The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-15
Thursday Morning, Dec. 10, 1864.
A Housekssper Wanted.

a dOuSokocpol Hdubtus Hss+ sfl
VNTANTED.-A housekeeper, No one. but an elderl,
w person, competent, and Of the highest respectabt
need apply EOR between the hours Of three and four
Thursday, April Sth, at No., Michigan avenue.
Kate Franklin read this in the paper which
lay on the counter in the little grocery, while
waiting to have an ounce of tea done up, and
a roll of bakers bread.
She repeated the number of the house
over to herself, as she received the change
from the grocer.
Sne prepared the tea, after she returned to
the little bare attic, and ate her scant meal
mechanically. She forgot how unsatisfied her
appetite still was, In her busy thoughts.
Yes, she must descend to menial service
Why not thiss 1t would be better than low
er grade. Yet her pride shrank from it,
A stranger, in strange place, unsuccessful
ly she had tried to find a situation as teacher.
copyist, in store, or sewing. She had failed
In the first three, and was starving on the last.
She would apply for that situation, but she
would need references. Only one person she
knew, in the whole great city, ofsufficient in
fuence. Mrs. Davenport, the rich, naughty
step-sister, who had il-treated her gentle
mother while she had lived, and had hated
Kate herself with double hatred since the first,
andithe only one she had ever loved had turn
ed from her brilliant beauty to offer heart and
hand to her young and disliked step-sister, on
ly to be rejected in his turn. The beautiful,
imperious beauty, had soon after married an
old man for his wealth, but she had not for
gotten her hatred for Kate, and disavowed all
connection with the orphaned and penniless
girl. Perhaps, thought Kate, she would per-
NIT her to refer to her, because glad of her de-
scent to menial employment. .s :
Kate felt competent for the situation, for
during her mothers long illness and her fa-
theirs absence, she had entire charge of their
large and splendid family. q ss'g g
But"an elderly woman" Now Kate Frank
lin was not an elderly woman, being only twen-
ty: but she remembered with sort of pleas
ure, that In private theatricals, in happier
days, she had initiated the voice and assumed
the character ofan old woman with greatsuc.
cess. She knew how to stain the skin to give
it an old and wrinkled appearance, and she
had in the bottom of box, some false grey
hair and muslin cap, worn on one of these
occasions. She did notneed to look so very
Old-ohly to present mature and matronly
appearance. II ..g-.g sa,sW
MFR. Edward Dayton waited at home after
his dinner to see the respondents to his adyer-
tisement. he was a hadnsome man, not yet
thirty. with gay, frank, good natured couh-
tenance. y. Y@p ~
Now for a dozen or two Of good old danes,
all competent, all respectable, and each conf
dent she would give satisfaction" 20 a9
He lighted cigar. 81 18aA s u uss 5gs b
~ shall shock the dear old soul, but / shall
take the liberty to smoke ii my own house, in
the parlor or anywhere / please; they may as
well know what to expect"
He leaned back in a nonchalant way, his
feet on another chair. rrs-usG reslrt +
There ought to be, Isuppose. Mrs. Day
ton to manage these housekeeper matters
Well, there's time enough" y
Two applicants were seen, and dismissed IN
Mr. ,Dayton's gentlemanly way.nsB ssxoa s7ls
"He would let them know IL he decided to
engage them" 80, 6a.
A third was ushered in; Mr.. Dayton in.
stinctively laid aside his cigar, and placed Q
chair for his visitor. .y e 's ..9s.s, .s
The ladyilkeness and the propriety Of hel
manner pleased him at once Fallen for
tunes,D he commented to himself asi b9s
She answered his questions readily, but In
"A silent woman--a good thing" was his
inward remark. til lA-s'sa'
81 think you will suit me, Mrs.----, what
did understand your name?" ~
Franklin"
"Mrs. Franklin you will be required to go
home-oak groye-in the town of Embury on
the Central railroad. The salary / propose
to pay is six hundred per annum Do my
terms suit 2"
Suit! Six hundred to the afstarving per
son before him seemed India5 wealth! ~
She answered quietly that they suited.
''Then it is all settled. By the way sup
suppose you have references, though all that
is mere matter Of form" '- sf
The name of Davenport was given 5sarls5
Davenport! Robert Davenport! 1 know
them. All right, then. If convenient, you
will please to 60 tomorrow, Mrs. Franklin, or
the next day. shall not come down till the
middle Of next week, and shall probably bring
friend or two with me. Have the chambers
in the center and wings prepared, il you please
Tbs housekeeper there now will not leave til
Saturday. She will show you round. ~
"Is Mrs.--Is your wife there, or to &c
'nfIe He Ioue I0,1abes IL @aGA@H0
MRS. Edward Dayton? No she is not there
and I do not know of her going at present.
Adding, more seriously, II have not the pleas
ur9, Mrs. Franklin OF having wife, with
slight stress on the pleasure" idi saiirfJ +
A vivid color came into the brown cheek o
the housekeeper, and her manner showed ev-
ident embarrassment.
81 thought believe-I cannot" Ant
she stopped. ~ -
He did not notice it. His mind had al
ready turned to other things.
He rose. 6l sif fsr4l.l7o -.
1T Is settled, believe By the way" hi
ewes falling on the rusty black dress, "yo
NAV like an advance, as an evidence of III
bargain. 1t is quite customary, believe, 7
do so." Qat ai l4sea fna ~
Much Edward Dayton knew about the Gu;
tom Of such things, but 1t was Ike his KIND
ness and delicacy to say so. ~
The housekeeper's hand closed on the fit
dollars he gave her, and the words she woul
have said were unuttered. She moved to th
door. He opened it for her courteously.
"Good morning, madam" 10 n9ii4e eotfaf
"Good mornings" she replied.
cannot starve; Imust go. / can kee
up my disguise" she mnrmured. s.. ~ +
Mr.. Dayton, accompanied by bis friend, al
rived at his country house the middle OF tn
week. Everything within and about til
houst was in perfect order. If the housakear
er had made few mistakes at first, thew wer
soon rectihed. Every room that Ahe ha
touched showed a magic change.
Her predecessor had been one of the kin
who believed in the sunlight never entering
room, for fear Of fading carpets and curtain
whose watchword was "order" and, therefor
the furniture was set primly back against u
wall, as If fixtures, and their positn0H had d
been altered for years, and who conseientiou
ly believed that cut flowers 10 aroom were
healthy. rf..ssf.r. s. s-.l.s,. fe,5..,.o..
The new housekeepers belief differed
these respects. The sunlight was allowed
enter when and where 1t would: the Aowe
were on the tables and mantle-pieces; the fu
nitTre was arranged with careless grace; 9
naments we're taken from closets and drawe
where they had been carefully packed ava
and spoke for themselves on marble shelly
and mantle pieces. L5i sb-- a3s1 81 osQ uoi D
Mr.. Dayton felt the change, without kno'
ing the reason Of it. he looked around hi
with satisfied air. gies goas vnlssns -g
'eThis is grand, CHEEKY old place after a