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

asked where you llved. l had seen your adj.
vertisement, but would not tell them.''
'That was kind, I'm 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.'
II know it. Pardon me if I seem unkind.
am not, Isoena. would gladly serve you,
gladly take you away from such life, gladly
| offer"
| A knock at the door interrupted him. It
was the postman. He counted out large
bundle of letters, and said, pleasantly,
BIZ is looking up, mamselle. Sixty
two letters is big haul"
She bowed the man out, and then, with
| the bunch of letters still in her hand. she
said, slowly,
81 thank you, Mr.. Van Stupen. You are
very kind. [ need no help. have created a
| good business, and have more than a hum
dred dollars in the savings bank, and as soon
as the fall trade opens l shall take more com
Portable quarters. l am doing well, and I
want for nothing save"
She paused. The door slowly opened with
out warning, and a stumbling figure crept in
unpidden. 1t startled them both with drum
ken laugh.
"Say-'Selena, gimme ten won't you I've
had bard lines-I have"
W hUo w yOu nOdh Gil, ny bhio iuSOiCHCCg
cried Mr.. Van Stupen. 'Take yourself offp'
Mr.. Van Stupen," cried the sister, inter-
posing between the men, she is my brother
Edward, there is the money; now please 90
way. Come again another day."
eyes, demme me fy don't. Ten dollars !
here's wealth for youP'
Stumbling down stairs, he crept away and
the two were left alone.
THAT was not wise, Miss Van Rensselaer,.
he will trouble you again.
"He is my brother, Sir" she said with do
nifty. I'VE will not speak of him more.''
Mr.. Van Stupen was in measure defeated
e had not accomplished his mission, and
after few commonplace he withdrew, and
without an invitation to renew his call,
Now was her life clear before her. She
must give her whole heart to her business.
There was naught else to feed on and il must
take that or starve. The one friend she had
retained had proved unfriendly. How had he
dared to come to her since his engagement
to Amy Ramsey? She had seen the engage
ment in some gossip's letter in a newspaper
many weeks before.
BY ten the next morning she had two adj.
vertisements in the Herald, one for better
room, and one for female book-keeper. At
night she glanced over the papers to see if her
advertisements had received attention. Her
eye fell on the marriages:
RAMSEY = COURTLAND - Amy Ramsey
daughter of Theodore Ramsey of this city. to
Allan Cortland, of Stamford, Connecticut"
etc.
The paper slid from her hand, and for an
hour or more she dreamed of the happy 1night
have been. How she had misudged him /
And he was gone!
Three hundred and thirty-one girls and wo-
men presented themselves at her room dur-
ing the next four days. Ten per cent. of
them knew their business fairly well, ninety
per cent OF them were totally ignorant of the
whole subject. After much discussion GIRL
who had first-class talent for doing exactly
as she was told was selected, and in a new
room on West Fourteenth street the two set
up larger and more convenient establish
ment. The girl kept the books, and the mis-
tress shopped for a profession. The week 4
grew to months, and the winter came.
Mademoiselle Isolena constantly spread her
advertisement before the rural public. and the
fame OF her bargains filled the feminine mind
with admiration. She slowly and surely
prospered, and tried to think herself happy
and failed.
In all this neither father nor sister nor
brothers ever visited her. She worked for a
living. They could never forgive that. Mad
lSon square concluded she must have died
and nobody contradicted the rumor, Made
moiselle Isolena was often useful to Madison
Square, but none knew her, none recognized
her. She had changed somewhat. grown
more placid and qu-e5, and her face had put
on womanly beauty the Isolena of Ma olson
Square had never known.
Suddenly the clerk gave notice that she
must leave. All. yes! going to be married.
That was it. Her work was only make
shift till man could be found to support her.
Alter some delay Isoena found her father.
and he called to see her. Would he keep her
books for her! ''Never! She was an migrate
full girl thus to blast the family name. Julia
never did, nor Edward, nor Thomas" Could
he support her? Well, no, not very conven-
iently. He was busy oh the street, and it
took all he could pick up to pay his board and
the boys board. BY the way, he was just a
little short. Could she lend him twenty dol
lars for day or two! In silence she gave him
ten dollars, and he went away without even
thanking her.
She sat down indignant and heart sore. and
would have cried for shame and misery had
not visitor knocked. Patty Van Stupen.
''Isolena! Can believe myself?'
Eyes, Patty, it is l. Can be of service ?'
'Service! Isolena Van Rensselaer,! One
would think you were mademoiselle.''
$50 am"
''Great heavens! has it come to this ?''
II do not know what you mean, Miss Van
Stupen. Shopping is my profession. This is
my office. and l am neither ashamed uor
afraid. explained it to you o1ce by letter,
oh, pardon me! You are married, Mrs..
Mrs.
johnson, Isolena. 1 never received YOUR
letter, and am truly grieved and Shocked
Il 90 not know why you need be. I have
good name in my business, and 1 owe no
man anything"
'Does my brother know of ths-this great
misfortune?''
"He once knew that worked for living,
but that was a long. time ago. have not
seen him for year or more.,'
HE is in Germany. Did you not bear how
that spiteful Amy Ramsey served him? Poor
boy! He lost his money on the street and
then she left him and married CORTLAND
Then roor Van broke down, and father sent
him abroad; and its cheaper living there you
know. Father allows"
There was sudden knock, loud and jolly.
The mistress said, "Come in" and a bic fel-
low entered, breathless and rosy with excite
ment--and something else. The two women
were for moment silent with astonishment,
Isoena found her tongue first.
"Vanr'
both?'
He offered hand to each.
return ?"
Zone hour since. bought Herald and
read the dear girls ad., and here 1 came"
'Oh, Vanp said the two, and with diff.
ferent tone to the Evan" and the s'oh.''
'Pm cured, Isoena. l have cut the par
entail apron string, and defed Madison square,
havn't cent in the world, but I'm going to
work like alike a man. Know ANYBODY
who has spare job?"
frederick Lorberry Van Stupen, am
amazed! l can not listen to such language.
Grandmother Van Stupen will never forgive
you.'
''Bother grandmotherp' replied Frederick.
"Say, sister, couldn't you just run home and
tell 'em Pm returned? You can take the
carriage at the door.
81 will at once, for am grieved and sur
prised beyond expression, and I must consult
with my parents"
"Do-do. 1t Will be kind in you."
"Allow me to wish you very good-morn-
ing, Mademoiselle Isolena."
This Mrs. Patty johnson said in a tolerable
French, and the shopper replied with equal
grace and better French.
Once more they were alone. For moment
neither spoke, and then with smile she drew
near, and said, quietly,
Are you familiar with bookkeeping, Sir?"
dyes marin and T writa q uorv oooJ