The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-04-02
looked around him with satisfied

IL WIS uOb pOSo1Dlt W uuu AduhO 4
with the variety and quality Of food |
placed before them, nor the manner
Of its being served; and the table ap-
pointments were perfect; and Dayton
Congratulated himself upon having
secured such o jewel Of a house
keeper.
The weeks passed, and a holiday |
came. Mr.. Dayton had gone to town
the day previous, to remain the rest |
of the week. The housekeep6r had
given permission to the servants to
90 also. She felt it welcome relief
to have the house and the day to
herself. She locked the doors care
fully after the last servant. She
would make the most of her day.
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
herself without fear Of intrusion or
discovery.
She laid aside her cap and gray
dresses, washed the stain. from her
skin, and arranged her luxuriant hair
in becoming curls, and donned a
pretty, fresh muslin, which fitted
we'll the slight, graceful figure. This
done, she entered the parlor and
stood before the mirror, as attractive
a figure as one would seldom see.
Truly, have forgotten my own
looks l am Kate Franklin, after
all, she laughed.
Removed from the long restraint,
her spirits rebounded. She felt gay,
light-hearted, and like committing
any foolishness
Miss Franklin, she said, in the
minclng, affected tones of an exquis-
ite, lit would be inexpressible pleas
ure to hear the music of that long
silent voice.
1T would be greatpity 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 a
sweet, clear, cultivated voice. She
chose at first the brilliant and trium-
phant, then the sad and plaintive
succeeded. She wore tears in her
eyes when she rose. But to-day her
moods were.ness ofious.
Mrs. Frnim and 70 is playing on
the pianos, he did nd, in excellent
imitation of 6l.,,or.yton's voice,
Its only 1, sir, dusting the keys,
They need it SO often, she replied,
in Mrs. Franklin's mature tones, and
she busted them vigorously with her
handkerchief. n
'Ah, me 7 she said. Now what
other foolish thing shall I do to
prove to myself that I am not an
elderly housekeeper, but young
girl, who by virtue of her age, should
be gay, by right of birth, wealthy
and OF consideration, visited and Wis
iting, 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 9TH
er evening, when the old housekeeper
was permitted to look on. She looks
good and amiable, too. Mr.. Dayton
| danced with her three times. I
wonder if | have forgotten how to
dance? and humming an air, she
floated gracefully about the room.
She stopped, breathless, her cheeks
brilliant with the exercise, her splen-
did hair disarranged.
L believe / feel like stiff old Mrs.
| Franklin, with whom dancing does
not agree.
'One more song by that heavenly
voice, Miss Franklin and | shall go
away, dreaming how | have heard
the angels sing, in the ludicrously
affected voice she had before initiated.
'Ah, she laughed, yet half sadly,
'the compliments poor old house
keeper Franklin receives. / hope
won't quite 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 grandest,
most solemn pieces.
She rose, closed the piano.
sThe carnival is ended. Kate
Franklin disappears from the scene,
and Madam Franklin enters.
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the SER
wants would have suspected, from
the placid and dignifed department
of the housekeeper when they re-
turned at evening, of what strange
freaks she had been guilty.
The housekeeper, as usual, when
Mr.. Dayton was alone, sat at the ta-
BILE. It had commenced to rain VIC
lently, and the weather has growr
suddenly cold.
Mr.. Dayton, as he had done occa
sionally invited her to the library
where a cheerful fire burned in the
crate. He read the letters and pa
pers which he had brought with hin
from town, while she knitted.
An hour or more passed in silence
indeed the housekeeper seldom spok'
} except when asked a question. A
: length Mr.. Dayton looked M at her
: and said abruptly;
Yours must be a lonely life, mad
) am. If not a painful subject, may
ask, how long since you lost you
! husband?
; Two hands suspended their EN-
ployment, two eyes looked up at hin
) with an alarmed expression. In hi
serious, sympathetic countenanc
there was nothing to frighten or EN-
barrass, but the red grew deeper h
her brown cheek.
1T is a painfnl subject, she sal
I at last, falteringly. II you wi
please excuse me.