Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-03-23
aaiisee1Iaite d Ii s
The BITTER BIZ.
BY EROS.

A few years ago. No. 90 Charlton
Street, New York city, was tenanted by ;
widow lady, named Everton, whose de-
ceased husband had left just sufficient O
this worlds riches behind him to enable
his relict to purchase an annuity, upon
which to maintain her only child-a
daag er-aud herself
Very fair to look upon was Miss Ellen
Everton. She had dark, flashing eyes,
and raven blatk hair; little saucy roe
bud of mouth, delicate nose, slightly
retrousee, ard piquant manner. that won
the appreciation Of all who knew her.
But she lacked one most important re-
quisite--a dowry-and, consequently
men contented themselves with admiring
the bright blossom from the garden OF
girlhood, and refrained from bidding for
the possession thereof. The widow saw
with dismay tie years roll by, and her
daughter still unwed. Therefore, one
spring time, after a few days reflection,
she determined to make bold effort to
obtain husband for the gentle Ellen; so
she caused to be inserted in the Herald
an advertisement to the effect that two
young gentlemen could find all the COM
forts of "a home. 10 a private family, at
No. 80 Charlton Street, and especially
STIMULATING for frst-class references. She
soon had many applicants for the rooms
she wished to let but she was fastdious
as to the appearance, status in society,
occupation and pecunlary resources of the
flies that she invited into the web that she
had woven to ensnare them, and she man
aged to stave off all ineligibles, until two
young men, Mr.. Arthur Taylor and Mr..
job Hammond. presented themselves, and
proved so couclusively that they possessed
all the qualifications she deemed requisite
in son-in. law, that she at once admitted
them into her house.
Taylor and Hammond were clerks in
the same bank, aud were in receipt of
good salaries E; IN addition to which, the
former had a wealthy father, who made
him liberal presents of money, and the
latter-so he asserted had an uncle, who
treated him with similar munifcence. -
Taylor was a fair haired, NICE looking
fellow, about twen'ythree years of age,
aud the possessor of such geuteel manners
that he invariably won his way to the
hearts of persons of both sexes with whom
he came in contact; moreover. he was
remarkably steady in his habits, an attri-
butte his friend could lay no claim to.
Hammond was not exactly a handsome
man. but still he was by no means homely
for he bad bright, clear black eyes, dark !,
wavy hair. and as he dressed with very
good taste, could always present rcspec-
table appearance.
Miss Everton. for the first few days Of
the new boarder's sojourn in her mothers
! house, betrayed considerable preference
for him over his meeker friend. who was
not much of conversationalist but soon
the cloven fool began to show itself, and
when Ellen became aware that Job, unlike
| the patriarch whose name he bore, was
irritable, illtempered, and inclined to be
dissipated, she, much to his chagriD, gave
him the cold shoulder, and trans terred her
smiles and Establishments to the gentle
Arthur.
Mr.. Hammond, I've refrained for some
time from mentioning it to you ; but now
must say that l wish you would make a
little less noise when you return home
after midnight, as you have so often done
lately. At a most unseemly hour, last
| night, the whole household was disturbed
by the tumnlt you created on the stairs.
Mr.. Taylor never makes the slightest is
turbance, and | think you would do we'll
if you copied his behavior a little" said
Mrs. Everton, with some aspefity. one
morning when Job was trying TO steady
his nerves with tea.
I'm not an angel, or a sentimental
sycophant, Mrs Evefton. know Ar
| thurs just perfection in your and Miss
Ellen's eyes, but still I don't want to be
like him. don't get treated with the
same amount of consideration that be does
or ! might be steadier. and more inclined
to stay nome nights growled Hammond,
in reply, as he rose from the table anl
vent out of the house in a rage. That
great baby, Arthur, no doubt thinks he's
going TO win Ellen sway from ME. I