Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-11-11

until Saturday. She will show you around"
ssIs Mrs. - is your wife there, or to go
| soon:
He laughed. Mrs. Edward Dayton? Nc;
she is not there, and do not know ot her
going at present" Adding, more seriously,
Il have not the pleasure, Mrs. Franklin, OF
having a wife, with Slight stress upon
''pleasure.'
A vivid color came into the brown cheeks
of the housekeeper, and her manner showed
! evident embarrassment
| 81 thouoht-I belieye-I cannot" and
stopped.
| He did not notice it. His mind had al
ready turned to other things. He rose.
''It's all settled, believe. BY the way
his eyes falling on the rusty black dress
! ''you may like an advance, as an evidence OF
the bargain. 1t is quite customary, l be-
! lieve, to do So"
The housekeeper's hands 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.
Il cannot starve. | must 60. can keep
up my disguise, she murmured
| Mr.. Dayton, accompanied by friend, ar
rived at his country house the middle OF the
ensuing week. Everything within and with
out the house was in perfect order. If the
! new housekeeper had made a few mistakes
at first, they were soon rectitied. Every room
! that she had touched showed a magical
change
Her predecessor had been one OF the kind
who believed in the sunlight never entering
the room for fear of fading the carpets.
| Mr. Dayton felt the change without know
| ing the reason of it. He looked around him
with a satisfied air.
1t was not possible to find fault with the
variety and quality of the food placed before
| them, nor the manner OF its being served;
and the table appointments were perfect, and
MIR. Dayton congratulated himself upon hay
ing such jewel of a housewife.
The weeks passed, and holiday came
Dayton had gone to town the day previous to
remain the rest of the week. The house
keeper had given permission to the servants
| to 90 also. She felt welcome relief to have
the day to herself. 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
had assumed; but to-day she could be her.
self, without fear of intrusion or discovery.
She laid aside her cap and gray dresses
washed the stain from her skin-arranged
her luxuriant hair in becoming curls, and
donned pretty, fresh muslin, which fitted
we'll the slight, graceful figure. This done,
she entered the parlor and stood before the
mirror-as attractive figure as one would
often see.
''Truly, have forgotten my own looks! I
am Kate Franklin, after all, F." she said.
Removed from her long restraint, her
spirits rebounded. She felt gay, light-hearted.
,,l
''Miss Franklin" she said, in the mincing,
affected tones of an exquisite, ''it would be an
inexpressible pleasure to hear the music OF
that long silent voice"
''lt 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 then she sang
song after song, in sweet, clear, cultivated
voice. She chose, at first, the brilliant and
triumphant, then the sad and plaintive sue
ceeded. There were tears in her eyes when
she rose; but to-day her moods were capri
cious.
'Mrs. Franklin, who is playing on the
piano ?" she asked, in excellent imitation OF
Mr. Dayton's voice.
''It is only I, sir, busting 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.
ssAh, me." she said, ''now what other
foolish thing shall l do to prove to myself
that am not an elderly housekeeper, but
young girl, who by virtue of her age should
be gay by right Of birth, wealthy, and of con-
sideration, visited and visiting, as Mr.. Day.
toms lady visits and is visited. He is noble,
good, and handsome" she said, with a sigh.
.'She will be happy. How gracefully she
danced here at the party the other evening,
when the old housekeeper was permitted to
look on. She looks good and amiable, too.
MIR. Dayton danced with her three times.
wonder if l have forgotten how to dance?"
and humming an air, she tloated gracefully
about the room.
She stopped breathless, her cheeks brilliant
from the exercise, her splendid hair disar-
ranged.
Il believe feel like stiff old Mrs. Frank
lin, with whom dancing doesn't agree"
lone more song by that heavenly voice,
Miss Franklin, and shall 60 away dreaming
l have heard angels sing," in the ludicrously
affected voice she had before initiated.
"Ah," she laughed, yet half sadly, s'the
compliments poor old housekeeper Franklin
receives l hope won't quite spoil her, and
turn her silly old head"
She sat down again at the piano, and sang
''Home, Sweet Home" and then played one
of Beethoven's grandest, most solemn pieces |
She rose and closed the piano.
The carnival was ended. Kate Franklin |
disappears from the scene, and Madam Frank |
lin enters.
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants would
have suspected from the placid and dignified