Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-27
HE ANSWERED AN AID.

IL was when was considerably younger
and l,recrcr than / am now-when / wore
my shirt collars turned down and tried 20
believe that my red hair could be poma-
| TUNED down TO deep auburn and that
the squint in my left eye was merely PEN
| sive expression.
had just hung out my shingle, and not
' client had come near me. i was over
Laa,, and ears in debt, and, what was worse.
sa,. no ~. of being any better Of
That ,,as Ne way matters stood one
dark Novsmber mo orning when, not quite
certain whether IL was the better plan 10
breakfast off laudanum or ~ hire nano
organ and go out by the day, to>N up INC
newspaper In a sort Of cool desperation
"Wanted-A baby to adopt"
wasn't baby, and therefore probably
wouldn't suit, though / was quite sureth
no screaming wretch with pink nose and
white long clothes ever needed adoption
more than didl
"Wanted-A girl for general housework."
There again my six feet and carroty beard
stood in the way.
As listlessly glanced over the teeming
columns, mentally commenting on them
after this fashion, my eye suddenly became
arrested by a paragraph just below;
"A widow lady of means would like
companion for life Wealth no object.
Good looks and polished manners indis-
pensable."
There was certainly no reason, I thought,
why should not answer to the latter
clause of the advertisements
"Now, here's curious coincidence"
quoth | to myself, hurriedly emptying
cologne bottle over my hair to hide the pre-
dominant smell Of tobacco smoke. "A
widow lady wants husband and want
money. Dozens of fellows marry for money
every day of their lives, and / do not see
why / may not do the same thing"
donIied my best lilac necktie, tied care
fully so as TO hide the ragged spots, brushed
my coat neatly and drew on pair of not
very much soiled kid gloves Then catch
ing up the newspaper hastily sought the
eventful paragraph, jotted down the ad-
dress and trotted off in high spirits.
A trim looking maidservant answered the
bell as gave it n modest little jerk.
els your mistress at home"
Don't know, sir. What may be your
busness2"
IL called in answer to the advertise
ment"
After moments absence, during which
I stood sheepishly in the hall, balancing
first on one heel, then on the other, the girl
returned and ushered me into an elegant
little morning room.
In a luxurious easy chair beside writing
table sat lady of about 80, whose fresh,
pretty face was charmingly set off by a
scarlet cashmere morning wrapper.
came to the conclusion that this widow
was most fascinating little creature.
She didn't ask me to be seated-perhaps
she was little timid about it-so / stood
with my hat In my hand while she referred
languidly to little written memorandum
OH the table. Perhaps-and my heart sank
into my boots at the idea-she had had
more applications than one for the vacant
post.
you are come in answer to my adver-
tisement Of this morningi" she asked.
! nodded, and the blood mounted to the
very roots of my hair.
"What can you dor" she asked abruptly.
| hazarded the bold answer of:
Everything, madam"
'I suppose you can bring me good refer
ences d"
81 .ssure you, ms'am, they shall be en-
tirely satisfactory"
"Where was your last placer"
Here was posing question. looked up
at the ceiling, down at the floor but no in
spiration came to my aid as stammered
out, with my face aflame and my eyes riv-
eted on the lining of my hat:
ito tell the truth, ma'am-I never
have been marriedr'
"MarriedY" she repeated, "oh, that's no
objectionl Imean where did you live lastp"
mentioned the street and number where
my tin sign hung out. She noted 1t down in
a fairy notebook.
ICha oh lraI II
ing abstractedly with her little gold pencil,
Ito work in my garden occasionally and to
drive my horses when the coachman is not
on hand. How much do you expect
month"; ] allowed my last $40 a month
and his clothing"
MY hair stood on end. Ten dollars
month"; No wonder my predecessor had
walked out Of the world. Ten dollars
wouldn't keep me in cigars, to say nothing
Of kid gloves and newspapers.
MADAM" quoth meekly, 'is not that
rather limited income to allow a husband
In society,""
"A husbands Who's talking about hus-
bandsw CALCULATED the lady, dropping her
pencil and sitting up erect in her chair.
~ beg your pardon, ma'am-did not you
advertise for husband"
II advertised for footman"
"There Is some mistake, ma'am--are you
not the widow lady Of means who"-
II am not n widow-and II you do not In
stantly leave the house will prove the fact
by calling my husband to pitch you out Of
the Window
Invent back to the shadow of the tin sign
a wiser and better man.
Pm married now, as you know, to as
pretty little woman as ever wore No.
"a N 4 Al
fashioned way, and the money she pays the
housekeeping bills with is what earn In an
honest. above board style.-Boston Globe