The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-09-30
afliseeIantous.
A HOUsE-KEEPER WANTED.
ny GRACE GARDNER.

yyJANTED-A housekeeper. None but an elderly
w person, competent, and OF the highest respect
three and four, Thursday, April ,No.-, Mich
Kate franklin read this in the paper which
lay on the counter in the little grocery, while
waiting to have an ounce or two OF tea done
up, and q roll OF bakers bread.
She repeated the number OF tho house over
TO herself, as she received the change from
tho grocer.
She prepared tho tea. after she returned to
the little bare attic, and ato her scanty meal
mechanically. She forgot how unsatisfied
her appetite still was, in her busy thought.
Yes, she must descend To menial service.
Why not this? Ii would be better than u
lower grade. Yet her soul and pride shrank
from il.
A stranger in strange place. successively
she had tried to find a situation as u teacher,
copyist, in store sewing. She had failed in
the trst two. and was starving on the last.
She would apply for tha. place. but she
would need references. Only one person she
knew in the whole great city, OF sufficient
induencs-Mrs. Davenport, the rich, haugh-
~ step-sister, who had illtreated 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 10 her young aud disliked
s,ep-sister. only to be rejected in his turn.
The beautiful. imperious beauty had soon af-
ter married an old man for his wealth. but
she had not forgotten her hatred tor Kate
and disowned all connection with the now
orphaned and penniless girl. Perhaps,
though, Kate thought, she would permit her
to refer to her. because glad 10 have her de-
scsnd to menial employment.
Kate felt competent for the situation, for
during her mothers long illness, and her
fathers absence, she had entire charge ol
their large family and splendid house.
But 'an elderly woman Now Kate
Franklin was not an elderly woman, being
only twenty; but she remembered. with a
sort OF pleasure, that in private theatricals,
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 akin to give il an old and wrinkled ap
psarance, and she had, in the bottom OF a
box. some false grey hair. and muslin cap
worn on one Of the occasions. She did not
need to look 30 very old-only to present
mature and matrouly appearance.
Mr.. Edward Dayton waited at home after
his dinner TO zee the respondents 70 his adj
vc,tiscmcnt. lie was handsome man. no,
yet thirty, with a gay, frank, sood-natured
countcnancc.
Now FOR dozen or two OF good old danes,
i oil Competent, all respectable, and each con-
Gdcnt she would give satisfaction
lie lighted u cigar.
'1f Il shall shock the dear old souls, but
shall take the liberty to smoke in my own
house. in tho parlor or anywhere I please ;
they may as well know what TO expect
lie leaned back in nonchalanl way, his
feet on another chair. p
.rherc ought to be, suppose, Mrs. Dav-
ton to manage these housekeepsr matters
Well. there's time enough
Two applicants werc seen and dismissed IN
Mr.. Dayton's gentlemanly way.
Would let them know II he decided z
engage them D. ~
~ A third was ushercd in. Mr.. Dayton IN
stinctively laid aside his cigar, and placed
chair for his visitor. lll -.sr. - ~.
y, The lady.likeness aud propriety OF hc'
manner pleased him at once. Fallen for
tunes, he conmeuted to himself.
y She answered his questions readily, but In
1 few words.