Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-13
EVENING STAR.
MARRYING A CLERK.
CHAPTER I.

a. n <sAs4 A&s0 n S464sAAs
....t CHAPTER L.
:" The contemplate little jacksnaps! he had
the audacity to ask me to play whist with
him." exclaimed Sophia to her sister.
"And why should he not, sister !' exclaimed
"Why should he not Did he think would
demean myself by playing whist with a new
| c!erk-one of my fathers servants ?'' and So
pbia tossed her head in disdain.
&c can see no impropriety in your associat-
iEg with him, Sophia. He is certainly hand
some, Intelligent, and well-bshaved young
man.
"Behavss well enough, for aught know !;
| butlonly think Of it-a clerk in the drawing
room. For my part, 1 wonder how father
could ever think of such thing as admitting
him into the family"
:. 1 suppose it was because he liked the
looks of him."
"What will Mr.. Augustus Fitzherbert say
when he finds us associating with poor clerks?
the trash Of counting-rooms
GO 1t mattcrs little to me what he thinks he
is conceited puppy, and wonder that you
can endure his presence" replied Mary,
smartly. s .- --... Ia -
''But he is The leader of the ton, Mary," !"
said Sophia, astonished at the pIebeian mo-
tions of her sister .H4~. r
lie is perfect hirt, for all that, and in
fnitely Inferior in all that constitutes man,
TO Mr. Harlowc, whom you affect to despise. "
The conversation was interrupted by the
| entrance of Mr.. Danvers.
low could you bring that horrible clerk
into the house, papa? ?" said Sophia, as the
merchant prince seated himself by the blazing
CRATE.
. Horrible clerk! pray what is the matter
with him ?'' asked Mr.. Danvers evincing
some surprise at the plain speech of his daugh-
ter.
why, he's a clerk" a
But respectable young man" a.a.
"Respectable enough, but not fashionable,
papa u
by sweeping out store and carrying bundles
about the city. -s4 .-.
8" How absurd you talk, papa"
"But Mr.. Harlowe is a very estim able
young man; l am confident you will find him
very agreeable company"
81 shall have nothing to say to him" re-
piled Sophia with a shrug Of the shoulders.
"Beward, Sophia there is an old proyerb,
you know, about entertaining angels una
wares.
Sophia laughed heartily at the idea of a
poor clerk being an angel.
But what says Mary ?n asked the mer-
chant turning to his gentle hearted daughter.
"Oh, like him very much F; we are already
fast friends" replied Mary, and slight blush
seemed to emphasize the remark.
just like her, papa; L should not wonder
if she got head over heels in love with your
mercantile angel" ...
a" She must do as she pleases about that, -
returned Mr.. Danvers, smiling.
Pooh, Sophy! who said a word about
falling in love. Can't a body be civil to q
young gentleman without being in love with
him -
The pretty Mary blushed as she spoke in
good earneat-so palpably blushed that her
father began to think the affair was some
thing more than a mere jest.
"But pray, papa, when does your new part
ner arrive % asked Sophia. "If all the ac-
counts have heard of his wit, gaIlantry and
personal attractions are true, shall certainly
set my cap for him."
'He will appear one Of these days" re-
piled Mr. Danyers.
Il hope you will not keep this stupid clerk
in the house after he comes"
I" certainly shall"
" But, papa, We shall lose caste, if we do, it
ls really abominable.'
"Snall loss my child; if we are dependent
uponthe apes and puppies of fashionable life
for our position in society, the sooner We lose
1T the better for our own sef-respect," said
MIR. Danyers, good humoredly. : a...
You are absurd, papa"
"NOw, SOphy, you nave given me a lesson,
let me give you one. The idol you worship is
more senseless than those cf the Fecee Is
lands. Fashionable society is as hollow as a
brass pan; place no reliance upon it. The
fops and fools who follow in your train are as
sou!le5s as they are brainless."
Il wish Mr.. Augustus Fitzherbert could
hear you say So" added Sophia
"Mr. Augustus Fitzherbert was n journey
man barber in New Orleans less than year
ago. had the honor of being shaved by him
last winter, when L was there -.
ooh, horrid, papa. why have You not ex-
posed him?"
why should ], my child? He is as good a
fellow, as sensible Il person, and, according to
your statement, as fashionable a man as Mr..
FinstOck, whose great grandfather was the
Governor of the state"
'Is it possible that Mr.. Fitzherbert was a
barbcr!' exclaimed Sophia, mortified at the
appalling truth.
Nothing else, my child"
can impostor. added Mary,
Just so-probably he Is trying to obtain a
rich wife" 4
1t is abominable, declare! One hardly
knows now-a days who is respectable and who
is not" said Sophia.
Therefore, my child, We ought not to speak
so disparagingly of persons in humble life as
you have done tonight" ..s 4 @
'Pooh, Il clerk" .... .... ia.
At this moment Mr. Harlowe, the new clerk,
entered the room, and, as Sophia would have
expressed, had the impudence to seat himself
10y the side of Mary Danvers, who appeared
not at all averse to this close proximity with
him. .F
Frederick HarlOwe was, as Mary had said,
a handsome, intelligent and agreeable young
man. And Sophia, if she could have forgiven
him for being clerk, would have appreciated
his society quite as highly as did her sister
With her fathers permission, Mary ac,ept-
cd an invitation from Frederick to attend Al
boni last concert.
They had scarcely left the house before
BIZ. Augustus was ushered into the sitting
room This gentleman was an exquisite of
the hrst water. In his personal appearance
he certainly was sufficiently well endowed to
challenge the admiration of the fair sex; but
unfortunately he was sadly lacking in that
necessary element in a man of sense-brain.
Sophia could scarcely refrain from express
ing the contempt she felt for the journeym
barber IN Multi" The leader OF the ton
in her estimation, was a ruined man.
'tra Inp.