Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-01-04
MY CURIOUS COMPANION.

Wanted by young married lady,
companion to reside with her during
her husbands absence III India. A
liberal salary will be given, with every
home comfort, to any one suitable. Ap-
ply, personally, if possible, at No. 240
Upper Barkeley street. W.
The foregoing advertisement was dis
patched by me after considerable cogita-
ton and | waited the results with some
anxiety
My husband, Major ConeyerS, had
been suddenly ordered to India; and
having no sister or any available cousin
whom | could invite to stay with me
during his absence, | thought COM
panion was the best thing with which /
could provide myself; accordingly, in
dited my small paragraph which had
the satisfaction of seeing placed i'll II
the morning after | sent IT, | lived in
London, consequently felt certain that
the personal interview would be easily
managed; hut had committed an error
i'll not naming II particular hour, as
from IL i'll the forenoon until quite late
in the day the applications for u per-
sonal interview with my unfortunate
self never ceased. The first arrival
was very handsomely dressed lady of
about so, who came, evidently, quite
prepared to enter upon her duties ut
once, and quite ovcrpoWered me with
Il series Of questions and statements,
without giving me the faintest chance
of making any inquiries myself She
had lived with Lady This and Honor
able Mrs That, and one and all had
treated her Ikea sister-she felt Ger
tain that would do the same--indeed,
she quite knew me already. Home
comforts were exactly what she cared
for; rs to salary it was no object to her
"a hundred year was all she asked,
though dear Lady Golding had said she
was never to take less than two.
am afraid, put III at this juno
ture, that even one hundred is beyond
what intend to give, and | live SO
quietly
"We won't quarrel about salary"
interrupted my would-be-companlon,
and rs to quictness. it is just what |
want
A peal ut the door-bell emboldened
me to still greater determination, so |
replied very rcsolutelv for me: u do
not think We should suit; am sorry
you have had the trouble Of coming
So am |, She rejoined dryly; "but
one ought not to trust to advertise
mcnts.
Hardly noticing my good morning,
She got up, and tlounced down stairs,
evidently in great wrath at her rejec-
ton.
Another lady to see you, ma am,
announced my parlor maid
a very quiet, sweet-looking little per
son came forward, and 1t the first
glance fancied ! had found suitable
companion. But alas sher story was
sad one, and there We're reasons which
rendered it impossible for me to avail
myself Of her society She was mar
ried Her husband was hopeless in
valid, and they were very poor. She
had not been educated highly enough
to he governess, and when She saw
advertisement, she fancicd, If the
salary was good, She might be my conn
panion by day, and return at night to
her own home, which was at no great
distance from my house. She looked
sc thin and so i'll that | was almost
tempted To make some arrangement
with her, but Us | intended leaving
town occasionally second thought
showed inc il was out Of the question.
Besides, | could not have borne to
think that while she was with me, She
would always be in agony to be with
her husband which. had | engaged
her, would most naturally have fol-
lowed. told her 50 as kindly as posi-
bic, and, after making her take glass
of wine and some cake-which latter |
saw her furtively convey 70 her pocket,
for her sick husband. | supposed she
gave me her direction, and took horde-
parture. | afterward went % see her,
and her tale was sadly verified. But to
proceed.
Ny next visitor was q most pert dam
scl. without any Pretensions ~ being 4
lady, WHO Informed me that her pa va
dead, and IL There were many of