Middletown transcript., 1875-11-13

o alton, visited and visiting, as Mr.. Day
tons lady visits and is visited. He,i
/. noble, good and handsome. she said
!, with asigh. "She will be happy, Ho'
b gracefully she danced here at the part
the other evening, when the old house
keeper was permitted to look on. Sh
/? looks good and amiable, too. Mr.. Day
ton danced with her three times.
. wonder if / have forgotten how t
[ dance ?" and humming an air she float
/ ed gracefully about the room. :
She stopped breathless. her cheek
brilliant from the exercise, her splendit
hair disaranged. .os- aaa SOC sisao
II believe I feel like stiff, old Mrs
Franklin, with whom dancing doesn'
agree.p n5 ass s isasa,
'tOne more song by that heavenly
voice, and 1 shall 60 away dreaming
have heard angels sing" in the ludic-
rously affected voice she had before
initiated. r. isgsfA eas'gt, ss
h "Ah," she laughed, yet half sadly.
''the compliments poor old bousekeeper
Franklin receives ] hope won't quite
spoil her. and turn her silly old head"
! She sat down againlat the piano, and
1 sang ..Home Sweet Home, land then
played one of Beethoven's grandest,
most solemn pieces.
She rose and closed the piano. @
1.-The carnival is ended !! Kate Frank
lin disappears from the scene. and
| Madam franklin enters" - ''i0i' e
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants
would. have suspected, from the placid
and digni6ed department of the house,
keeper, when they returned at evening.
of what strange freaks she had been
guilty, The housekeeper, as usual,
when Mr.. Dayton was alone. sat at the
table. 1t had commenced to rain vio2
lently, and the weather had grown sud-
denly cold.
Mr.. Dayton. as he had done oeca-
sionally, invited her to the library,
where a cheerful fire burned in the
CRATE. He read the letters and papers
which be had brought with him from
town, while she knitted. e@s.3
An hour or more passed in silence;
indeed, the housekeeper. seldom spoke
except when asked a question. At
length Mr.. Dayton looked up to her
and said abruptly: 9
Yours must be lonely life, madam.
If it is not a painful subject, may I ask
how long since you lost your husband y
Two hands suspended employment,
two eyes looked up to him with an
alarmed expression. In bis serious.
sympathetic tcounteuance there was
nothing to frighten or embarrass. but
the red grew deeper on her brown
cheek.
j. 1T is painful subject" she said at
last, faltering, I" if you will please ex-
cuse me-" H ~. ara.
One morning he was speaking ofthe
great loss to children in being deprived
of their parents.
II never knew mother" he said.
"She died before my earliest rscollec-
tions. I believe that, man as I am, if
/ had mother / should go to her with
all my griefs, as a little>child would. l
have sometimes thought of asking you
to act as mother in the quiet evenings,
when l have longed to confde in some
one. My mother would have been about
your age. I think"
Again there was vivid color in the
cheek Of the housekeeper. such as is
rarely seen in the aged, but it was ac-
by quiver in the mouth,
md ended in cough, but both mouth
ind cheek were quickly covered with
handkerchief, and quite violent fit Of
,or - h:r - e,ooooJo1
Mr.. Dayton. however, did not seem
o notice, though be had given her one
curious glance, instantly withdrawn,
md he continued :,.. ts.-..t.
For instance, respecting matrimony.
vhose advice of so much value as a
nother's? Who SO quick to see through {
he character and make good selec- }
ion? Had you a son, whom about b
ere would you select for daughter. b
n-law. Mrs. Franklin p ..,,s.., n
81 am not acquainted with any of a
be young ladies, Mr.. Dayton" she 8
nswered. o
'"rrue, but you have seen them all, b
nd are, | should judge, good dis r.
erner of character from observation. b
Vhom would you select from those You m
ave seen? :" be persisted. 81 o.
She reddened and paled. s
81 have heard the Misses Grandson b,
ighly spoken Of. Their appearance 81
ould seem to prove the,truth. | doubt m
't that you agree with me-" she re- 81
led quietly. ~ @ pr
1t vas now his turn to- color, which d,
} did slightly. 4a q a in
II do agree with you," be answered fu
nphatieally. a
II mae late 81 Cn~xo-.l.. NJ. r. IL