The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-04-20
FINDING A COMPANION,

"Wanted, a Companion, for an Elder
iy Lady"
That was the advertisement that an.
peared in a newspaper of a rainy Monday
morning in November, 1S-.
Chenille was nothing more than a lit
tie country settlement, with a red brick
Town Hall and a labyrinth of narrow
streets which seemed to have been laid
out with special reference to the bcwild-
ermcnt OF any chance passer, who might
lind himself involved in their maze. A
quiet, dreamy, Rip Van Wrinkle sort Of a
placc-and yet before moor of that Mon
day morning, a swarm of anxious aspir-
ants for the office of "Companion for an
Elderly Lady," had made their appear
ance in the best parlor of the Glcnvillc
House.
Mr.. Reginald Chillingfcld, who had
been out for a walk in the street. was
met on the threshold of the hotel by the
boot-boy:
60, please, sir, there's n lot of 'em all
a-askin' for you"
IA lot of what2" demanded Mr.. Chill
lingicld.
Reginald Chillingfcld was tall and
slender and handsome, with bright blue
eyes and a straight nosc-which latter
feature he rubbed rs he stood staring Mt
Nike Updown.
0f ladies, sir. Come to answer the
A~ said Mr.. C%hillingticld, sI recol-
4 lect now"
!. And little reckoning Of what lay be-
fore him he pushed open the door of the
hotel best parlor.
Only for half a second, however. The
array of feminine faces, all cxpcctantly
turned toward him, was enough to awe
the %stoutcst bachelor heart, and Reginald
DChillingfield closed it again with a bang.
"Jones," said he to his familiar friend,
who had just lighted a cigar in the read
ing-room, 'what shall I do?"
'In respect to what?"
"My Aunt Polly's companion. There's
a dozen of 'em there, apparently all ages
from sixteen to sixty. My Aunt Polly
don't|want twelve companions"
''Take the bcst-looking," suggested
Jones, with revolving lcvity.
"And be scratched by all the rest"
"Takc the worst-looking, then. Ten
to one she's best fitted for a companion
to an old lady"
"My Aunt Polly is an excellent Judge
of beauty. She'd send me back with the
article in less than two hours" rctortcd
Chillingield.
SIN that casc," said Jones, mcditatlvc-
ly cycling the end of his cigar. 81 don't
see how you're to get out of the dilemma
) STONES, don't prove faithlcss in such
a strait as this. Be a man and q friend!
Suppose you had advertised for a COM
panion for your Aunt Polly, and a host
had responded, what would you doc"
II should engage one of 'cm and send
the rest about their business"
eyes; but which onc2 Be practical.
there's a good fellow"
"Thc one whose appearance seems best
adapted to the emergency"
"Joncs, you're a fool" cried out Chill.
lingfcld. cam I to 60 into that room
and stare about as if they are a lot of
winter apples or prize pumpkins on OK
hibition?"
"Have 'em admitted one by one" sug-
.gcsted Jones, and on this hint Mr.. Chill
lingfeld promptly acted.
"You sit and pretend to be reading
the newspaper" whispered Chillingfcld,
"and if you like the applicants looks,
coeghl If you don't, crackle the news
paper! Dear me, my shirt collar is wet
already; my face is burning. Why
couldn't Aunt Polly have hunted up
her own companion? Yes, Mike, all
ready. Ask one of the ladies to walk in |"
And with a grin, Mike announced:
ttMiss Zerinah Hail."
Miss Hall was sail. scant-haircd and
specialized, III a robe af giugham and a
drab silk hat.