Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-01-06
A Housekeeper Wanted.

WANTED.-A housekeeper. No on,
but an elderly person, competent, and o
the highest respectability, need apply
Call, between the hours of three and four
Thursday, April 7th, at No, Michigan
Avenue.
Kate Franklin read this in the papei
which lay on the counter in the little gro
Gerry, while waiting to have an ounce o.
two Of tea done up, and a roll of baker,
bread.
She repeated the number of the houses
over to herself, as she received the chang,
from the grocer.
She prepared the tea, after she return
ed to the Iittle attic. and ate her scan
meal mechanically. She forgot how un'
satisfied her appetite still was, in her busy
thoughts.
Yes, she must descend to menial ser
vice. Why not this 1t would be bet
ter than lower grade. Yet her soul anc
pride shrank from it.
A stranger in a strange place, success
sively she had tried to find 4 situation a,
copyist, in a store, or sewing. She had
failed on the first two, and was starving
on the last.
She would apply for this place, but she
would need references. Only one person
she knew in the whole great city, of sufli-
cient infuence-Mrs. Davenport, the
rich, haughty, step-sistsr, who had i'll
treated her gentle mother while she had
hated Kate herself with double hatred
since the first and the only one, she had
ever loved had turned from her brilliant
beauty TO offer heart and hand to her
young and disliked step-sister, only to be
rejected in his turn. The beautiful i'm
perious beauty had soon after married an
old man for his wealth, but she had not
forgotten the hatred for Kate, and disa--
vowed all connection with the now or
phaned and pennilass girl. Perhaps,
thought Kate, she would permit her to
refer to her, because glad of her descent
to menial employment.
Kate felt competent for the situation,
for, during her mothers long illness, and
her fathers absence, she ha1 had entire
charge oftheir large aud splendid family.
But "An elderly woman" Now Kate
Franklin was not an elderly woman, be-
ing only twenty but she remembered
with a sort Of pleasure, that in private
theatricals in happier days, she had imi>
tated the voice, and assumed the charac-
ter Of an old woman with complete sue
cess. She knew how TO stain the skin
to give it an old and wrinkled appear
ance, and she had in the bottom Of box
some false gray hairs and muslin cap
worn or one of these occasions. She did
not need to look SO very old-oDly to
present n mature and matronly appear
ance.
Mr.. Edward Dayton waited at home
after his dinner to see the respondents
to his advertisements. He was hand
some man not yet thirty, with gay,
frank, good natured countenance.
Now for dozen or two of good old
danes, all competent, all respectable, and
each confident she would give satisfac-
ton"
He lighted cigar.
"I shall shock the dear old souls but !
shall take the liberty to smoke in my own
house, in the parlor or anywhere please,
they may as well know what to expect"
He leaned back in a nonchalent way,
his feet in another chair.
There ought to be, l suppose, Mrs.
Dayton to manage these housekeeping
matters. Well, there's time enough"
Two applicants were seen and dismiss
sed in Mr.. Dayton's gentlemanly way.
"Would let them know if ne decided
to engage them"
A third was usbered in; Mr.. Dayton
instinctively laid aside his cigar, and
placed chair for bis visitor.
The lady likeness and propriety of her
manner pleased him at once. "FaIlen
fortunes" he commented to himself.
She answered his questions readily,
but in few words.
"a silent woman-a good thing" was
his inward remark.
81 think you will suit me, Mrs.,
what did l understand your name"
Franklin"
"Mrs. FrankliH, you will be required
to 20 out of town, about seven miles, to
my country home--Oak Groye--in the
town of Eubury, on the Central Rail-
road. The salary / propose to pay is
six hundred per annum. DO my terms
suit ?"
cu;t Cix hundred IN the half star