Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-10
A REALISTIC NOVEL.
cAsAuBoNs SCHEME FOR MASTER
PIECE OuT-zoLAlNG lola.
Aided by n TeIcphonc--Conversa of
Young Lovers Written Down by
stenographer and Printed.
london TRUTH

Stenographer and Printed.
london Truth.I
Raphael Casaubon was q man of con-
siderable wealth, but Of inconsiderable
position, and be was not happy. Since in
heriting his estates his whole lite had been
devoted to the task Of getting himself
talked about, but success had not hitherto
crowned his efforts. Do what he would,
he could not become famous Suddenly.
however, the prospect frightened. Fate
at last seemed to smile upon him and he
fattered himself that he had got hold
OF notion which would OF necessity
place him in the front rank of men of
the time. lola. as the head of the realistic
school of novelists. had, as matter
of course, attracted his attention, and
from newspapers and magazines he learnt
the methods which that writer employed
20 make himself acquainted with the phases
of life which he depicted so graphically.
As George Cruikshank mixed with the
drunkard in his haunts. and then drew his
picture in his studio so he knew that Zola
made the personal acquaintance of bis
heroes and heroines in real life before he
immortalized them in his novels. But
when the brilliant notion occurred 10
him to which have referred, Raphael Cas-
aubon felt that he could 'go one better"
than the great Frenchman.. As
David, the great painter of the begin
ming of the century, had surpassed his
cOuntrymen in his method ofpicture- manu-
facture, so. he believed, Raphael Casau-
bon could surpass lola. He had been to
Louvre, and there seen how the French
painter had, for his great picture OF the
"Jeu de Paume." first painted all his
figures in the nude, and then clothed their
nakedness with the necessary garments.
He had heard how some great masters even
went so far as TO first paint the skeleton,
then build up oil the muscles and nerves,
and finally clothe with the shining cpl
dermis. And he felt that az they bad done
with such success in the pictorial art so
would he do in the art OF literature.
CONVENIENT NIECE.
Fortunately for him he had material at
hand which he believed would exactly SUIT
his purpose. A niece, by name Kate Bar
ton, had been dependent upon him from
her earliest infancy, and, although the ex-
pense OF maintaining her was but as drop
ia the ocean Of his wealth, he had always
looked upon her support as something OF
grievance, and had consequently Kept her IN
seclusion down at his country house IN
hampshire, where her only companion was
an old family hOusekeeper of the name
Of Bracegirdle. This old lady he instruct
ed. being very much away in London him.
self. to keen q watchful eye upon Kate, and
to take care that she did not make any &C
quaintances among the neighbors by which
he might be led into unnecessary expense.
On his occasional visits he found TINS
Young lady docile and undemonstrative,
and was thoroughly satisfied with the way
in which orders appeared TO be carried out.
Now. notwithstanding her uncle's solici-
tude for her welfare-and his pocket-kate
Barton was not altogether the unsophistl-
Gated maiden that he imagined her 10 be;
nor, indeed, was Mis-. Bracegirdle altogether
as Trustworthy and devoted q domestic az he
supposed. This lady had q history. with
the SEQUEL of which we are only concerned,
and which sequel presentsitselt IN the form
OF a fine, handsome. gOOd-fOr-nOthlng son.
To make q long story short, Jack Brace
girdle became q constant visitor al hawton
Hall in the absence of its master, who was
quite ignorant of his existence, and between
him aid Kate had sprung up friendship
which was fast changing INTO more tender
attachment. Nor did Mrs. Bracegirdle see
her was to disapproye, for, although she
knew Kate had no certain prospects OF
dover. she felt that since MIR. CasauDon had
but few blood-relations in all probability
he would remember his niece handsomely
in his will She only insisted that her son
should not act precipltately, pointing out
the soundest. and the youth was wise
enough to see on which side his bread was
bUttered.
THE SCHEME.
Such, then, was the condition OF things
when Mr.. Casaubon suddenly made his APP
pearance in London, burning TO put into
execution the great scheme which has been
limited at above.
NOW. Mrs. Bracegirdle" be said, when
the housekeeper had appeared to his sum-
mons. 81 am going TO take You into my
confidence. / am about 70 bring out
novel which will. believe, take the world
bv storm. II is TO be called The Dawn OF
Love- and is TO be more realistic than the
realism of the present day has even dream
ed Of" rr OF,
always said ives, SIR" when she didn't
understand what her master was talking
about.
well, Mrs. Bracegirdle, | require your
assistance. | believe my niece has, under
your supervision, learnt nothing OF the
world. She has, you have more than once
assured me. never spoken TO young man
and never even limited at any desire 10 90
SOP"
Mrs. Bracegirdle here courtesied her as
sent, and he continued;
Now intend TO change all this in toto.
| wish TO find young man who IS equally
with her ignorant of the world and equally
with her inexperienced Ill the opposite
sex. | wish to bring these two young per-
sons together, giving them every opp9rtu-
nitv of intimate intercourse, taking
care, of course, that every propriety shall
be observed. | shall then take measures
TO observe them together, and especially
take care to have their conversation record
ed unknown to themselves. BY this means
hope TO be able to obtain such a record
of the first dawnings Of love that the world
of Thought and Letters will be actually
taken by storm"
THE OPPORTUNITY.
YES. sir" said Mrs. Bracegirdle, who.
though somewhat bewildered, was yet
dimly conscious that perhaps III this there
was an opportunity for her son. =,
II need not tell you, Mrs. Braceglrdle,'
he continued, that it is not only-lndeed,
not chiehy-with view to obtaining lite
rary materials that / propose this course.
NV chief desire is to do the best for my
dear nieces future welfare, and do not say
that If my scheme meets with success,
shall not encourage her ultimate marriage
bv giving her substantial dover. ms,
however must of course depend upon my
approval of the young man, whose exist
ence is at present IN the air." "
With this Mr.. Casaubon dismissed his
housekeeper, after she had informed him
that she thought it quite possible that she
might be able 10 find such young man.
That night Mrs. Bracegirdle and Kate
Barton sat talking long into the small
hours, with the result that in the morning
the housekeeper made her appearance, IN
her masters study and Informed him that
she had nephew who she believed 70 be
lust such o young man as he seemed 70
want. and asked whether she should send
for him on approval.
THE HXPRNsES AND P2oFIrs.