The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-11
ONLY A COMPANION,

Usual Io-hlSnC,' salu Mrs. MAJOR Dart
burg.
She shook her jet-black curls in a SER
pentine cataract about her face Us she
spoke, and critically surveyed herself in
the glass.
Mrs. Major Dartburg had been young
er, and she had been prettier, but she
was surprisingly we'll gottcn-up for all
that. BY gaslight you could scarcely
have told that she was a day over thirty
years of age. And, as she invaribly took
the precaution to be accompanied into
"society" by her companion, Miss Orms-
by, whose special duty it was to observe
and correct ~ mistakes of costume, CON-
plexion and curls before other eyes could
possibly take note of them, Mrs. Dart
burg felt tolerably safe.
Mrs. Dartburg was q widow in search
of a rich husband. The deceased major
had been inconsiderate enough to die
and leave her without an income which
was decidedly incompatible with her
wants-and the only thing left for her
was to marry some one who could supply
the awkward deficiency.
So Kate Ormsby was taken every year
to some gay watering place or brilliantly
thronged springs.
Kate was very unlike her patroness, rs
she sat there pale and quiet in her blue
dress. Her face was oval, with limpid,
hazel eyes; features pure and straight,
and masses of raven black hair coiled in
heavy braids at the back of her head.
'Insipid looking" Mrs. Major Dartburg
declared. Kate cared very little for the
verdict, as long as her ''salary," as Mrs.
Dartburg preferred to phrase 1t, suficed
for the support of her two little orphan
.brothers. :.
"No," said Mrs. Dartburg, q~uerulous-
~, 'Idon't look as we'll as usual, and if
MIR. Truxton is to be there, I want to
look better. Mr.. Truxton has estates in
the West Indies, owns a yacht and drives
a four-in-hand. I tell you what, Kate,
you must put on a little more rouge on
the left check! And, Kate-if YOU
would only leave off wearing those dow
dy black dressesl I really am beginning
to be ashamed of you when we go into
the ballroom. Do get something new
Mend stylish-a black iron-grenadine, or a
China Grape"
" have others to provide for besides
myself" said Kate, quietly. 81 cannot
afford the new decorations of which you
speak, Mrs. Dartburg."
"Br;t Pm not aware that I am called
upon to support all the beggars and or
phans in creation" said the widow,
sharply. 'Here-put this spray of pur-
pie pansies in your hair-they are quite
mourning enough, I'm sure"
: Mrs. Dartburg's scarlet-lippcd smile
was unwontedly sweet that night, as she
courtesied low TO Mr.. Truxton, the rich
widower.
"He's handsome" thought the hus-
band huntress. 'Dear me, he can't be
over forty, and as straight as an arrow ="
And she chatted away in her most fas-
cinating manner as she walked through
the rooms, leaning on Mr.. T~ruxton's arm.
"a very agreeable woman" thought
the millionaire, ''though not as young as
she has been! Knows everybody, and
seems exceedingly amiablc. If I should
marry again-and, really, little Tom
needs a woman's care when he is at home
for the holidays-it certainly is worth
thinking about"
These were the disjointed mcditations
that passed through Mr.. Truxton's mind
as he politely listened to the widows
chit-chat, and asked questions about the
various occupants of the crowded room.
"Who is that tall girl by the Window
he asked, with the black eyes and the
pretty hair2">
Glow strange that you should notice
herl Why, she is my companion, Kate
Ormsby, a sort of poor relation, whom !
keep with me out of pure charity"
every kind of you, I am sure" said
MIR. Truxton, and he thought again that
with such an amiable parsonage as this
his motherless little boy would hardly
fail to be happy.
SITS a trial at times" vent on Mrs,
Dartburg, who was determined to neu.
tralize the admiration which heumed in
Mr.. Truxton's eyes, as he glanced back
over his shoulder toward Kate's aueenly