Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-07-04
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Thirteen and seven are twenty
and nine-ou, dear me! | wonder
what that noise III the basement
hall is! II sounds just like some
one crying"
Miss Comfort Walker laid dowr
the pen whercwilh she WAS iudnStri
ously adding up her household ac
counts and metaphorically speaking
priclled up her ears.
at is some one cryingl" she said
to herself. "Oh, dear, dear! what q
world Of tears and tribulation this
ls!n
Mrs Walker had been penniless
and unprotected ut the age Of 20
but she was not Of the "drooping
ivy" kind that takes to needleworll
and tuberclcs on the lungs. So Miss
Comfort went boldly ahead, open
ed !, first.class clearinghouse and
made money. This WIS the history
of the brisk little woman in Il brown
debage diesS and cherry ribbons at
her neck, who hustled down stairs
to sec What could be the meaning
of the vague, indefinite sobbing
sound which now became audible.
"Oh, it's you, is ite" said Miss
! Comfort Walker, rs she perceived
Ellen O'Brien, the washerwoman,
in the basement hall.
eyes, it's me, worse luck, Miss
Comfort" wlimpered poor Ellen.
"And what's the matter?'
otis me bill up stairs, Miss Com
tort-thc boarderin the second story
front, with the gay gold shirt studs
an the green and yellow stones in
his sleeve buttons! Nine dollars and
Siventy cents, Miss Comfort-six
weeks washing and ironing-and
now, when makes bold TO ;lX him
would he he pleased to pay me, he
tells me 1t isn't convanient! Aud
when | tells him low sore l need
the money he ups and gets mad,
and says | shan't have it at all.
Miss Comfort stood listening, with
knitted brows aud troubled black
eyes. :,
.sHave you got your bill with you,
Ellen?" said she, after Il moments
hesitation.
"Jimmy wrote it out, all nate and
proper" taltered Ellen, producing
a crumplcd slip Of pale blue paper
from her pocket.
Give it to me-" said Miss Com
fort Walker. "Anl come here this
evening at S o'clock, and you shall
have your money"
She went slowly up stairs with
the little piece Of paper in herlland'
cts a shame," said Miss Conn
fort.
Leotard Carlyon was Miss Com
fort Walkers best hoarder, with
the single exception that, up to the
present moment, lis twenty five
dollar a week had been in future
Now it CHANGED that one reason
for her reposing so much confidence
in Mr.. Leotard CarlAon, the new
boartler. was that he was the neph
ew and heirapparent Of Caleb Carl
yon, the rich banker from whom
she rented her brown stone house
at the tritling consideration OF three
thousand dollars per annum.
So she went blavely up to Mr.
Carlyo1's room and tapped at the
door.
"Come in" he called out. ooh
it's you, Miss Walker, is it!"
Miss Comfort advanced valiantly
with the bill in her hand to where
Leotald Callyon rcclined langnidly
amid a heap Of sofa pillows, with a
newspaper in his hand.
"Don't you think you could set
tie this little account, Mr.. CarlyOng
she asked. "The poor woman needs
it so very much" .
Leotard Carlyon's handsome
black brows darkened.
"She has been to you with hel
story, has shea" snarled be. ''No,
can't settle it. And | wouldn't II
| could"
So Miss comfort tied on little
brown velvet hat she had trimmed
with scarlet peoples and brown au
tumn leaves, and set out brayely
for the Mount Orient Bank.
The clerk stared at her a little
curiously ais she WAS Shown into
the presidents room at the back
where Mr., Carlyon sat, straight
and upright, with blue eyes like
falcon and hair slightly sprinklet
with gray.
He elevated his brows at the
sight of Miss Comfort Walker
And she told The story OF Ellel
O'Blien and her wrongs.
"May,I ask, Miss Walker, why
you interest yourself so markedly
in this AFFAIR."" the banker asked
: with a cold, measured calm tina
contrasted strangely with the littl'
woman's heat and furry.
sBccausc l think no man has
right to cheat poor woman ont o
her hard earned money"
sCLeat is a strong word, Mis-
Walker" observed the landlord.
tits the only correct word il
this case, Mr.. Carly on" retortet
Miss Comfort, secretly marvellins
at her own courage in thus daring
confront tie stately banker.