The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-02
A CURIOUS COMPANION.

WANTED. by a Young married lady. a
w companion to reside with her during her
husband shsence in Tnds. A liberal salary
will Re given, with every home comfort. to any
one suitable. Apply, UerHOasllv IL possible
At No. 24O Upper Berkeley street. W
The fOrePO Dg advertise ment was dis
patched by me after considerable copi-
tatiOn, and / awaited the result of IL
with some anxiety. My husband, Ma
ior COnyers, had been suddenly ordered
10 India and having TO sister or anv
available cousin whom ] could invite TO
stay with me during his absence, l
thought p companion was the best
thing with which / could provide ny
self accordingly, I indited my small
paragraph, which l had the satisfaction
Oi seeing placed in a very conspicuous
part OF the paper on the morning after
] sent it. l lived in London, e0nse-
quen'lv felt certain that the persona
interview would he easily managed
but I had committed an error in not
naming any particular hour, as. from
eleven IN the forenoon until quite late
IN tho dav, the applications for a per-
RoDal interview with my unfortunate
eelf never ceased.
Visitors in answer to the advertise
ment came frequently, bUt none of
them suited me.
Just as it was getting dusk. nv ser
want came Up 10 the drawing room and
Informed mo that such "A nice looking
young lady was in the dining room
quite the incest that had been vet.
Ask her 70 come np staiTs, then,
Ellis {; but do not admit any one else.
| replied; ; and the next minute the
drawing room door was thrown open by
Ellls, and Miss Burke " announced.
N1e was dressed in mourning, and
even in the dim light was, I could see.
pale-face, rather handsome girl of an
parently about four and-twentv. Her
height was over the average, but seemed
greater from her extreme thinnass.
which struck me MS almost startling,
Good evening, she said. in a low and
rather pleasant voice "I am afraid I
am very late it was so kind of YOU to
see me-"
" 1t is late" I assented, "but that
does not matter"
Thank You, ;" responded my visitor.
came about your advertisemeDt-I
saw you wanted companion, and I am
anxious to get n situation of the kind. 3"
have had so many applications to-
uay, 1 answered, for want Of something
better to say.
All can quite faucy / =" returned
Miss Burke. "I fear I an too Iate?"
No. L replied 81 have seen no
one yet to suit me-"
II yuu would only try me. I should
do my utmost t. please Won " she SAID
almost pleadinRly. - have ALREADY
been companion, and 7 can give Won
references which may induce Won to
think OF ne; ;" and Miss Burke opened
small black velvet bag. which. until
then, ] had not perceived. aud placed
~ my hand mOnOgramed and coro-
net'ed epistle, addressed to herself
Pnrportlng to come from Lady Mon
tacute, whose companion she had been
Tor two years, aud who expressed her
sell IN the warmest terms, assuring
Miss Burke. whenever she returned
from the continent, whittier she was lust
then going, that 1t would give her the
greatest pleasure to answer any inQuir
scs IN her favor in the meantime. Lady
MantaCnte authorized her to make what
ne Nh" chose OF the letter nov sent.
citing by saying she was certain
wherever she went, Miss Burke must
bc favorIte and an acquisition.
Then followed p letter from Rev
Hlr. White, from a remote rectory IN
Cumberland, stating that he had known
Miss Emily BGrke from her childhood
ana could certify that she WAS not only
desirable in all respects. but a most
ninlthIe ard talented Young lady. whose
family were both well known and hirhIv
respected. Nothing could he mora sat-
INiart0ry ; ard after reading the two
m'sslves clrefnliy by the light of tine
hr". l raised my eyes towards my Wis
Itrr, whom I found regarding me in the
most eager manner imaginable.
They are most kind letters " said.
" aud as far as references GO, | am sure
| cOuld not DO better. Your duties
would be very hght-it is really only
for the sake of cOmpanionship that /
require any one, as | do everything for
myself, but / have been very lonely
since my husband went awav."
" can imagine il, responded Miss
Burke, sympatbizingly. 81 should do
my utmost to cheer YOU"
" You are very kind to say so. | an
swered. should we agree as to terms.
when could you come ?"
Tomorrow, if you will permit me "
rephed Miss Burke. "I am in lode
lngs, and the expense of them is so
great, should only be too glad TO give
them up-I am very poor. she added
in a low tone.
L was sorry for the poor girl : and
feeling L had been as prudent as posi-
bic IN per1s'ng her references, and
trusting n good deal to her AR OF quiet
respectabllity, proceeded 20 state nv
terms, which were eagerly accepted.
After little conversation all was set
tied, and my companion promised to
make her appearance before luncheon
on the Following day. For the rest of
that evening ] was unusually medita.
hve; l was pleased, and vet not DIeased.
one was not altogether my bean ideal of
a compauIon. Although IalvIike. and
WIN undenIabie references, there was a
certain awkwardness in her manner.
her room was 20 he on tive same floor
with nv own; ard on the following
morning I went in, short time before
she arrived, to see that .vcrything was
ready for her. Il was October. and the
weather was chilly, So | desired that she
should have a fire, as | fancied, coming
from wretched lodgings, it might be q
sort OF welcome for her. At one O'Clock
she arrived, bringing with her small
black box as her sole luggage, which
Eils and the hOusemaid. between them
carried directly to her room, whittier
she followed them almost immediately,
to take of her things ] accompanied
her, and remained for few minutes
telling her To- Join me in the drawing
room as soon as she could, lunch beirc
ready.
She presently appeared, very mucl
altered by the removal Of her bonnet
She wore her hair in a crop, a fashion
detested and her figure without he
cloak was only redeemed from awkward
ness by the well-made black dress, whicl
bad evidently been the work of first
rate BlOdiStc. She wore no ornaments
except plain gold ring on the littl
finger Of her left hand, which notice,
was particularly large. 1 ceased T.
ctltcIse her after we had been togetho
for little. She was so pleasant, s,
chattT. and vet ro quiet withat, that er
evening came I began to congratulate
myself on nv own peTspicacity in hav
ny engaged her, and was fully prepare,
10 indOrse Lady MOntacute's opinion