv infancy had been cared Tor by
dear and affecttonate aunt, who's not pelng
satisfied with having reared me IKE prince,
and having spoiled me with her mosneriy
tenderness. had on each Christmas Tor seVe'
raj years presented me With cheek LOT one
Thousand dollars, This piece OF extravaganza
an her part he'd bad sbad effect upon me !;
for. while studied diligently, and 10 gene
raj conducted myself with proper decornm,
vet, by aid OF the money yearly received
from nov aunt, whose fortune was cure
would eventually be mine, there were opened
to nv view 50 many and sucn ai'ur'ps
TEMPTATIONS that it was impossible not 10
fall. The; hsbit of drinking bad quite lmper,
eeptibly grown upon me. TnIs pleasure uau
during the past years proved SO cosby tlat'
notwithstanding the large amount az nay as
posai, had incurred debts OF no oruinaIy
size. With the check was to GET ina. Hofh'
ing these were to be discharged.
/ hurried down stairs and into the bresh'
fast.room, where found that aunt mao psen
awaiting breakfast. for nae. saiuted he.
| with kiss, as was my custom, anu "isheu
her tho sweetest Of Christmases. NY h,ss
was returned, and, too, with interest III LUG
| shape OF second kiss. In lew mouen.s
we sat down at the table, my heart Deatlng
with JOY, for under my plate was usua az:
| placed what now looked SO eagelE w. w.
To INV upbounded establishment saw tnere
nothing but the plain white cloth. My lrri:
table nature was sorely fretted; never was
90 disnleased. NV aunt noticed the disap-
noiutment. which could not hide, ana an
inde,cribuble expression passed over her
features. I boldly endeavored to counter
felt paiety. but sadly failed, consequently
the meal was wearving In the extreme. AS
soon as had gratifed my limited appetite l
left the table. Going into the ball. drawing
on NV overcoat anG gloves, and lighting q
cigar. the door Ut my auut's house was soon
closed behind me. II the company OF my
cav friends was certain could find forget
| fulneSs.
| had not proceeded more than couple
of squares when met Will. Milford, who,
graspipg my hand warmly, said that ne, was
on his way home, and intended stopping oy
! NV house 10 let me know that / was counted
uoon as one of party of six which proposed
SPENDING the morning in one of the private
rooms at--'s restaurant. Telling him
would be on band, and learning that
II O'Clock was the time assigned for the
meeting, left him, and wandered down to
the Exchange TO while away the Intervening
time.
When the ofice-clock indicated IL, l
omitted some gentlemen with whom had
been talking, aud Immediately going to the
Amounted place met my friends entering.
Four of the five were my intimate a'socl-
ates-g generous, noble, merry fellows, whose
sole sin was their love for what they chose
TO designate fun. The Eth was an utter
stranger to me, and introduced as Carl Mau.
BRAY, an old cIassmate Of Will. Milford at
the University. l was particularly attracted
by his personal appearance. He was OF the
medium height, slenderly built but muscu-
lar. with a face remarkably handsome, light
hair, light moustache, and large, keen, dark
blue ewes. His attire was scrupulously
neat, with no sign Of iewelry. He pre-
seuted, all in all, extraordinary taste and re.
| finement. His conversation was easy and
fswing, and entirely free from anything
coarse or Objectionable. was at once drawn
to him, and greatly pleased when saw that
| he enjoyed my company. After getting into
our room ard talking about generalities Tor
some time game Of cards was proposed.
Whist was the game decided upon, and we
all cut, the stranger and L losing. Each OF
the four pressed him 10 accept his place, but
he courteou>y refused. 1t was finally agreed
that both Maubray and myself should take
a hand ut the end of a few games. The four
sat down at their table, and we took our
seats at small table some few feet distant,
declaring our intention to play euchre.
Liquors were handed around at Intervals
by a servant in attendance, and Maubray
and I grew very gay and communicative
dropping our cards when we. found
that we could interest one another
so we'll without them. 1 was fascinated
with his description of his University life, OF
bis travels, aud Of his love affairs. His
knowledge of books astonished me. He was
well acquainted with and spoke critically OF
every English work Ito sound his deptb)
mentioned. Thus the time gided by, and
still our whiSt.cbarmed friends played and
| we chatted, all of US occasionally warning
against the temperance creede By this time
Mau bray and had become so free and
social that he began to tell me of his last ad.
venture in the field of romance.
"Iu the early part OF November last" he
said, 81 was employed upon the New York
Tribune, from which paper, for services as
local reporter, received very reasonable
salary. My position immediately brought
me many friends, and l soon found myself
courted and aa,tered by them to a considera-
! BILE degree. / took advantage of their will.
ingness to serve me, and, by their aid, was
NOT long in getting into the first social cir
ces. Scarcely bad made my entrance into
society when my heart was bewitched by
one of the fairest of that fair sex SO loved
and respected by all true men. She pos.
sessed a delicate beauty and gracetulness
and statellness of manner that placed her
| above her companions. In short
time, I had entered her list of suitors, and
soon had wooed and won her. Her father, a
banker, whose heart.strings were attuned
but to the jingle of gold, hearing OF our at
tachment sought TO separate US. The argu.
ments advanced by him, that was without
talents, that my origin was humble, and that
| was poor, did not lessen her love. Noting
this he conceived scheme worthy of its
originator. l received from him last Friday
week note desiring me to meet him at hi.
clearinghouse at S O'Clock that evening.
| was surprised but it did not seem so very
strange, for bad repeatedly met him al
| his residence, and uDon each occasion
had been treated very courteously. was
punetuals found him alone, and apparently
intoxicated. He blde me be seated; and
abruptly proceeded to say that he had gained
a knowledge Of his daughters love for me-
aud that il conducted myself we'll should
ere long have the noblest woman alive.
vas startled by The suddenness Of the deca
ration, but completely oveu Dyed. 1 thanked
the old banker from the fulIness of my heart
After sitting for some moments we left the
place of business, and walked up town to.
gether. I noticed that he leaned heavily