Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-19
0kio Statesnlarr.
HOUsEKEEPER WANTED.
by GRACE GARDNER.

| hate FRANKLIN reaQ JnlS In tne paper,
which lay on the counter, while waiting to
| have an ounce or two OF tea done up, and
roll Of bakers bread. 90.
She repeated the number OF the house
over to herself, as she received the change
from the grocer.
She 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 thought.
Yes, she must descend to menial service.
Why not this? 1t would be better than
lower grade. Yet her soul and pride shrank
from it.
A stranger in strange place, successive
ly she had tried to find situation as teach
er, copyist, in a 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 person
she knew in the whole great city, of suilii-
cient infiuence-Mrs. Davenport, the rich,
naughty step sister, who had illtreated her
gentle mother while she 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 her young and dis
liked step-sister, only to be rejected in his
turn. The beautiful, imperious beauty had
but she had not forgotten her hatred for
Kate, and disowned all connection with the
orphaned and penniess girl. Perhaps,
though, Kate thought she would permit her
to refer TO her, because glad to have her de-
scend to menial employment.
Kate felt competent lor the situation, for
during her mothers long illness, and her
fathers absence, she had entire charge OF
their large family and splendid house. b,
But. IAN elderly woman" Now, Kate
Franklin was not an elderly woman, being
only twenty; but she remembered with
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 skin to give it an old and wrinkled APP
pearance, and she had in the bottom of a
box some false gray hair and muslin cap
| worn on one OF these occasions. She did
not need to look very old-only to present
a mature and matronly appearance.
MIR. Edward Dayton waited athome after
dinner, to see the respondents to the adver-
tisement. He was handsome man, not
yet thirty, with gay, frank and good-na-
tured countenance. -.
Now for a dozen or two of good old
danes, all respectable and each confident
she would give satisfaction
He lighted cigar.
II shall shock the dear old souls, but
shall take liberty to smoke in my own house,
in the parlor, or anywhere else 1 please !;
they may as well know what to expect"
He leaned back in nonchalant way, his
feet in another chair.
There ought to be, / suppose, a Mrs. Day.
ton to manage, these housekeeper matters.
Well, there is time enough"
| Two applicants were seen and dismissed
in MIR. Dayton's gentlemanly way.
Would let them know he decided to en-
gage them. yH
A third was ushered in. Mr.. Dayton in
stinctively laid aside his cigar and placed
chair for his visitor. rt -I.
The lady-likeness and propriety of her
manner pleased him at once. Fallen for
tunes" he commented to himself. - 81
She answered his questions readily but in
few words. a.- ... g
"a silent woman--a good thing" was his
inward remark. .lt
"Ithink you will suit me, Mrs., what
did understand your name to be!"
"Franklin."
"Mrs. Franklin, you will be required to
go out OF town seven miles to my market
place-0ak Grove-in the town OF Embury,
on the Central Railroad. The salary pro-
pose to pay is six hundred per annum. Do
my terms suitT' 1....f. .-. ....
Suit Six hundred to the halt-starved
person before him seemed India's wealth.
Sheanswered quietly that they suited.
"Then it is all settled. By the way sup
pose you have reference, though all thatis a
mere matter of FORM" f. i1nu 81. ".
The name of Davenport was given.
Davenport, Robert Davenport. know
Ithem. All right then. Ii convenient, Mrs.
Franklin, you will please 60 tomorrow, or
next day. l shall not come. down till the
middle of next week, and shall probably
bring friend or two with me. Have the
j chambers in the centre and wings prepared,
If you please. The housekeeper there will
not leave till Saturday. She will show you
round.p ig y' |1 o.. .0fr..'i l.-Sa
"Is Mrs, is your wife there, or to go
soonw He laughed. .mg'.'..
"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 pleasure, Mrs. Franklin, of having
a wife," with slight stress on "pleasure.p
A vivid blush came into the brown cheek
of the housekeeper, and her manner Show
ed evident embarrassment. 81 s1F .au
II thought--I believed eannot-and she
stopped. .5 sr ~id az lVlirv . d "t i
He did not notice IL. His mind had al
ready turned to other things. h. ,. 81
He rose. 'ut -8i sGa .lHaaamlll) 81
',It is all settled, believe. By the way"
his eye falling on the rusty black dress,
"you may hike an advance; as an evidence
of the bargain. Itois quite customary, L
believe to do So" 5H ~ .s.,a- .rHIlI.
Much Edward Dayton knew about the
custom of such things but it was like the
kindness and delicacy of the man to say so.
The heusekeeper's hand closed on the fifty
dollars he gave her, and the words she would
have said we're lett unuttered. She moved
to the door; he opened 1t for her courteous
| ly!lA -ud 1T y.hI = .9 7a1af
; "Good evening, Madam" 'v3 1u
i''Good evening"" she replied. .i. 1ij
al cannot starve. / must go. lean keep
up my disguise" she murmured. 17t
Mr.. Dayton, accompanied bya friend, ar
rived at his country house the middle of
the second week. Everything within and
about the house was in perfect order. If
the new housekeeper had made few mis-
takes at first they were soon rectified.
Every room she had touched showed a
magical change Her predecessor had been
tof the kind who believed in the sunlight
| never entering a room for fear of fading
carpets and curtains; whose watchword was
''order," and therefore the furniture was
set pritnly back against the wall asif fix
lures, and theirposition had not been alter
ed for years; and who moreover believed
cut flowers unhealthy. .-2osH sH .lh.
The new hcusekeeper's belief differed in
these respects. The CHEEKY sunlighG was
allowed to enterwhen and where it would
flowers were on the tables and mantle-
pieces; : the furniture was disarranged with
careless grace ornaments were taken from
drawers and closets where they han been
packed away, and spoke for themselves on
etageres, marble shelves and mantle pieces.
1 c,Ik