Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-10-06
S&ieG1 SlDry.
The Parsimonious Clerk.

Weston, said Mr. Dayton to one Of his
clerks, as they were ne in the spacious
counting room which va. attached to the
large store Of which Mr. Dayton was pro-
prietor, give me leave to say that I don't
think your dress sufficiently gcntcol to
appear as a clerk in fashionable store
4 deep blush sufused the face of the
young man. and IN spite Of his endeavor
to repross it, tear glistened in his full,
black eyes.
Did / not know your salary was sufi-
Gent to procure more gcnteel habilimants,
| | would increase it,
MY salary is amply large, sir, replied
Weston With a mortified air, but with that
proud independence Of feeling of which
even poverty had not been able to deprive
him.
'Oblige me. then, by changing your ap-
parel, and presenting different appear
ance in the future. You are wanted III
the store Weston turned, and left his
employer, who muttered as be took up his
paper. How I detest these parsimonious
fellows
Mr.. Dayton was Widower, and had
but one child, daughter, who was the
pride of bis declining years. She was
good as an angel, and beautiful as she was
good. She was simple in her taste and
appearance.
Such was Laura Dayton when Weston
May first became an inmate of her father s
house, and what wonder is it that he soon
learned to love her with an ardent afec-
ton. Their tongues never gave utterance
to what the felt, but the language of their
eyes could not be mistaken. Weston was
the very soul of honor and although he
preeeived with pleasure that he was not
distasteful to her, still he felt that he must
conquer the passion that glowed in his
own heart.
L must not win her heart he said to
himself: I am penniless. and her father
will never consent to our union. Thus
he reasoned, and thus he msnfully endea-
vored to subdue what he considered an i'll
fated passion. Laura had many sutors,
and some were worthy Of her but she
refused them with decisive, yet gentle
hrmness.
Her father wandered at her conduct
but would not strive to alter her inclina-
tons. He was in the decline of life, and
wished to see her happy settled ere he
departed from this world. 1t was not
long before he surmised that young May
was the cause of her Indifference to 9TH
ers The pleasure she took in hearing
him praised, the blush which mantled her
face when their eyes met, served to con-
vince the cid gentleman that they took
more than common interest in each other.
He forebore to make any remark upon
| the subject, and was not SO displeased at
the thought as Weston imagined he would
be.
Weston May had now been three years
in his employ. Mr.. Dayton knew moth
ing of his family, but his strict integrity,
good morals and pleasing manners, con-
spired in making him esteem Weston more
highly. He placed unbounded confidence
in him, and was very proud of him. He
wished him to dress as we'll as others, and
had often wondered at the scantiness of
his wardrobe for although Weston dress
ed with the most scrupulous regard to
neatness. his clothes were almost thread
bare, which Mr. Dayton thought proceed
ed from niggardly disposition, and ac-
cordingly he addressed him upon the sub
ject, as before related
Soon after this conversation, Mr.. Day
ton left home on business. AS he was
riding through a pretty little village, he
alighted at the door Of cottage, and re-