The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-10-14

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,rder. If the new housekeeper had
made a few mistakes at first, they were
soon rectiied. Every room that she
nad touched showed a magical change.
Her predecessor had been one of the
Kind who believed in the sunlight never
entering a room for fear of fading the
Mr.. Dayton felt the change without
knowing the reason of it. He looked
him with a satisfied air.
1t was not possible to find fault with
the variety and quality of the food
before them, nor the manner of
its being served; and the table appoint
ments were perfect; and Dayton con-
graduated himself upon having such a
jewel of a housewife.
The weeks passed. and a holiday came.
Dayton had gone to town the day
previous to remain the rest of the week.
The housekeeper had given permission
to the servants to go also. She felt a
welcome relief to have 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; but to-day she could be
herself without fear of intrusion or dis
covery.
She laid aside her cap and gray
dresses, washed the stain from her skin,
and arranged her luxurious hair in be-
coming curls, and donned a pretty,
fresh muslin, which fitted well the slight,
graceful figure. This done, she entered
the parlor and stood before the mirror,
as attractive a figure as one would often
see.
"Truly, I have forgotten my own
looksl am Kate Franklin, after ALL"
she said.
Removed from her long restraint, he1
spirits rebounded. She felt gay, light
hearted, and like committing any fool
ishness.
"Miss Franklin" she said in the
mincmg, affected tones of an exquisite,
sit would be inexpressible pl,aasure tc
hear the music of that long silenS voice.
sit would be a great pity to deprive
you of it then," she answered in hel
natural voice, "and myself also," she
added; and going to the piano she
opened it, and then she sang song after
song, in a sweet, clear, cultivated voice
She chose at first the brilliant and tri
umphant, 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 OIL
the piano?" she asked, In excellent imi
tation Of Mr.. Dayton's veice.
cit is only /, sir, busting the keys
They need busting so often" she re
piled in Mrs. Franklin's meagre tones
and she busted them vigorously with he,
pocket handkerchief.
"Ah, me, she said. "Now what othe.
foolish thing shall 1 do to prove to my
self that 1 am not au elderly ~housekeep
er, but a young girl, who, by virtue o
her age, should be gay, by right of birth
wealthy and of consideration, visitet
and visiting, as Mr.. Dayton's lady visit
and is visited. He is noble, good, an,
handsome" she said with sigh. Ssh
will be happy. How gracefully sh
danced here at the party the other eve
ming, when the old housekeeper was pei
mitted to look on. She looks good an,
amiable, too. Mr.. Dayton danced wit
her three times. / wonder if l have fol
gotten how to dancer" and humming a
air, she ioated gracefully about tn
room.
She stopped breathless, her cheek
brilliant from the exercise, her splendi
hair ~disarranged.
81 believe 1 feel like stiff, old Mrs
Franklin, with whom dancing doesn'
agree"
"One more song by that heavenl
voice, Miss Franklin, and 1 shall g
away dreaming I have heard angel
sing" in the ludicrously affected voic
she had before initiated.
"Ah," she laughed, yet half sadly
"the compliments poor old housekeepe
Franklin receives, 1 hope won't quit
spoil her, and turn her silly old head.
She sat down again at the piano, an
sang "Home Sweet Home" and the
played one of B~eethoven's grandes-
most solemn pieces.
She rose and closed the piano.
"The carnival is ended. Kate Franz
lin disappears from the scene, and Mac
am Franklin enters"
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servant
would have suspected from the placi
and digniied department of the HOUSE
keeper when they returned at evening
of what strange freaks she had bee
guilty. The housekeeper, as usua
when Nh. Dayton was alone, sat at til
table. 1t had commenced to rain vic
lently, and the weather had grown sue
denly cold.
Mr.. Dayton, as he had done occasion
ally, invited her to the library, where
cheerful fire burned in the CRATE. q
read the letters and papers which he ha
brought with him from town while sh
knitted.
An hour OF more passed in silence; il
deed, the housekeeper seldom spoke ez
cept when asked a question. At lengt
Mr.. Dayton looked up to her and sal
abruptly:
"Your's must be a lonely life, madam
If it is not a painful subject, may I as
how long since you lost your husbands
Two hands suspended their employ
ment, two eyes looked up to him wit
an alarmed expression. In his serious
sympathetic countenance there wa
nothing to brighten or embarrass, bu
the red grew deeper ON her brown cheek
SIT is a painful subject" she said 6
last, faltering. "H you will please e1
cuse me-"
One morning he was speaking of til
great loss to children in being deprive
of their parents.
81 never knew a mother" he said
"She died before my earliest r~ecollec
ton. 1 believe that, man as I am, if
had a mother, I should &c to her wit
all my griefs, as a little child would.
have sometimes thought of asking yo1
to act as mother in the quiet evenings
when I have longed to confde in som
one. My mother would have been abou
your age, 1 think"
Again there was a vivid color in tn
cheek of the housekeeper, such as i
rarely seen in the aged, but it was &C
companied by a culver in the mouth
and ended in a cough, but both moutl
and cheek were quickly covered with
handkerchief, and quite a violent fit O
oOuuhiD G1ooaadnd