Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-08

- = - S.NSeA-i- NuShg III 1NA
came up to the drawingroom and
informed me that such nice-lOOking
young lady was in the dining-room
quite the incest that had been vet.
Ask her to come up stairs, Ellis,
but do not admit any one else, | re-
piled, and the next minute the draw
ing-room door was thrown open by
Ellis, and "Miss Burke, was an
nounced.
She was dressed in mourning, and
even in the dim light was, could
see, pale-faced, rather handsome
girl of apparently about four and
twenty. Her height was over the
average, but seemed greater from
extreme thinness, which struck me
as almost striking. Good evening,
she said, in a low and rather pleas
ant voice. l am AFRAID l am very
late; it was SO kind of You TO SEE me.
1t is late, assented, but that does
not matter.
Thank you, responded my visitor,
came about your advertisement-I
saw you wanted companion, and [
am anxious to get situation of that
kind.
have had so many applications
to day, answered for something
better to say.s
All! Lean quite fancy it, returned
Miss Burke. | fear | avn to late?
No, 1 replied; l have seen no one
yet to suit me.
If you would only try me, I should
do my utmost to please you, she
said almost pleadingly. | have al
ready been a companion, and | can
give you references which may in
duce you to think of me; and Miss
Burke opened a small black velvet
bag, which, until then, | had not
perceived, and placed in my bands
monogramed and coroneted epIstle,
addressed to herself, purporting to
come from Lady Montaeute, whose
companion she had been for two
years, and who expressed herself in
the warmest terms, assuring Miss
Burke, whenever she returned from
the continent, whittier she was just
going, that it would give her the
greatest of pleasure to answer any
inquiries in herfavor; in the mean
time Lady Montacute authorized
her to make what use she chose of
the letter now sent, ending by say
ing she was certain, wherever she
went, Miss Burke must be favOrite
and an acquisition.
Then followed a letter from the
Rev. Mr.. White, from a remote rec
tory in Cumberland, stating thai he
had known Miss Emily Burke from
her childhood, and could certify that
she was not only desirable in all re-
spects, but most amiable and tai
ented young lady, whose family
were both well known and highly re-
spected. Nothing could be more
satisfactory; and, after reading the
two missives carefully by the light
of the fire, l raised my eyes toward
my visitor, whom / found regarding
me in the most eager manner ina
ginabls.
They are most kind letters, / said
and, so far as references go, | am
sure | could do no better. Your
duties would be very light-it is
really only for the sake of compan-
ionsbip that | require any one-as |
do everything for myself; but have
been very lonely since my husband
went away.
can imagine it, responded Miss
Burke, sympathizingly. | should
do my utmost to cheer you.
You are very kind to say 30, l an
swered. Should we agree as to
terms, when could you come?
Tomorrow, if you will permit me,
replied Miss Burke. l am in lodg-
ings, and the expense of them is so
great that | should be only too glad
to give them up. l am very poor,
she added, in low tone.
was Sorry for the poor girl; and
feeling | had been as prudent as pos
sible in perusing her references, and
trusting a good deal to her air of
quiet respectability, 1 proceeded to
state my terms, which were eagerly
accepted. After a little converse
tion, all was settled, and nv COM
psnion promised to make her ap-
prarance on the following day. For
the rest of that evening l was unus-
ually meditative. / was pleased and
yet not pleased. She was not alto
gether my beau ideal of a cOmpan-
ion. Although lady like, and with
undeniable references, there was a
certain awkwardness in her manner.
Her room was to be on the same
floor with my own; and on the
following morning went in, short
time before she arrived, to see that
everything was ready for her. 1t
was October, and the weather was
chilly, so l desired that she should
have fire, as / fancied, coming
from wretched lodgings, it might be
a sort of welcome to her. At one
o'clock she arrived, bringing with
her small black box as her sole lug
gage, which Ellis and the house
maid, between them, carried direct
y u her room, whittier she followed
them almost Immediately, TO take
off her things. | accompanied her,
and remained for few minutes,
telling her to join me in the draw
ing-room as soon as she could, lunch
being ready.
She presently appeared, very
much altered by the removal of her
bonnet. She wore her hair in a
crop, fashion | detested; and her
figure without cloak was only re-
deemed from awkwardness by the
well-made black dress, which had
evidently been the work of first
rate nOdiSte. She wore no orna
ments except plain gold ring on
the little finger of the left hand,
which | noticed was particularly
large. | ceased to criticise her after
we had been together for a little
while. She was so pleasant, so chat
W, and yet so quiet withal, that ere