The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-04-11
A Double Rnse.

OHS morning ne SdI IN nlS llDTdTJ
and pondered, as he had often pom
dered before, and on the same sub
ject, viz: how to get wife. There
were enough young ladies who
would bless their lucky stars for
the privilege of becoming mistress
of his luxurious establishment, but
he also felt assured the home was
all they cared for.
"Hang the money" he exclaimed;
al wish I'd never had a penny, and
then-but bother it, then 1 should
have been too poor to marry at all.
Why couldn't l have just enough to
satisfy my wants and nothing more?
By Jovel a fine idea. I'll fool them
the mean adventuresses."
A furious pull at the bell-rope
brought the housekeeper to the
room in hurry"
"Pack up your traps, Mrs. Bull, !"
he exclaimed, abruptly, "for 1 am
going to close the house for the
present. Meanwhile your wages
can still go on, and that of such
domestics as you consider indispen-
sable"
A week latter saw Mr.. Smith
safely domiciIed in a quiet, second
rate lodging in Surrey Hills, and
shortly afterward he began to sell
diamond rings, pins, seals and other
Paraphernalia of fashionable life.
His grand clothes soon began to
appear seedy and threadbare, and
these replaced by cloth ofLtougher
cut and palmer hue.
A rumor soon got afoat that his
money and property had been lost
through unlucky mining specula-
tions, and as natural consequence
he lost many friends.
By twos and threes they ceased
to know him as he met them on the
street. Fashionable dandies, who
hitherto were delighted to stop and
shake hands with him, turned aside
as he met them "dofug the block"
or saw them riding by.
Our hero only laughed and
snapped his fingers at them behind
their backs, though had his ad-
versity been real he would not have
felt inclined to laugh.
Then came the time when all his
former friends who had smoked his
cigars, drank his wine, borrowed his
cash only two still clung to him in
his adversely. 1t is no wonder that
he grew misanthropic.
In George street one day he met
a carriage containing some of his
friends who had been absent from
town since he closed his house. He
thought they would not notice him,
but each inmate of the carriage
bowed politely as of old.
"They have not heard the news"
he muttered cynically.
He was mistaken. That night
the owner of the carriage called to
see him.
"Rather close quarters, my friend, !"
he said, as he took a calm survey of
Dudley's not very pretentious sur
roundings.
pretty close, indeed" answered
Dudley, with an icy smile; "but
since L lost my property, of which
1 suppose you have not heard, 1
have become quite economical"
"But have heard, my dear fell
low," cried his auditor, abruptly,
"and that is why L came. 1 knew
you needed friends now, if ever;
and the fact is-my daughter Rosa
that is, sir, mean came to offer
you the position of head clerk in my
business establishment. Will you
accept it?"
"Ahem! Well, 1 will think of it.
But it is long way from my lodg-
ing house."
"Hang your lodging housed You
can live with my family as a-well,
sort of guest, you know"
Dudley Smith looked keenly at
his visitor.
"sir, you are one man out of ten
thousand" he said slowly.
"Tut, Mr.. Smith; sympathy is a
strong feeling, and 1 feel deeply for
your unfortunate case, believe me-"
Mr.. Baitman was a wealthy man
very wealthy, he was called-and
of course Mr.. Smith thanked him,
and accepted the offer.
Once cozily settled in the Baitman
mansion it was not long before he
began to wonder why he had not
noticed Rosa Baitman before. She
did not seem to feel above him, not
withstandiDg the wide difference in
their positions; and she treated him