Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-21
ANSWERING AN AID.

better off.
That was the way matters stood one
dark November morning when, not
quite certain whether it was the better
plan to breakfast off laudanum or to
hire hand organ and go out by the
day, took up the newspaper in a sort
of cool desperation.
"Wanted-A baby to adopt"
/ wasn't baby and therefore proba-
bly, wouldn't suit, though 1 was quite
sure that no screaming wretch with
pink nose and white long clothes ever
needed adoption more than did.
"Wanted-A girl for general house
work."
There again my six feet and carroty
beard stood in the way.
AS listlessly glanced over the teem-
ing columns, mentally commenting on
them after this fashion, my eye sud
denly became arrested by a paragraph
just below:
"a widow of means would like a
companion for life. Wealth no object.
Good looks and polished manners in
dispensable."
There was certainly no reason, I
thought, why should not answer to
Nov, here's a curious coincidence"
quoth to myself, hurriedly emptying
n cologne bottle over my hair to hide
the predominant. smell of tobacco
smoke. "A widow wants a husband,
and want money. Dozens of fellows
marry for money every day of their
lives, and l do not see why may not
do the same thing"
1 donned my best lilac necktie, tied
carefully so as to hide the ragged
spots, brushed my coat neatly and
drew on pair of not very much soiled
kid gloves. Then catching up the
newspaper I hastily sought the event
full paragraph, jotted down the ad-
dress and trotted off in high spirits.
A trim looking maidservant an
swered the bell as gave it modest
little jerk. iz
'Ts your mistress at home?
Don't know, sir. What may be your
business?''
IL called in answer to the adver-
tisement."
After a moments absence, during
which L 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 luxuriously easy chair beside a
writing table sat lady of about thir-
ty, whose fresh, pretty face was
charmingly set off by a scarlet cash.
mere morning wrapper.
1 came to the conclusion that this
widow was a most fascinating little
creature.
She didn't ask me to be seated-per-
haps she was a little timid about it
so 1 stood with my hat in my hand
while she referred languidly to little
written memorandum on 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 adj
vertisement of this morning?' she
asked.
1 nodded, and the blood mounted to
the very roots of my hair.
'What can you do?" she asked abb
ruptly.
hazarded the bold answer of:
Everything, madam"
81 suppose you can bring me good
references 2"
II assure you, ma'am, they shall be
entirely satisfactory"
'Where was your last placer"
Here was posing question. looked
up at the ceiling, down at the floor, but
no inspiration came to my aid as I
stammered out, with my face af1ame
and my eyes riveted on the lining of
my hat:
ito tell the truth, ma'am-I never
have been married"
"MarrledT' she repeated. "Oh, that's
no objection. mean where did you
live last?"
l mentioned the street and number
where my tin sign hung out. She noted
it down in fairy notebook.
81 shall want you," she remarked,
playing abstractedly with her little
gold pencil. ito work in my garden oc-
casionally and to drive my horses when
the coachman is not on hand. How
much do you expect a month? 1 al
lowed my last $40 a month and his
clothing"
My hair stood on end. Ten dollars a
month! No wonder my predecessor had
walked out of the world. Ten dollars
wouldn't keep me in cigars, to say;
uOluluS Oh XIII gloves uuu newspapers
Madam" quoth l meekly, lis not
that rather limited income to allow a
husband in societyg
IA husband? Who's talking about
husbands % CALCULATED the lady, drop
ping her pencil and sitting up erect in
her chair.
At beg your pardon, ma am. Did you
not advertise for a husbandY
81 advertised for footmanv'
There is some mistake, ma'am. Are
you not the widow of means who
ST am not a widow. and If you do not
instantly leave the house will prove
the fact by calling my husband to pitch
you out of the window"
1 went back to the shadow of the tin
sign wiser and better man.
I'm married now. as you know, to as
pretty little woman as ever bore No.
slippers, but courted her in the old
fashioned way, and the money she
Davs the housekeeping bills with is