Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-18
THE EVENING STAR
HOUsEKEEPER WANTED

~ 6sss ,bs Souse and day to herself. She
locked the door carefully after the last servant
She woEid have no dinner.oniy lunch. Sn.
which she had assumed; but to-day she
could be herself without fear Of intrusion or
Sc laid aside her cap and gray tresses,
washed the stain from her skin, arranged her
lu1Hriant hair in becoming curls and donned
apretty fresh muslin, which fitted well tne
slight graceful figure. This done, she entered
the parlor, she stood before the mirror, as at
ractive figure as one would often see.
Truly, had forgotten my own iooss. VI an
Kate Farnklin after ALL" she laugnea.
Removed from her long restraint, heI Spite
rebounded. She felt gay, hghtheareo' ana
like committing any fooiisnness. .rsc,oa
1Miss Fran kim" she said In minclng auecteo
tone of an exquisite, "It would give me mex.
pres.ible pleasure to hear the music Oh 'na'
long silent voice. 49,. :,
sbe ansWered in her natural voice, "and my
self also" she added; and going to the piano,she
opeped IL and played a few. pieces with ex-
spi, ite taste and skill, and then she sung song
after song, in a sweet clear cultivated voice
She choose at first the brilliant and triumphant
then the sad plaintiff succeeded. There were
tears in her eyes when she rose. But to-day
her moods were eapricious.
.nMrs. Franklin, who is playing on the
pano7" she asked, in an excellent imitation OF
Mr. Dayton's voice.
at Is only /, sir, busting the keys, they need
dusiing so eften, F" she replied, in Mrs. Frank
Inns mature tones; and she busted them visor-
oRsly with her pocket handkerchief.
"Ah me ~ she said. 'tNow, what other fool
tfh things shall l do 10 prove to myself that L
am not an elderly housekeeper, but young
gnl who, by virtue of her age, should be gay,
by right of birth, wealthy-and OF constdera-
ten, visited and is visiting, as MI. Dayto1's
lady-love visits and is visited. He is noble,
an d good, and handsome" she said with a
sigh. "She will be happy. How graceful she
danced here at the party, the other evening,
LOOK sn en- A.. She looks good and arsianis too.
Mr.. Dayton danced with her three times. l
wonder il l have forgotten how to dance p
and hunming an air, she foated gracefully
about the room.
She stopped breathless, her cheeks brilliant
from the ex ercfse, her hair disarranged.
"I believe feel like stiff old Mrs Franklin,
with whom dancing doesn't agree"
zone ore song by that heavenly voice, Miss
franklin, and / shall go away dreaming l
have heard the angels sing" in the ludicrously
affected voice she had before initiated.
"Ahp' che laughed yet half sadly. "the Gem.
pliments poor old housekeeper Frsnklin re-
eeiyes / hope won't spoil her and turn her
silly old head
She sat down at the piano. and sang "Home
Sweet Home" then played one Of Beethoven's
srandest, most solemn pieces.
She rose closed the piano.
1.-THE carnival is ended; Kate Franklin dis
appears from the scene, and Madame Franklin
enters"
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants would
have suspected from the placid, dignified de-
pertinent OF the housekeeper when they re-
turned at evening, OF what strange freaks she
had been guilty.
The hous ekeeper. as usual, when Mr.. Day
ton was all alone, sat at the table. 1t had COM
men ced to rain violently, and the weather had
grown suddenly cold.
Mr.. Dayton, as he had done occasionally,
invited her to the library, where was cheer:
papers which he had brought with him from
Town, while she knitted.
An hour or more passed in silence; indeed the
housekeepef seldom spoke, except when asked
question. At length Mr.. Day ton looked up at
her and said abruptly:
10 not too painful subject, NAV ! ask how
long since You lost your husbandf'
Two hands suspended their employment,
two eyes looked mp at him with an alarmed ex
nance, there was nothing to 'frighten or en-
sarrass, but the red grew deeper and deeper in
We brown cheek.
falteringly. "If you Will please excuse me-"
"Pray pardon me, Madam. 1t was furthest
from my wish OF thought to give you pain, - he
returned, with grave courtesy
His manner, after this was even hinder than
before. 1t became his custom to invite her to
sit with him every evening.
She commenced to decline: but as he nvari-
ably insisted upon reason, IL was not al ways
easy to find one. II che gave household cares
he called one of the servants to attend to 1t.
Once she frankly told him il was not agreeable,
but she never did 1t a second time; for week,
he had wrapped himself in impenetrable re-
serve, look cold and gloomy, never speaking,
except from necessary eiviiity.
At last, the poor housekeeper could bear it
no longer. After tea, without an in aviation,
which had not been extended since that night,
she took her knitting, and " ent into the parlor.
The first approach TO smile she had seen on
his face for many days frightened it then, but
ne did not say great deal.
After this, IL became the regular Custom
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 opposite the manly, handsome
fellow, knowing his GOODNESS and large heart
edDess, listening to his intelligent and polished
conversation F'
81 never knew a mother" he said; ssshe died
before my earliest recollection. 1 believe that
man as am, If had mother, would 60 TO
her with all my griefs as a little child would.
] have sometimes thought of asking you 70 act
IS mother in these quietevenlngs when have
longed to confide in some one. My mother
would have been your age, think"
again there was vivid color In the brown
cheek of the housekeeper, such as Is rarely
seen in the aged. and 1t was accompanied by
culver OF the mouth, and sRothersd noise,
which ended in cough, but both mouth
and cheek were quickly covered WITH a hand
herehief, and quite violent fs Of coughing
succeeded.
Mr-Dayton, however, had not seemed to no.
tiee, though he had given her one curious
glance, instantly Withdrawn, and he contin-
ned:
"FOr instance, respecting matrimony, whose
advice OF so much value as a mether'sl Who
so quick to see through character, and make
a wke selection! Had you son, who about
here would you Selection daughter-in-law,
Mrs. franklin
al not acquainted with any of the young
ladies, Mr.. Dayton" she answered, family,
after pause, during which he seemed to wait
for an answer.
"True, but you have seen them all, and are,
should Judge, good discerner OF character,
from oS3erv alton. Who should you select
from those you have seenl' he persisted.
She redSened and paled.
81 have heard the Misses Grandson highly
spoken Of Their appearance would seem to
prove the truth. doubt not you agree with
me-" che returned quietly.
1t wae nowhIs turn 70 color, which he did,
slightly.
81 do agree with YOU he answered EN-.
phatically.
"Itis TO be, then, AZ j supposed" said the
housekeeper 70 herself, as she went up TO her
room.
1t was late in September. MIR. DAYTON and
the housekeeper were both Ia the parIor He
had been unusually grave all day. 1t seemed
70 the housekeeper that hi. manner was chang.
cd toward ner.
81 have . few questions to ask. II yon will