The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-22
Only a Companion.

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She shook her jet-black curls in
a selpentine cataract about her face
as she spoke, and critically surveyed
herself in the glass.
Mrs. Major Dartburg had been
younger, and she had been prettier,
but she was surprising well gotten
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 pre-
caution to be accompanied into
society" by her companion, Miss
Ormsby, whose special duty it was
to observe and correct mistakes of
costume, complexion and curls be-
fore other eyes could possibly take
note of them, Mrs. Dartburg felt
tolerably safe.
Mrs. Dartburg was a widow in
in search of a rich husband. The
deceased major had been inconsid-
crate enough to die and leave her
without an income which was de-
cidedly 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 patron-
ess, as she sat there pale and quiet
in her blue dress. Her face was
oval, with limpid, hazel eyes ; fea-
lures pure and straight, and masses
of raven black hair coiled in heavy
braids at the back of her head.
"Insipid lookingp Mrs. Major Dart
burg declared. Kate cared very
little for the verdict, as long as her
SALARY" as Mrs. Dartburg preferred
to phrase it, sufficed for the sup
port of her two little orphan
brothers.
"No," said Mrs. Darthurg, quer-
ulously, 81 don't look as well as
usual, and if Mr.. Truxton is to
be there, l 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 little more rouge
on the left cheek And, Kate-if
you would only leave off wearing
those dowdy black dresses 1 really
am beginning to be ashamed of you
when we go into the ballroom. Do
get something new and stylish-a
black iron-grenadine, or a China
Grape"
81 have others to provide for be-
sides myself" said Kate, quietly. 81
cannot afford the new decorations of
which you speak, Mrs. Dartburg."
"But Pm not aware that l am
called upon to support all the beg
gars and orphans in creation p said
the widow sharply. "Here-put
this spray of purple pansies in your
hair-they are quite mourning
enough, I'm sure"
Mrs. Dartburg's scarlet-lepped
smile was unwontedly sweet that
night, as she courtesied low to Mr..
Truxson. the rich widower.
"He's handsome thought the
husband huntress. "Dear me, he
can't be over forty, and as straight
as an arrowp
And she chatted away in her
most fascinating manner as she
walked through the rooms, leaning
on Mr.. Truxton's arm.
"A very agreeable woman
thought the millionaire, though
not as young as she has been
Knows everybody, and seems ex-
ceedingly amiable. If I should
marry again-and, really, little Tom
needs woman's care when he is at
home for the holidays-it certainly
is worth thinking about"
These were the disjointed medita-
tions that passed through Mr.. Trux-
toms 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 win
dow?" he asked, with the black
eyes and the pretty hair?"
"How strange that you should
notice her Why, she is my COM
panion, Kate Ormsby, sort of poor
relation, whom l keep with me out
of pure charity"
every kind of you, / am sure
said Mr.. Truxton. and he thought
again that with such an amiable
parsonage as this his motherless
little boy would hardly fail to be
happy.
cts a trial at times" went or
Mrs. Dartburg, who was determined
to neutralize the admiration which
beamed in Mr.. rruxton's ewes. o,