The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-11-19

stopped.
He did not notice it, His mind had al
ready turned to other things He rose.
TITS all settled | believe. BY the way"
his eyes falling on the rusty black dress,
you may like an advance, % an evidence
Of the bargain 1t 4. quite customary, be.
lieve, to do So"
The housekeeper's hand closed on the
fifty dollars that he gave her, and the words
she would have said were left unuttered.
She moved to the door. He opened it for
her courteously.
Good morning, madam"
Good morning." she replied.
81 cannot starve. 1 mast 20. | can keep
up my disguise,' she murmured.
Mr. Dayton, accompanied by friend,
arrived al his country house the middle Of
the ensuing week. Everything within and
without the house wss in perfect order. If
the new housekeeper had made a few mis-
takes at frstthey were soon rectifed. Every
room that she had touched showed mar-
cal change.
Her predecessor had been one of the kind
who believed in the sunlight never entering
a room for fear Of its fading the carpets.
Mr.. Dayton felt the change without know
ing the reason Of it. He looked around
him with satisfied air
1t Wa, not possible to And fault with the
variety and quality Of the food placed be-
fore them, nor the manner Of its being
served; and the table appointments were
perfect; and Dayton congratulated himself
upon having such jewel of housewife.
The weeks passed and a holiday came.
Mr.. Dayton had gone to town the day pre-
vious to remain the rest Of the week The
housekeeper had given permission to the
servants to go also. She felt welcome re-
lief to have the house ard the day to her.
self. She locked the doors carefully after
the last servant She would have no dinner.
Only lunch. She had almost forgotten her
real character in that which she assumed
hut to-day she could be herself without fear
of intrusion or discovery.
She laid aside her cap and gray dresses.
washed the stain from her skin, and ar
ranged her luxurious hair in becoming curls
and donned pretty, fresh muslin, which
fitted well the slight, graceful figure. This
done, she entered the paror and stood be-
fore the mirror, as attractive figure a. one
would often see.
"IruIy, have forgotten my own looks
l am Kate Franklin after all !' she said.
Removed from her long restraint, her
spirits rebounded She felt gay ,light-heart-
ed, and like committing any foolshness.
"Miss Franklin" she said, in the
mincing affected tones of an exquisite, at
would be inexpressible pleasure to hear the
music of that long silent voice."
1T would be great pity to deprive you
of it then," she answered, in her natural
voice. "and myself alsO," she added and
going to the piano she opened it,and played
few pieces with exquisite taste and skill
and then she sang song after song, in
sweet, clear, cultivated voice. She chose
at first the brilliant and triumphant, then
the sad and plaintive succeeded. There
were tears in her eyes when she rose But
to-day her moods were capricious.
"Mrs Franklin, who is playing on the
piano?" she asked, In an excellent imitation
of Mr., Dayton'a voice.
SIT is only |, sir, dusting the keys, they
need busting so often" she replied, in Mrs.
franklin's meager tones; and she busted
them vigorously with her pocket handker-
chief
"Ah, me-" she said. 'Now what other
foolish thing shall do to prove myself not
an elderly housekceper, but a young girl,
who, by virtue of her age, should be gay,
by!tight of birth, wealthy and of considera-
ton, visited and visiting, as Mr. Dayton's
lady visits and is visited. He is noble, good,
and handsome, she said with sigh. "She
will be happy. How gracefully she danced
here at the party the other evening, when
the old heusckeeper was permitted to look
on. She looks good and amiable, too Mr.. 8
Dayton danced with her three times. I |
wonder if | have forgotten how to dance?" =
and humming an air she foated gracefully $
about the room. {
She stopped breathless, her cheeks brilliant |
with the exercise, her splendid hair dis
arranged. g
Il believe l feel like stiff, old Mrs. Frank |
lin, with whom dancing doesn't agree"
zone more song by that heavenly voice, /
Miss Franklin, and shall go away dream d
ng have heard angels sing" in the lud- /
'rously affected voice she had before imi- |
ated. p
"Ah," she laughed, yet half sadly, "the '
compliments poor old housekeeper Frank
in receives, hope won't quite spoil her, ,and
urn her silly old head" 7
She sat down again at the piano, and sang :
Home, Sweet Home, and then played one i
If Beethoven's grandest, most solemn
pieces. y
She rose and closed the piano. Z
THE carnival is ended. Kate Franklin
disappears from the scene, and Madam =,
franklin enters" d
Neither Mrs. Dayton nor the servants -,
would have suspected, from the placid and
lignited department of the housekeeper
when they returned at evening, of what
TRANCE freaks she had been guilty. The
lousekeeper, as usual when Mr.. Dayton was -
lone, sat at the table. 1t had commenced -
o rain violently and the weather had grown .,
uddenly cold -
MIR. Dayton, as he had done occasionally
invited her to the library, where a cheerful
ire burned in the CRATE, He read the letters .
nd papers which he had brought from town, :,
While she knitted. .
An hour or more passed in silence; indeed,
he housekeeper seldom spoke except when
'sked question At length Mr.. Dayton -
ooked up to her and said abruptly: r