The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-10-13

4
Franklin receives hope won't spoil her,
and turn her silly old head"
She sat down again at the piano, and
sang "Home, Sweet home; !" then played
one of Beethoven's grandest, most solemn
pieces.
| She rose; closed the piano.
"The carnival is ended, Kate Franklin
disappears from the scene, and Madame
Franklin enters"
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants
| would have suspected from the placid,
| dignifed department of the housekeeper
when they returned at evening, of what
strange freaks she had been guilty.
The housekeeper, as usual, when Mr..
Dayton was alone, sat at the table. IL
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 fire 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 question. At length
Mr. Dayton looked up at her, and said,
abruptly
"Yours must be lonely life, Madam.
If it is not painful subject, may I ask
how long since you lost your husband P
ohands suspended their employment,
two eyes looked up at him with an alarmed
expression. In his serious, sympathetic
countenance, there was nothing to fright
en- or embarass, but the red grew deeper
in the brown cheek.
1 1c f,,1 h
last, falteringly. off you will please ex-
| cuse me-"
"Pray pardon me, Madam" 1t was
farthest from my wish or thought to give
you pain," he returned, with grave court
esy. His manner after this was even
| kinder than before. 1t became his GUS
| tom to invite her to sit with him every
| evening.
She commenced to decline but as he
| invaribly Insisted upon reason, it was
not always easy to find one. If she gave
household cares, he called Ole of the SER
wants to attend to it. Once, she frankly
| told him it was not agreeable, but she
| never did it second time; !; for week,
he had wrapped himself in impenetrable
reserve, looking cold and gloomy, never
speaking, except from necessary civility.
At last, the poor housekeeper could
| bear it no longer. After tea, without an
invitation, which had been extended since
that night, she took her knitting, and
| went into the parlor. The first approach
to smile she had seen on his face for
many days Frightened it then, but he did
not say great deal.
After this, it became the regular Gus
tom. There could be no danger to him
! in the gray hair, the seemingly aged face
and figure before him but was there none
to her, evening after evening, sitting op-
posite the manly, handsome fellow, know
ing his goodness and large heartedness,
listening to his intelligent and polished
conversation
| One morning, he was speaking of the
great loss to children, in being deprived
of their parents.
81 never knew a mother" he said
"She died before my earliest recollection.
[ believe that, man as L am, if [ had a
mother, l should go to her with all my
griefs, as little child would. 1 have
sometimes thought of asking you to act as
mother in these quiet evenings, when [
have longed to confde in some one Ny
mother would have been about your age,
think"
Again there was vivid color in the
brown cheek Of the housekeeper, such as
is rarely seen in the aged, and it was
accompanied by a quiver of the mouth,
and smothering noise, which ended in a
cough; but both mouth and cheek were
quickly covered with handkerchief, and
quite violent fit of coughing succeeded
Mr.. Dayton, however, had not seemed
to notice, though he had given her one
curious glance, instantly withdrawn, and
he continued:
"For instance, respecting matrimony,
| whose advice of so much value as moth
er's !? Who So quick to see through char
acter, and make wise selection? Had
you a son who about here would you Sc
.ect for adaughter-in-law, Mrs. Franklin 2"
| 81 am not acquainted with any of the
young ladies, Mr.. Dayton" she answered,
family, after pause, during which she
seemed to wait for an answer.
'True, you have seen them ail, and
are 1 should judge good discerner of
character, from observation. Who should
you select from those you have seenl" he
persisted.
She Redeemed and paled.
| 'I have heard the Misses Gandison
highly spoken of Their appearances would
seem to prove the truth. doubt not you