The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
2.

ed.
Removed from the long restraint, her
spirits rebounded. She felt gay, light
/ hearted. and like committing any foolish
ness
"Miss Franklin" she said, in the min
cling, affected tones of an exquisite, sit
would be inexpressible pleasure to hear
the music of that long silent voice"
att would be great pity to deprive
you of it then" she answered, in her
natural voice, ''and myself, also" she ad-
ded; and going to the piano she opened
it and played few pieces with exquisite
after song, in sweet, clear. cultivated
voice. She chose at first the brilliant
and triumphant, then the sad and plain
tive succeeded. There were tears in her
rose. But to-day her moods were cap
ricious.
'Mrs. Franklin, who is playing on the
piano?" she asked, in an excellent imita-
tion of Mr.. Dayton's voice.
at is only I, sir, dusting the keys.
They need need busting so often," she
replied, in Mrs Franklin's mature tones;
and she busted them vigorously with her
pocket
"Ah, me-" she said. "Now what other
foolish thing shall do to prove to my
self that 1 am not an elderly housekeep-
er, but young girl, who, by virtue of
her age, should be gay, by right of birth,
wealthy, and of consideration, 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 even
ing, when the old housekeeper was per-
mitted to look on. She looks good and
amiable, too. Mr.. Dayton danced with
her three times I wonder if have for
COTTON how to dancer" and humming an
air, she ffoated gracefully about the
room.
She stopped, breathless, her cheeks
lLOlI LilC CAClNloCg AACA SPi0hN'N
hair disarranged.
81 believe | feel like stiff, old Mrs.
Franklin, with whom dancing doesn't
agree"
"One more song by that heavenly
voice, Miss Franklin, and l shall go
away dreaming l have heard angels
sing" in the ludicrously affected voice
she had before initiated.
"Ah, she laughed, yethalf sadly, "the
compliments poor old housekeeper
Franklin receives, l hope won't qnite
spoil her, and turn her silly old head"
She sat down again at the piano, and
sang Home, Sweet Home;" then played
one of Beethoven's grandest, most solemn
pieces.
She rose and closed the piano.
"The carnival is ended. Kate Frank
lin disappears from the scene, and Mad
anne Franklin enters"
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants
would have suspected, from the placid
and digniied 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 violently, and
the weather had grown suddenly cold.
Mr. Dayton, as he had done occasionally,
invited her to the library, where cheer
full fire burned in the CRATE. He read
the letters and the papers which he had
brought with him from town, while she
knitted.
An hour or more passed in silence; in
deed, the housekeeper seldom spoke ex-
cept when asked a question. At length
Mr.. Dayton looked up at her, and said,
abruptly
"Yours must be lonely life, madam.
If it is not a painful subject, may 1 ask
how long since you lost your husband?"
Two hands suspended their employ
ment, two eyes looked up at him with an
alarmed expression. In his serious,
sympathetic countenance there was moth
ing to frighten or embarrass, but the red
grew deeper on her brown cheek.
at is painful subject" she said at
last, falteringly. "If you will please
excuse me-"
One morning he was speaking of the
great loss to children in being deprived
of their parents.
"I never knew a mother" he said.
"She died before my earlist recollection.
believe that, man as am, if had a
mother, should go to her with all my
griefs, as little child would. l have
sometimes thought of asking you to act
as mother in the quiet evenings, when l
have longed to confide in some one. My
mother would have been about your
age, think"
Again there was a vivid color in the
cheek of the housekeeper, such as is
rarely seen in the aged, but it was un-
accompanied by culver of the mouth,
and ended in cough, but both mouth
and cheek were quickly covered with
handkerchief. and quite violent fit of
coughing succeeded.
Mr.. Dayton, however, did not seem to
notice, though he had given her one
curious glance, instantly withdrawn, and
he continued:
"For instance, respecting matrimony,
whose advice of so much value as
mothers? Who so quick to see through
character, and make a good Selection?
Had you a son, whom about here would
You select for a daughter in-law, Mrs.
franklin"
81 am not acquainted with any of the
young ladies, Mr.. Dayton" she answer
ed, family, after pause, during which
he seemed to wait for an answer.
"True, but you have seen them all,
and are, 1 should judge, good discern
er of character, from observation. Whom
would you select from those you have
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