The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-07-20
THE pERsIMONIOUs CLERK.

MS cIerkS, as they were alone IN the SD
clous counting room, which was attache
to large store of which Mr. Dayton W,
proprietor, "give me leave to say that
- do not think you dress sufficient gente,
. to appear as clerk in fashionable store.
A deep blush suffused the face of tn
young man, and in spite of his endeavol
to reprcss it, tear ghsteucd in his ful
black eyes.
"Did not know that your salary wa
sufficient to procure more genteel habili
ments | would increase it." "My salar
is amply large, sir" replied Weston, witt
mortified air, but with that proud indie
pendence of feeling of which every pov
erty had not been able to divest him.
"Oblige me, then, by changing you
apparel and presenting different appear
ance In the future. You are wanted il
the store" Weston turned and left hi:
employer, who muttered to himself, as he
, took up his paper, show | detest those
parslmonious fellows" Mr.. Dayton was
a man of immense wealth. He was a
wldower and had but one child, daugh-
ter, who was the pride of his declining
years. She was good as an angel and as
beautiful as she was good She was sim
pie in her tastes and appearance. Such
was Laura Dayton when Weston May
first become an inmate of her fathers house
and what wonder was it that he soon
learned to love her with deep and ard
ent affection. Though their tongues nev-
er gave utterauce to what their hearts
felts, yet the language of their eyes was
too plain to be mistaken. Weston was
the very soul of honor. and although he
perceived with pleasure, that he was not
distasteful to her, still he felt that he
must conquer the passion which glowed
in his heart.
IL must not win her heart" he said to
himself; Il am penniless, and her father
would never consent to our union. =
thus he reasoned, and thus he manfully
endeavored to subdue, what he consider
ed an illfated passion. Laura had many
suitors and some who were worthy of her,
but she refused all their overtures with
decisive yet gentle frmness
Her father wondered at her conduct,
but would not strive to alter her inclina-
tions. He was in the define of life, and
wished to see her happily settled ere be
departed from this world 1t was long
before he surmised that young Weston
was the cause of her indifference to 9TH
ers. The pleasure which she took in
hearing him praised, the blush which
mantled her face when their eyes met,
served to convince the old gentleman that
they took more than common interest in
each other. He forbore to make any re-
marks upon the subject and was not so
displeased at the thought as Weston had
imagined he would be.
Weston May had now been three years
III his employ. Mr.. Dayton knew moth
ing Of his family; but his strict integri-
ty, good morals, and pleasing manner
conspired to make him esteem him high
ly. lie placed unbounded confidence in
him. He wished him to dress as we'll as
others, aud had often wondered at his
scantiness of his wardrobe; for although
Weston dressed with the most scrupulous
regard to neatness, his clothes were al
most threadbarc, which Mr.. Dayton
thought proceeded from a niggardly dis
position, and, accordingly he addressed
him upon the subject as before related.
Soon after this conversation, Dir, Dayton
left home On business. As he was riding
through pretty village, he alighted at
the door Of a cottage and requested a
drink of water The mistress, with an
ease and politeness which told that she
had not always been the humble cottager,
invited him to enter. He complied, and
a scene of poverty and neatness met his
gaze which he had never before witnessed
The furniture consisting of nothing more
than was actually necessary, was SO clean
and neat, that it cast an air of comfort all
around A venerable old man sat by the
window with his staff in his hand. His
clothes were whole but SO patched that
they seemed counterpart of Joseph's
coat of many colors.
"This is your father, 1 presume" said
he, addressing her.
at is, sill"
ale seems quite aged"
"He is in his eighty-third year, and
has survived all his children but myself"
"Have you always resided here 7"
"No sir; my husband was once veal
thy, but endorsing ruined him, and we
are reduced to this state He soon after
died and two of my children followed
HIM"
"Have you any children living?"
:'One, sir, who is my only support
My own health is SO feeble that | cannot
do much, and father being blind and deaf,
needs good deal of attention. My son
will not tell me how much his salary is,
but / am sure he sends me all of it"
"Then he is not at home 2"
"No sir, he is clerk in New York"
"Indeed Pray what is his name J"
"Weston May"
"Weston May! Is it possible. Why,
he is my clerk. / left him in charge of
my store only two weeks ago."
Explanation followed, and Mr. Dayton
soon left proposing to call some other