Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-14
world. You know would not. | though

That's right. ISO-Miss Rensselaer,
call me Van if you like. am you
friend"
Let us speak of this no more. an
poor now. Oar paths divide. | mus
earn my living, aud Patty would never
forgive me. | am truly glad to hear o
her marriage. I"
Look you. Miss Van Rensselaer,.
want some work done. I'll pay you ter
per cent"
My terms are five, sir"
"Well, five it is. Here's the money
Spend it all, and take out your com.
mission
With that he thrust roll of bills into
her hands, and disappeared into Uni
ve:slty Place car jus. rs they reached
Broadway. That night she slept peace.
iully for the first time for weeks. She
had earned enough in one day to support
her three. The following day she laid
aside one dollar from her earnings, and
received seven more letters. inclosng
forty dollars in all. These orders em-
ployed her nearly all day, and at night
she sent letter with each, detailing the
business transaction. The next day there
came but one letter. and she was triflc
discouraged. Then came The Sabbath ;
and on Mouday there were twenty letters,
including one that had evidently wander
cd about Madison Square in search of her
for some time. IL was from Patty John.
son, late Van S:upen. She was chained
with her brothers beautiful present. and
so glad to heart that Isoena had made
the selection. Would it be too much
trouble to do just little shoppins-only
dozen gloves or so ?"
There was no money enclosed. Per.
hapS Mrs. johnson was not aware that
Miss Van Rensselaer, was in business.
Without the slightest hesitation she in
closed her advertisement to Mrs. John.
son, and explained her position. Mrs
Johnson might cut her dead; she prob
ably would. She might even talk to her
brother, and perhaps say bitter and disa.
gleeablc things. Then she must.
The following day brough, more letters
aud a loud complaint from her landlady
concerning the trouble oi bringing mp SO
large a mail. lsolcna at once turned all
her available assets into money, and
made one more bold push for her lie
After much search she found small back
room on the third story Of store on
Btoadwfy Just below Union Square, and
having supplied it wiki second hand fur
ui,ure, set up for herself, alone in the
city. The room was nj once chamber,
parlor. kitchen and business Office. \
dollar day gave her all this, and placed
her within easy reach of The best stores
both on Broadway aud Sixth avenue.
The removal gave her chance to adver
tise. aud she meant to play bold hand
in the game.
Slowly. day by day, her business in
creased. II kept her upon her feet aud
in the stores and streets nearly all day,
but in all her wanderings about the town
she never met Mr.. Van Supen nor any
one else who recognized her. Patty
Johnson never answered her letter, and
her family seemed to have utterly fallen
out of her lie. Weeks passed, and the
warm season came. Then her business
declined. and she at once spent every
dollar she could spare in new advertise
ments. and within ten days the CORES
pondence doubled in volume.
Late one warm afternoon she climbed
the dismal stairs to her room, and found
Mr.. Van Stupen waiting at the door. She
could do no less than ask him in. He
came into her little room, and then said,
slowly:
"Is this your home. Isolena?'
Yes, MIR. Van Stupen; it is my home,
room and all. DO up my
packages here, and write my letters, and
live generally. Don't you think it
pleasant roomP'
"Well-yesi but hardly safe"
ooh. indeed it is. The janitor and his
wife live up stairs, and the street door is
locked al seven. am never out after
that. Besides, there are the police"
For all that, people might come up and
annoy you. Your father and brothers
have been looking for you. They told
me Yesterday, when l returned from
S Saratoga, and asked where you lived
| had seen your advertisement. but
would not tell them"
That was kind. Im sure"
"You are bitter. Miss Van Rensselaer,.
Had YOU seen them you would have
thanked me for keeping them away"
They are my friends, sir"
"I know it. Pardon me if l seem
unkind. am not, Isolena. would
gladly serve you, gladly take you away
from such life. gladly offer"
A knock at the door interrupted him.
It was The posiman. He counted out
large bundle of letters, ana said pleas
antly.
"Biz is a looking up, mam'selle.
Sixty.two letters is big haul"
She bowed the man out, and then, with