Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-07-28
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Unpaid Bill.

MISCELLANEOUS.
The Unpaid Bill.
g Thirteen and seven are twenty !;
and nine-oh, dear mel L wonder
what that noise in the basement hall
is2 1t sounds just like some one cry
ing"
the pen wherewith she was indus
triously adding up her household ac-
counts, and, metaphorically speaking,
pricked up her ears.
{" 1t is some one cryingI'' she said
to herself. tsOh, dear, dearl. what
a world of tears and tribulatton this
| lisp'
!. Miss Walker had been left penni-
less and unprotected, at the age of
20, but she was not one of the
6 dropping IVY kind that takes to
needlework and tubercles on the
lungs. So Miss Comfortwent boldly.
ahead, opened a first-class boarding
house and made, money. This was
the history of the brisk little woman
in a debage dress and cherry rib
hons at her neck, who hustled down
stairs to see what. could be the mean
ing of the vague, indefinite sobbing
sound which now became audible.
'tOh, it's you, is it?" said Miss
Comfort Walker, as she perceived
Ellen O'Brien, the washetwoman, in
the basement hall.
/" Yes, it's me, worse luck, Miss
Comfort, whimpered poor Ellen.
" And what's the matter?"
its me bill up stairs, Miss Com
fort-the border in the second story
front, wild the gray goold shirt studs
an the green and yellow stones in his
sleevebuttons Nine dollars and siv-
inty cents, Miss Comfort-six weeks
washing.and ironing and now, when
1 makes hould to ak him would hebe
pleased to pay me, he tells me itisn't
convenient And when I tells him
how. sore I need the money, he ups
and gets mad, and says / shan't have
it at all.'
Miss Comfort stood listening with
knitted brows and troubled black
eyes.
/" Have you got your bill withyou,
Ellen?" said she after moment's
hesitation.
q Jimmy wrote it out all neat and
proper" faltered Ellen, producing a
crumpled slip of paIe-blue paper from
her pocket.
s' Give it to me-" said Miss Com
fort Walker. ssAnd come here this
evening at o'clock and you shall
have your money
She went slowly up stairs with the
little piece of paper in her hand.
It's shame,' said Miss Com
fort.
Leotard Carlyon was Miss Comfort
Walkers best boarder, with the sim
gle exception that, up to the present
moment, his S25 week had been in
future.
Now, it so CHANGED that one reason
for her reposing so much confidence
in Mr.. Leotard Carlyon, the new
boarder, was that he was the nephew
and heir apparent of Caleb Carlyon,
the rich banker from whom she rent
ed her brownstone house at the trif-
ing consideration of $4,000 per an
mum.
So she went brayely up to Mr.. Car
lYon's room and tapped at the door.
Come in,'' he called out. "Oh,
it is you, Miss Walker, is it?''
Miss Comfort advanced vaIiantly,
with the bill in her hand, TO where
Leotard Carylon reclined f1anguidly
amid heap of sofa pillows, with q
/ Iy,o -, H.
Don't you think you could settle
this little account, Mr.. Carlyon?" she
said. s. The poor woman needs it
very bad"
Leotard Carlyon's handsome black
brows darkened.
She has been to you with her
story, has sheY' snarled he. t No,
can't settle it.! And 1 wouldn't if
/ could!''
So Miss Comfort tied on a little
brown velvet hat she had trimmed
with scarlet poppies and brown
autumn leaves, and set out brayely
for the Mount Orient Bank.
The clerks stared at her a little
curiously as she was shown into the
presidents room at the back, where
Mr.. Carlyon sat, straight and upright
with blue eyes like falcons and
hair slightly sprinIded with gray.
He elevated his brows at the sight
Eof Miss Comfort Walker. And she
told the story of Ellen O,Brien and
her wrongs
May L ask, Miss Walker, why
you interest yourself so markedly in
this AFFAIR." the banker asked with a
cold, measured calm that contrasted
strangely with the little woman heat
and furry.
Because I think no man has a
right to cheat poor woman out of
her hard-earned money!
J "Cheat is a strong word, Miss.