The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-15

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Do you know, Lyon, l have always summed
u as the gloomiest of all gloomy places.
haven't stayed here a fortnight, all put to-
gether, for the last five years. 1t must be
your presence, old fellow, that has frightened
It up so, or the gloom was all in my imagina-
ton" a0
Not altogether; for remember it just as
you do. You forgot 1 ran down here once OF
twice day. Didn't you tell me you had q
new housekeeper? Perhaps the change may
be owing TO her some women have singu-
lar knack at such things" ~ u Il
"Very likely you are right. remember
now that, Notwithstanding all could say
Mrs. Stone would exclude the sun; and the
furniture is certainly arranged different from
what it was. A marked improvement, which
hope will exteud beyond the dinner table,
1t was not possible to find fault with the va
riety and quality Of food placed before them,
nor the manner of its being served; and the
table appointments were perfect; and Dayton
congratulated himself on having such JeWel
for ahousekeeper. aN
The two friends passed their time in read
| ing, driving, fishing, and occasional visits to
! the city; the housekeeper herein earning, to
the extent of her power, by attention to the
! bodily wants. the six hundred she received.
/ She had an easy master. Mr.. Dayton was new
er fault-fnding, always pleasant and courte-
Gus. .@@tHaaaa @&A&
He remained after his friend departed
Usually ifh did not go into town, he spent
mornings between the library and the garden /;
tho afternoon In driving himself sometimes
in taking the young ladies of a neighboring
family, Lily and Maud Grandson to drive.
They were the only family with whom he Wis
tied Familiarity. Through the servants the
new housekeeper heard rumors of an attach
ment between the eldest daughter Lily fair
and amiable girl, and Mr.. Dayton.
The weeks passed, and holiday came.
Mr.. Dayton had gone to town the day pre-
vious, to remain the rest of the week. The
housekeeper had given permission to the SER
wants to go also. She felt 1t a welcome relief
| to have the house and the day to herself
She locked the door carefully after the last
servant. She would make the most of her
day. She would have no dinner--only lunch
She had almost forgotten her real character
In that which she assumed, but to day she
could be herself without fear of intrusion or
discovery, .A..sta,i .-'te Rss..t'-
She laid aside her cap and gray tresses,
washed the stain from her skin, arranged her
hair in becoming curls, and donned pretty
fresh muslin, which fitted well the slight grace
ful figure. This done she entered the parl or.
and stood before the mirror, as attractive
figure as one would wish to see. zase satl'
"Truly, had forgotten my own look I am
Kate franklin, after all r. she laughed. i4
Removed from the long restraint, her spirits
rebounded. She felt gay, lighthearted, and
like committing any foolishness.
Miss franklin" said she, in the mincing,
affected tones OF an exquisite, SIT would give
me inexpressible pleasure to hear the. music
OF that long silent voice." ss-.e.-s.is
"It woHid be pity to deprive you of it
then,' she answered in her natural voice, "and
myself also, she added; and going to the pi-
ano, she opened it and played few pieces
with exquisite taste and skill, and then she
sang song after song in sweet, clear, cult
waited voice. She chose at first the brilliant
and triumphant, then the sad and piaintive
succeeded 4 There we're tears in her eyes
when she rose. But to-day her moods were
'Mrs. Franklin, who is playing on the piano p
she asked, in an excellent imitation of Mr..
g Dayton's voice. % selsoa ,asna1 sasswsps ls
e 1T is only I, sir, dusting the keys. They
need dusting SO often she replied, in Mrs.
Franklin's mature tones; and she busted
them vigorously with her pocket handker
chief slsf ls ...,s. s1Asa' - HgA 'aasssA 2 81 g
"a sAh me-? she said. Nov, what other fool
ish thing can 1 do to prove to myself that
/ am not an elderly housekeeper, but young
girl, who by virtue Of her age, shanld be gay,
by right of birth, weaithy-aLd of considera-
tion, visited and visiting, as Mr. Dayton's
lady love visits and is visited. He is noble,
and good, and handsome she said with a
sigh. She will be happy. How graceful she
danced here, at the party, the other evening,
when the old housekeeper was permitted to
look on! She looks good and amiable too
Mr.. Dayton danced with her three times. l
wonder if have forgotten how to dance?'
aud hqmming an air, she foated gracefully
about the roon.F ,ye7t0t a p .1is "a ,slfHatsGi
She stopped breathiess, her cheeks brilliant
from the exercise, her splendid hair disar-
ranged. sn1i ssz Bnali1o.i 45 ssEalreI siaala sd
4 believed feel like stiff old Mrs. Franklin,
with whom dancing doesn't agree,
tOne more song By that heavenly voice,
Miss franklin, and l shall go away dreaming
4 have heard the angels sing,s in d 1udcrously
affected voice she had before initiated,
'Ah!'i she laughed but half sadly, the
compliments poor old housekeeper Franklin
receives certainly hope won't spoil her, and
turn her silly old head.'sa sssfis IS sssEs sfia
She sat down again at the piano, and sang
Home, Sweet Home - then she played one
/ of Reethoven'su grandest and most solemn
! pieces. She rose and closed the piano. "a
! q The carnival Is ended Kate Franklin dis
appears from the scene, and Madam Franklin
enters II b5qeoss S3so gHT 48ila 4ao,i ~ F,lf
4 Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants would
have suspected from the placid dignined de-
? pertinent Of the housekeeper when they re-
turned that evening, of what strange freaks
she had been guilty ilois sli y l9dm1 t9 Da Z
The housekeeper, as usual when Mr.. Day
ton was alone, sat at the table. 1t had com,
menced to rain violently, and the weather had
grown suddenly very cold. ,isli q i1osss
Mr.. Dayton, as he had done occasionally,
invited her to the library, where was cheer
iul fire In the CRATE. He read the letters and
papers which he had brought with him from
town, while she knit. bs5gsiss. + .ss5lal f..a
" An hour or more passed In silence, indeed >
the housekeeper seldom spoke, except when
asked o question. At length Mr. Dayton
looked up at her and said, abruptly: IA :.
Yours must be lonely life, madam. Iflit
is not painful subject, may | ask how long
since you lost your husbandp - IA is 4
Two hands suspended their employment,
two eyes looked up at him with an alarmed
expression. In his serious, sympathetic coun-
tenance, there was nothing to frighten or
embarrass, but the red grew deeper aud deep
er in the brown cheek. aagssGsl li
tits painful subject, she said at last, fall
teringly. If you will please to excuse me-
! Pray, pardon me, madam. 1t was further
from my wish or Thought to give you pain,'
he returned with grave courtesy. ~ =
His manner, alter this, was even kinder
] than before. It became the custom to invite
her to sit with him every evening. na9sat
T. She commenced to decline; but as he inya-
riably insisted upon reason, it was not al
ways easy to find one. II she gave household
cares, be called one of the servants to attend
to it. Once, she frankly told him it was not
| agreeable, but she never did it second time; /;
for, for week he had wrapped himself in
impenetrable reserve, looked cold and gloomy,
never speaking except from necessary civ
ility. ll1 no. ea ss5aha5aG y se5 fr
4 At last the poor housekeeper could bear it
no longer. After tea, without an invitation,
which had not beep extended since that night
she took her knitting and went into the par
lor. The nrst approach to smile she had
4 seen on his face for many DAYS frightened il
then, but he did not say great deal. q + se
4 After this, it became the regular custom.
There could be no danger to him in the gray
hair, the seemingly aged face and figure be.