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


Il am not acquainted with any OF thu
4 young ladies, Mr. Dayton she ansWefe'
family, after pause, during which he seemed
| TO wait for an answer. a8H ,, .h+s
- True, but you have seen them all, and are
should Judge, a. good discerner OF character
| from observation Who would you selec
from those you have seen |? he persisted.
She Redeemed and paled. ia 90
T have heard the Misses Grandson hiehl,
spoken of. Their appearance would seem t.
prove the truth, 1 doubt not you agree witt
/ me- she returned quietly.
H. 1t was now his turn to color, which he die
/ slightly. tsaN Na
I do agree with you,' he answered EN-
phatically.
1T is to be SO then, as Supposed said ths
housekeeper to herself, as she went up to hel
| room ghs7et sR $3.50 5Taiaa 5 S-ea svai
1t was late in September. Mr.. Dayton ant
the housekeeper we're both In the parlor. He
had been unusually grave all day. 1t seemed
| to the housekeeper that his manner was now
changed toward her. 6bN sfeis 3D. 81 aroo- 81
'I have few questions to ask, If you will
permit me, Mrs. Franklin
She felt instinctively alarmed at his tone.
Certainly with an effort
There was an ominous pause.
s. Il have been told he said, that Miss Kate
Franklin, young girl, has, by Disgusting
herself, palmed herself off upon me for several
months as Mrs. Franklin, an elderly lady.
Is there any truth in this storyp looking
searchingly at her, ~
She had started to her feet, then trembling
ly sank back into her chair.
Yes, it is true, she murmured falteringly.
4 confess Ifsil to see your motive. My
heart you could hardly expect to gain in that
character soeA saltn4 @-aa salaa3 saa9
Your heart she repeated scornfully. 4
had no such laudabe ambition. had never
seen or heard of you till saw your. adver-
tisement. Would you like to know for what
purpose i took upon me q disguise so repug-
nant? You shall. To save myself from star
walton. Ihad eaten but one meal day for
q week when applied to you, and was suffer.
ing with hunger then. MY money was all
gone except few pennies, with which to buy
roll of bread forthe next days meal, and l
had no prospect of more, for had been re-
fused further sewing. But why should you
/ were Miss or Mrs. Franklin, old or young, If
fulfilled the duties undertook? Have I
not made you comfortable? If have not,
deduct from this quarters salary, which you
paid this morning, whatever you like = 3 4
M 4 have no fault to find, except for placing
yourself and me in an awkward position, were
this to become known g roeAsa1 ssaissd {
n Waves of color mounted to the housekeep-
er's temples. nisa aaai1sdma 10 asn & soaebiss
. Il Thought thought no enc should know
least of all you-besides IL thought when
l engaged to come that you were married
Oh, what shall / dor And she burst into a
passion of tears q II
Mr.. Dayton's manner changed.
~ Kate! Katel l did not mean to distress
you. Nobody knows but me-nobody shall
know And he soothed her tenderly.
Kate, look up. / love you with my full
heart, and want you for my little housekeeper
my wife always Kate what do you say p
taking her in his arms and laying his cheek
against hers. My own Kate, is it not p'ssgos II
She murmured something between her sobs
that she must go away that minute. +, ~ ,,,,,,
- Nonsene, darling Haven't you been here
for months? What difference can a day lon
ger make? You are safe with me, Katie.
Oh, because now know who you are. Kate,
you foolish little girl, / have known it for
weeks. Miss Franklin, will you give me the
inexpressible pleasure of hearing a song from
that long silent voice? Oh, Katie, you fairly
bewitch me always, let's doff these trappings,'
untying her cap, and removing the gray hair,
and with the action, down fell the wreath Of
brown tresses ~ aHa9m aH1 aialiw AZ hgseQmoa
'Oh, Mr. Dayton, you were not--surely you
were not at home that day p-looking up and
covered with confusion. i slenn - aSa sisse
'Yes, b Mr. Dayton was--in the library
with an accent on his name, which Kate un-
derstood. hs1aaS won si sa iaas " sio3 ..Iv5,o.
%, Edward and you ,teased me with all
those foolish questions when you knew
yes, my Kate, why not?' Qs sss49
HBut you looked so innocent q w,.f-,..-
He laughed.
Il shall soon, I hope, have some one, If not a
mother, to confde in; and, Kate, it is my
duty to give you husband, so that in future
you can answer without so much pain when
he is enquired after'9Le 9Eis 0T
You arestoo generous FaqA a alusAvl.l
z 7 can afford e be generous, he said ear
your love-. Kate, blessed forever be the day
that ] first engaged my housekeeper.'