The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-08-21
A Shopper by Proxy.

"A OAVppCI NY IIVAys
A Practical Love Story.
They formerly lived in Madison Square,
and moved in the best of New York society,
The father, Wall street man, lost bis money,
and the wife, and two sons and two daugh-
tiers, lived on the east side, and the best
society knew them no more. Isolena, the
youngest of the family, had accepted the situ-
alton with becoming tortitude. She had three
trunks laden with the spoils of Saratoga and
Newport. They 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, now
kept sternly in that noble path. The elder
daughter, in fit of desperation threw herself
away on book-keeper with eight hundred
a year, and was buried in Jersey. Isolena
Van Rensselaer,, being a person of sense, sold
the silver and jewelry bit at a time, paid
the family board bills, and SO kept the wolf
away.
Weeks passed, and the store of Spoons faded
slowly. How much longer could they live on
silver-ware! 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 inclosing
check for one hundred dollars. Her hand
shook as she unfoded the crisp paper, and
sudden tears filled her eyes. Were the family
miseries and poverty so wearing upon her
that the sight of check shook every nerve
And how had heaven raised such friends in
their hour of needP
1t was only letter from Cousin Mary Pei
ham. COUSIN Kitty was to be married and
Mary wished to furnish one room in the new
home. Would Isolena be so kind as to do
some shopping in the city-get nice cham
Der carpet and have it sent up by express?
Glad to find something to divert her mind,
Isolena went shopping among the carpet men,
selected what she thought would please and
III the prescribed measure, paid the bill, and
returned tired out and minus fifteen ce mis- for
car fare. Two days after came letter say
ing that "the carpet YVES lovely, and we are
all so much obliged"
The next day Isolena counted the spoons
and figured out their possessions. There was
just enough plate to pay the board bill for
exactly six weeks. She appealed to her "a
t,ier. He, poor man, had trouble enough on
hand. The wife and mother was dying. For
time the lesser griefs were lost in the great
er; and then the mother crept away to peace
and her grave, weary with the miserable dis.
asters of the family.
The day after the funeral Isolena asked her
father for her portion, and he divided his liv-
ing among them all. Isolena's share was the
spoons and some diamond rings. The family
was broken up and ruined, and each selfishly
looked out for himself. The men went to the
bad generally. The elder daughter furnished
her parlor with her share of the wreck, and
Isolena sold Diamond ring and put an ad-
vertisement in the Tribune. Evening Post,
Herald, and American Agriculturist. Then
she found another and cheaper boarding place,
and sat down to await results or starve.
Within week million people read this
advertisements
ssM ADEMolsELLE IsoLENA, purchaser of
M dress goods, ho"iery, and mil 1ery. Persons
New York may 2 1dress Mademoi.elle IcoIena. Ey-
cry kind of underwear fld small wares bought
goods and c2lors matched, and the best ELECTIONS
orders must have the money inclosed. Goods sent
by express or mail at purchasers expense. Address
402 West Twenty fourth street, New York. Refer
ences, Arnold, Taylor and Co., Stewart, Lord and
Ktnsey;" etc.
Three days Mademoirelle Isolena waited in
heart-sick Impotence, and then there came
three letters. One contained a dollar, anoth-
er six, another ten, each had small order.
Total profits, eighty five cents-the first mon
ey she ever earned in her life. She put on a
pretty hood and a bright smile, and went out
to do the shopping. At the door her eyes fell
on the walk, and blush, half shame, half
something else, mounted to her face. He
actually said good morning, and offered his
hand. She put out her left hand. That was
the least worn glove. She felt grateful that
he should recognize her. SO many once
trends had passed Indifferent on the street
that the thought that Van Stupen should
speak to her gave her unexpected happiness.
lawful clever idea, Mademoiselle Isolena."
"Oh, Mr.. Van Stupen how did you know?
l never can forgive myself for it,
"Gad! we all thought it bright idea.
Why, you're broker-in trade, you know !;
same as am, and Pell and Dennison, and ali
the old set. Oh, by-the-way, Sister Patty Is
to be married, and want to do the present.
ing business in good style. You please step
into Tifany's and buy something pretty and
slitable.'
"Mr. Van Stupen, what do you mean? ?"
biz, OF course. Now you're offended. I
beg pardon, Miss Van Rensselaer,. I would
not hurt your feelings for the world. You
know would not. Thought I could help
you"
swamp
"That's right, Iso-Miss Rensselaer,, call
me Van if you like. 1 am your friend"
AC1 uo epcdh VI ILLS uO L1OTe. i am poor
now. Our paths divide. I must earn nv
living, and Patty would never forgive me. /
am truly glad to hear of her marriage. ID
"Look you. Miss Van Rensselaer,, want
some work done. I'll pay you ten per cent"
my terms are five, SIR"
swell, five it is. Here's the money. Spend
it al, and take out your commission
With that he thrust rcll of bills into her
hands, and disappeared into University
Place car just as they reached Broadway.
That night she slept peacefully for the first
time for weeks. She had earned enough in
one day ID support her three. The following
day she laid aside one dollar from her earn,
ings, and received seven more letters, inclos-
ing forty dollars in all. These orders en-
pioyed her nearly all day, and at night she
sent letter with each, detailing the bust
ness transaction. The next day there came
but one letter, and she was trife discour-
aged. Then came the Sabbath; and on the
Monday there were twenty letters, including
one that had evidently wandered about Madi-
son Square in search of her for some time.
1t was from Patty johnson, late Van Stupen,
She was charmed with her brothers beauti
full present, and SO glad to hear that Isolena
had made the selection. "Would it be too
much trouble to do just little shopping
only dozen gloves or so?'
There was no money enclosed. Perhaps
Mis-. johnson was not aware that Miss van
Rensselaer, was in business. Without the
slightest hesitation she inclosed her adyer
tisement to Mrs. johnson, and explained
position. Mrs. johnson might cut her dead
she probably would. She might even talk to
her brother, and perhaps say bitter and disa-
greeabe things. Then she must.
The following day brought more letters,
and loud complaint fron her landady con-
corning the trouble of bringing up so large a
mail. lsolena at once tnrned ali her avail
able assets into money, and made one more
bold push for her life. After much search
she found small Darkroom on the third
story OF store on lBroadway lust below
Union Square, and having supplied it with
secondhand furniture, set up for herself
alone in the city. The room was at once
chamber, parlor, kitchen and business office.
A dollar a day gave her all this, and placed
her within easy reach of the best stores both
on Broadway and Sixth avenue. The re-
moval gave her chance to advertise. and
she meant TO play bold hand in the game.
Slowly, day by day, her business increased.
It kept her upon her feet and in the stores
and streets nearly all day, but in all her wan
behring's about the town she never met Mr..
Van Stupen nor any one else who recognized
her. Patty johnson never answered her let
ter, and her family seemed 10 have utterly
fallen out of her life. Weeks passed, and
the warn, caocnp rop,o Tbap bor b,cipoe,