Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-20
A SHOPPER BY PROXY.
A Practical Love story.

OVulfG, anu nlONctl Ill llc DtSl new Olh
society. The father, Wall Street man,
lost his money. and the wife, two sons
and two daughters lived on the east side,
and the best society knew them no more.
lsolena, the youngest of the family, had
accepted the situation with becoming
fortitude. She had three trunks laden
with the spoils of Saratoga and Newport.
They W would keep her in clothes for two
years. and so long as the spoons held
out to burn, to her boarding house fare
she could return. After the crash the
father did nothing in particular, and the
mother took to her bed. The sons,
never having done anything during their
prosperous days. kept sternly in that
noble path. The elder daughter, in Il fit
of desperation, threw herself away on a
book-keeper with eight hundred a year.
and was buried in Jersey, Isolena Van
Rensselar, being person of sense, sold
the silver and .jewelry bit at time,
paid the family board bills, and so kept
the wolf away
Weeks passed, and the store ofspoons
faded slowly. How much longer could
they live on silverware The wolf had
already bayed the gas lamps in Third
Avenue, Just around the corner, and the
sound kept her awake in the night.
One day there came letter inclosine
cheek for one hundred dollars. Hel
paper, and sudden tears filled her eyes
Were the family miseries and poverty sc
wearing upon her that the sight of q
check shook every nerve? And how
had heaven raised such friends in theil
hour of need?
1t was only Il letter from Cousin Mary
Pelham. Cousin Kitty was to be married
and Mary wished to furnish one room il
the new home. Would Isolena be Sc
kind as to do some shopping in this city
get a nice chamber carpet, and have
it sent up by express? Glad to fine
something to divert her mind, Isolen;
went shopping among the carpet men
selected what she thought would please
and fit the prescribed measure, paid thu
bill, and returned home tired out ant
minus fifteen cents paid for care fare
Two days after came letter saying tha
1.-THE carpet was lovely, and we are all 81
much obliged"
The next day Isolena counted tn,
spoons and figured out their position
There was just enough plate to pay thu
board bills for exactly six months. Sht
appealed to her father. He, poor man
had trouble enough on hand. The wifi
and mother was dying. For a time tn,
lesser griefs were lost in the greater
and then the mother crept away to peace
and her grave, weary with the miserable
disasters of the family.
The day after the funeral Isolena askct
her father for her portion, and he divdet
his living among them all. Isolena
| share was the spoons and some diamont
rings. The family was broken up am
ruined, and each selfishly looked out TO
himself. The men went to the bad gen
orally. The elder daughter furnished
her parlor with her share of the wreck
and Isolena sold diamond ring, an,
put an advertisement in the Tribune
Evening Post, Herald and American Az
riculturist. Then she found another ant
cheaper boarding place, and sat dow
to await results, or starve.
Within week million people rea,
this advertisement:
stNTADEMOIsELL 1SOLENA, purchase
.N1 of dress goods, gloves. hosiery an
millinery. Persons at distance desiring T.
purchase dry goods. etc, in New York may al
| underwear and small wares bought. goods AM
c0lors matched, and the best selections made >
| the lowest prices. Terms five per cent. All or
ders must have the money inclOsed. Goods sen
| by express or mail ut purchaser Expense. Ad
dress 1872 estTwenty fourth street. New York
References; Arnold, Taylor & Co.; Stewart
Lord, and kinsey;' ETC."
Three days Mademoisclle Isolena wait
ed in heart-sick impatience, and thel
there came three letters. One containe,
a dollar, another six, another ten, ant
each had small order. Total profit
| eighty-tive cents-the first money sh
ever earned in her life. She put on
pretty hood and Il bri ght smile, and wen
out to do the shopping. At the door he
eyes fell on the walk, and a blush, hal
shame, half something else, mounted t.
her face. He actually said good morning
and offered his hand. She put out he
left hand. That was the least worl
glove. She felt grateful that he shoul'
recognize her. So many once friend
had passed Indifferent on the street tha
the thought that Il Van Stupen shoul'
speak to her gave unexpected happiness
awful clever idea, Mademoiselle Iso
lena"
"Oh, Mr.. Van Stupen! how did yo
know? l never can forgive myself TO
it."
Cad! we all thought it a brigh
idea. Why, you're a bloker-in trade
you know same as l am, and Pell an
Dennisen, and all the old set. Oh, by
the-way, sister Patty is to be married
and want to do the presenting busines
in good style. You please step int
Tiffany's and buy something pretty an
suitable"
"Mr. VanStupen, what do you mean !?
..Biz, of course. Now you're otfent
ed. Ibeg pardon, Miss Van Rensselaer,
l would not hurt your feelings for tn
world. You know I would not.
thought could help you-."
YAM"
"That's right, Iso-NIiss Rensselaer,
call me Van if you like. am you
friend''
"Let us speak of this no more. | al
poor now. Our paths divide. l mu
earn my living, and Patty would neve
forgive me. am truly glad to hear {
her marriage. l."
"Leok you, Miss Van Rensselaer,
want some work done. I'll pay you te
per cent"
!, "Well, five it is. Heres the none,
Spend it all, and take out your commi
sion."
With that he thrust roll Of bills int
her hands, and disappeared into Tn
versity Place car just as they reache
Broadway That nj ight she slept peac,
fully for the first time for weeks. Sl
had earned enough in one day to SUI
+ port her three. The following day sI
laid aside one dollar from her earning:
and received scvenmorc letters, inclosin
forty dollars in all. These orders en-
ployed her nearly all day, and at nigl
she sent 4 letter with each, detailing I'll
business transaction. The next d,
there came but one letter, and she wa
a trifle discouraged. Then came til
Sabbath, and on Monday there wei
twenty letters, including one that HI,
+ evidently wandered about Madiso
Square in search of her for some tim
1t was from Patty johnson, late Va
Stupen. She was charmed with he
brothers beautiful present, and so gil,
to hear that Isolena had made the scle,
ton
Would it be too much trouble to d
just little shopping-only doze
gloves or SOP"
There was no money incloscd. Pc
haps Mrs. johnson was not aware tn;
Miss Van Rensselaer, was in busines
Without the slightest hesitation she il
closed her advertisement to Mrs. join
son, and explained her position. Mr.