The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-15
VOLUME VIII

"Look you, Miss Van Rensselaer,, 1
want some work done. i will pay you
ten per cent"
"My terms are FIVE, sir"
"Well, five it is. Here's the money.
| Spend it all and take out your commits
sion."
With that he thrust roll of bills into
her hands and disappeared into the
University Place car, just as they reached
Broadway. That night she slept peace
fuily for the first time for weeks She.
had earned enough in one day to sup
port her three. The following day she
laid aside one dollar from her earnings,
and received seven more letters, inclos-
ing forty dollars in all. These orders
EN- ployed her nearly all day, and a.
night she sent letter with each, detail
ing the business transaction. The next
day there was but one letter, and she
| Was but trife discouraged. Then came
the Sabbath, and on the Monday there
were twenty letters, including one that
had evidently wandered about Madison
lSquare in searchsofp her for some time.
1t Wss from Patty Johnson, late Van
Stupen. She was charmed with her
brothers. beautiful present, and was glad
to hear that Isolena had made the Sc
lection. "Would it be too much trouble
to do just a little shopping--only a
dozen gloves or sof" m-
\ There was no money enclosed. Per-
haps Mrs. johnson was not aware that
Miss Van Rensselaer, was in business.
Without the slightest hesitation she en-
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 things.
Then she must.
The following day brought more
letters, and loud complaint from her
landlady concerning the trouble of
bringing up 30 large mail. Isolena at
once turned all her available assets into
money, and made one more bold push
for her life. After much search she
found a small back room in the third
story of a store on Broadway, just below
Union Square, and, having supplied it
with second hand furniture, set up for
herself, alone in tine city. The room
was at once o 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 Broad
way and Sixth avenue. The removal
gave her a chance to advertise again,
and she went into it with seeming reck-
less energy. She believed in advertising,
and she meant to play bold hand in
the game.
\ Slowly, day by day, her business
increased. 1t kept her upon her feet
and in the stores and streets nearly all
day, but in all her wanderings about
the city she never met Mr.. Van Stupen
nor any one else who recognized her.
Patty johnson never answered her
letter, and her family seemed to have
utterly fallen out of her life. Weeks
passed, and the warm season came. Then
her business declined, and she at once
spent every dollar she could spare in
new advertisements, and within ten
4 days her correspondence nearly doubled
| in volume.
Late one warm afternoon, as she
climbed the dismal stairs to her room,
she found Mr.. Van Stupen waiting at
| her door. She could do no less than
ask him in. He came into her little
room, and then said slowly: a6.ss
sis this your room, Isolenaw
eyes, Mr.. Van Stupen; it is my
home, counting-room, and all. 1 do up
my packages here, and write my letters,
and live generally. Don't you think
it pleasant room?'
Well-yes; but hardly safe"
"Oh, indeed it is. The janitor and
his wife live upstairs, and the street
door is locked at seven. / am never out
after that. Besides, there are the po-
lice"
"For all that, people might come up
and annoy you. Your father and
brother have been looking for you
They told me yesterday when l re.
turned from Saratoga, and asked where
you lived. 1 had seen your advertise.
ment, but would not tell them"
"That was kind, / am 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"
al know it. Pardon me if seem un
Kind. am not Isolena. l would glad
ly 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 pleas
, antly:
Biz is lookin' up, mann selle. Sixty
, two letters in one day is a big haul"
"She bowed the man out, and then
with the bunch of letters still in he
hand, she said slowly:
"Thank you, Mr.. Van Stupen, yol
a are very kind. need no help. Ihav,
' created good business, and have NOR,
4 than hundred dollars in the saving
i bank, and as soon SIS the fall trade open
| n .toH fol- f0r ~
q / am doing we'll and want for nothing
); save0
She paused. The door slowly opene,
: without warning, and a shambling fig
!, y ure crept in unbidden. 1t startle
= them both with drunken laugh.
"Say-'Solean, gimme q ten-won'
!, you. I've had hard lines-I have"
: "What do you mean, sir, by this insc
Z lenceT cried Mr.. Van Stupen. "Tak
: yourself ofp'
9 "Mr. Van Stupen," cried the sistel
= interposing between the men, "he
= my brother. Edward, there is th
) money; now please go away. Com
y again another day"
= "Yes, demme fly don'ti Ten dollars
u here's wealth for your
y Stumbling down the stairs, he creI
y = away, and the two were left alone.
= "That was not wise, Miss Van Rem
- selaer. He will trouble you sgain."
:. He is my brother, sir" She sal,
' with dignity. "We will not speak
him more"
Y Mr.. Van Stupen was in measure d
n feated. He had not accomplished h
mission, and after few commonplace
y he withdrew, and, without an invitatic
= to renew his call.
"a Now was her life clear before he
= She must give her whole heart to b
=, business. There was naught else to fet
20 on, and it must take that or starv
,J The one friend she had retained hl
proved unfriendiy, How had he dar'