The Democratic advocate., 1907-01-25
Selett Stnrp.
CHOOSING A COMPANION.
A STORY or AUNT, NEPHEW AND SOME
BODY ELSE.

1t all came about through my own good
nature and my willingness to oblige my
Aunt Caroline, from whom | may admit,
| | had certain expectations.
had been paying her brief visit in
the country-a duty visit-and on the eve
of my departure she addressed Inc as fol-
| lows:
Charles, when you get back to town,
| want you to look round and see if you
can find suitable companion; bright,
cheerful person, you understand, not too
old, and with no objection to the country.
Observation-Disclosures too old-no
objection to the country, " | repeated,
making d mental note of the qualifications.
Very good And the salary
Thirty pounds a year.
Small, ism it?' ventured.
"Quite enough, declared my aunt, in
a way which showed there was no more
to be said on the point.
In thinking the matter over that night
in my own room, [ confess that did not
altogether relish the commission. would
have wriggled out of it willingly if | could,
but prudential reasons left me no choice.
On arriving in town | lost no time in
starting upon my quest for Upright,
cheerful person, not too old, and with no
objection to the country. - The readiest
course | could adopt, as it seemed to me,
was to call at some Of the registry offices
and ascertain if they had anyone answering
the description on their books.
The very next morning | made quite IA
round of these institutions. At each and
all I was received with open arms, and re-
quested to wait while they waded through
interminable pages Of names, addresses,
qualifications, etc. [ cut the matter short
in every instance by saying that If they
found lady likely TO suit, [ should be glad
if they would ask her to call at the Waver-
ly Hotel, where | happened to be staying,
between 3 and that afternoon, tor the
purpose of an interview.
Having set the bail rolling, as it were,
and feeling that nothing further could be
done at the moment, | turned into my
club for lunch. There unexpectedly ran
across an old friend, Tom Railton, whom
[ had not seen for a long time.
We lunched together and adjourned to
the smoking room afterward, where we sat
chatting and slipping our coffee for the best
part of an hour Railton was very en-
tertaining companion, and, as usual, had
plenty of good stories to tell.
Presently, as [ glanced up at t he clock,
| [ started [ had forgotten all about the
| appointments at the hotel. 1t was just
possible that some one might have called
! from one or other of the registry offices
and be waiting there for me now, as it was
past 3 o clock already.
sSorry, old man, - | said, jumping up,
"but [ must be off at once. ought to
have been back at my hotel ten minutes
ago
'sOh, where's the hurry" put in Tom.
[ explained the matter to him IN few
words
ssThen I'll come along with you, he
announced, in reply. "Lf you find no one
there, as is very likely to be the case, we
can toddle off somewhere together.
As the hotel was in another quarter OF
the city, it was drawing on 4 o clock be
fore we reached it. The moment we en-
tered the waiter came bustling up to me
with something like a look of relief on his
face.
s'Glad you We got back, sir he said.
'sThey' re all waiting for you.
"Ar Who?' l asked blankly.
Ladies', sir-from the registry offices
Said you appointed for EN- to call here at
3 O clock They were up to the minute,
most of en-. I showed EN- into the
morning room upstairs, and they We beer
glaring at each other ever since without
speaking word
The picture dismayed me. Istood there
irresolutely, hardly knowing what to do.
"Are-are there many of them 2?
asked.
"a whole roonful, sir. Every office
sent a batch of its own for you to choose
from
Good heavens A roomful! | fel
cold all down the spine. | turned ant
looked distractedly at Railton. The only
sympathy | got was grin, for he seemed
to regard it as one Of the best jokes he hat
come across for long time.
sLet have look at them, he said
quite cheerfully as though the room up
stairs contained some interesting collection
from the animal world.
hung back. In fact, | felt strongl,,
inclined to make bolt for 1t then ant
there, as the readiest way out OF the dlffl
culty. Railton drew me up the stairs
however, and, much against my will,
was forced to make my appearance at tn
door of the morning room.
One glance inside was enough. Tha
female assembly, of all ages and condition
apparently, was too much for me, | bea
a precipitate retreat, treading on Rallton
toes. who was trying to peep over m.
shoulder as | did so.
sWhat am to do?" | asked in dis
NAV. when the door was safely closed.
s.step across to the room over there ant
let the waiter show them in one by one,
suggested Railton. 'I'll help you to sor
them out and make choice. IL remail
quietly in the background and pretend
be occupied with newspaper. 1t cough
| ~ I 4hot r ohinct. hnt III L ru