The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-09-21
Housekeeper Wanted.

+ the highest reSpcctability need apply.
! Call between the hours Of 3 and 4, Thurs
day, April 6, at No-Michigan avenue.
Kate Franklin read this in the paper
which Law on the counter in the little gro
cerv, while waiting to have an ounce or
| two Of tea done up and roll Of baker 5
I bread
| She repeated the number of the house
over to herself, as she received the change
1 from the grocer.
/ She prepared the tea after she return
ed to the little bare attic, and ate her
scanty meal mechanically. She forgot
how umsatisfied her appetite still was, in
/ her busy thought.
I Yes, She must descend to menial ser
vice. Why not this? 1t would be better
than lower grade. Yet her soul and
pride shrank from it.
A stranger in strange place, success
ivelv she had tried to find situation as
teacher, copyist, in store, sewing. She
had failed in the first three, and was
starving on the last
She would apply for that place, but she
would need references. Only one per
son she knew, in the whole great city, of
sufficient inhuence-Mrs. Davenport
the rich, naughty step sister, who had
ill treated her gentle mother while she
had lived, and had hated Kate herself
with double hatred since the first and
only one she had ever loved had turned
from her brilliant beauty to offer heart
and hand to the young and disliked step
sister, only to he rejected in his turn.
The beautiful, imperious beauty had,
soon after. married an old man for his
wealth, bat she had not forgotten her ha-
tired for Kate, and disowned all connec-
ton with the now orphaned and pennl-
less girl Perhaps thought, Kate thought
she would permit her to refer to her
because glad 10 have her descend 10 me
NAL employment.
Kate was competent for the situation, for
during her mothers long illness, and her
fathers absence, she had entire charge
of their large family and splendid house.
But ian elderly woman" Now Kate
was not an elderly woman, being only
twenty; but she remembered, with a
sort of pleasure, that in private the
atricals, in happier days. she had initiated
the voice and assumed the character of
an old woman with great success. She
knew how to stain the skin to give it an
old and wrinl>led appearance, and she
had, in the bottom of a box, some false
gray hair and muslin cap worne on one
look so very old-only to present ma
ture and matronly appearance
Mr.. Edward Dayton waited ut home
aitefhis dinner to see the respondents to
his advertisement. He was a handsome
man, not yet thirty, with gay, frank,
good natured countcnance.
Now for dozen or two of good old
DANES, all competent, all respectable,
and each confident she would give salts
faction.
He lighted a cigar.
Il shall shock the dear Old souls, but
| shall take the liberty to smoke in my
own house, in the parlor or anywhere l
please, they may rs well know what to
expect"
He leaned back in a nonchalant way,
with his feet on another chair.
There ought to be, l suppose, Mrs.
Dayton to manage these housekeeper
matters Well there's time enough"
Two applicants were seen, and dismiss
ed in Mr. Daytons gentlemanly way.
Would let them know if he decided
to engage them"
A third was ushered in. Mr.. Dayton
instinctively laid aside his cigar, and
placed a chair for his visitor.
The lady likeness and propriety of
her manner pleased him at once. "Fal-
len fortunes" he commenced to himself
She answered his questions readily,
but i'll a few words.
"A silent woman-a good thing was
his inward remark.
Il think YOU will suit me, Mrs,
what did | understand your name?"
Franklin"
Mrs Franklin Won will be required
to 90 out of town. about seven miles,
to my country house Oak Groyc-in the
town of Embury, on the great Central
Railroad. The salary propose to pay
is six hundred dollars per annum. Do
my terms suit.
Six hundred dollars to the half starv-
ing person before him, seemed Iniia's
wealth
She answered quietly that they suited
Then it is all settled. By the way.
| suppose you have references. though
all that Is 4 mere matter OF form.
The name of Davenport was given
Davenport, Robert Davenport, l
know them. All right. then. II con
veuient, YOU will please 90 to morrow,
Mrs Franklin, or the next day. l shall
not come down till next week, and shall
probably bring a friend or two with me
wings prepared, If you please. The
housekeepcr there now will not leave
until Saturday She will show you
round as Mrs-Is your wife there.
or TO go soon?"
He laughed
Mrs Edward Davton2 No she is not
there. and 10 not know of her going at
present" Adding more seriously. Il
have not the pleasure. Mrs Franklin. of
having wife, with slight stress on
pleasure.
A vivid color came into the brown
check of the housekeeper, and her man
ner showed evident embarrassment
Il Thought believe-I cannot
And stopped.
He did not notice IT, His mind had
already turned TO other things.
He arose
1T is all settled. I believe By the
way. his eye falling on the rusty black
dress you may like an advance. as an
evidence of the b.r.rlin II il -uita