The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-08-31

hearted, and like committing any foolish
ness.
"Mss Franklin she said, in the minO.
ing affected tones Of an exquisite, 1T would
give me iuexpressiblo pleasure to hear The
music Of that long silent voice."
1T would be great pity to deprive you
Of it theu" she answered, in her natural
voice, "and myself, Also" she added aud
going to the piano, she opened it and
played few pieces with exquisite taste
and skill, and then she song song after song,
atiirst the brilliant aud triumphant, then
the SAD and plaintivo succeeded. There
were tears in her eyes when she rose. But
to-day her moods were caprioious.
"Mrs. Franklin, who is playing on the
piano?' she asked in an excellent imitation
of Mr. Dayton's voice.
ut is only |, sir, dusting tho keys,
They need dusting SO often" she replied,
in Mrs. Franklin's mature tones; and she
busted vigorously with her pocket hand
kerchief.
"th met she said. "Now, what other
foolish thing shall do to prove to myself
that am not an elderly housekeopor, but
a young girl who, by virtue of her age,
should be gay BY right of birth, wealthy
and of consideration visited and visiting,
as Mr.. Dayton's ladylove visits and is Wis
tied. He is noble, aud good, and hand
some" she said with n sigh, "She will be
happy, How gracefully she danced here
at tho party, tho other evening, when tho
old househeoper was to look on. She looks
good aud amiable, too. Mr., Dayton danced
with hor three times. | wonder if | have
forgotten how to danccl' and humming au
air, she lloatod gracefully about tho room.
She stopped breathlcss, her checks bril-
liant from the exercise, her splendid hair
disarranged.
81 believe feel like stR old Franklin,
with whom dancing doesn't agree"
One more song by that heavenly voice,
Miss Franklin, and shall go away dream
ing have heard the angels sing" in the
ludcrously- affected voice she had before
initiated.
"Ah!" she laughed, yet half sadly, "the
compliments poor oil houskeeper Frank
lin receives hope won't quito spoil her,
and turn her silly old head"
She sat down at the piano, and sang
"lIome, Sweet Home;" then played one OF
Beothoven's grendest, most solemn pieces
She rose; closed the piano.
"Ihe carnival is ended. Kate Franklin
disappears from the scene, and Madam
Franklin enters"
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants
would have suspected from the placid
! digniiiod department of the houskeoper
when they returned at evening, of what
strange freaks she has boen guilty.
Tho housekoeper, as usual, when Mr..
Dayton was alone, sat at the table, 1t had
commenced to rain violently, and the
weather had grown suddenly cold.
Mr. Dayton, as he had done occasional
ly invited her to the library, where was a
cheerful fro in the crate. He read the
letters and papers which he had brought
with him from town, while she knitted.
An hour or more passed in silence in
deed the housekeeper seldom spoke, ex
cept when asked a question. At lenstl
Mr.. Dayton looked up at her, and said alb
ruptly.
"Yours must bo lonely life, madam
if it it is not painful subject, may ask
how long since you lost your husband?"
Two hands suspended their employment
two eyes looked mp at him with an alarm
cd expression. In his serious. sympathet
io countenance there was nothing to fright
en- or embarsass, but the red grew deeper
and decpsSap the brown cheek.
at is a painful subject" she said, at las
falteringly' "If ycu viii please excuse
mo-"
"Pray pardon me, madam. 1t was far
thcst from my wish or thought to give
you pain" he returned with grave eour
tesy
His manner, after this, was even kinder
than before, 1t became his custom to in
vite her to sit with him every evening.
She commenced to decline put as he in
variably insisted upon reason, it was no
always easy to find one. IF she gave
household cares, he called one of the ser
wants to attend to it. Once she frankly
told him it was not agreeable but she new
or did ii second time; for, for week, h'
had wrapped himself in impenetrsble re
servo, looked cold and gloomy, never
speaking, except from necessary civiliiy.
AT last, the poor houskeeper could beai
it no longer. After tea, without an invita-
ton, which had not been extended sincs
that night, she took her knitting and wen
into the parlor. The FIRST approach to ,
smile she had seen on his face for many
days frightened it then, but he did not sal
a great deal
After this, it became the regular custom
There could be no danger to him in th'
gray hair, the seemingly aged face and zig
ure before him !; but was there none to her
evening after evening sitting opposite th'
manly, handsome fellow, knowing hi
goodness and large-heartedness, listening
to his intelligent and polished edueationl
One morning he was speaking Of til,
great loss to children, in being depriveC
of their parents.
Il never knew a mother" he said. "Sh'
died before my earliest Recollection.
believe that, man as am, il had moth