Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-08
MIR. DAYroN's HousEKEEPER

-, Michigan Avenue.
Kate Franklin read this in tho pa
per which lay on the counter in the
little grocery while waiting to have
an ounce or two of tea done up, and
a roll of bakers bread.
She repeated the number of the
house over to herself as she received
the change from the grocer.
She prepared the tea after she had
returned to the little bare attic, and
ate her scanty meal mechanically
She forgot how unsatistied her appe-
tite still was in her busy thought.
A stranger in a strange place, sue
cessively she had tried to find a situ-
alton as teacher, copyist, in a store,
sewing. She had failed in the first
three and was starving on the last.
She would apply for the place but
she would need references. Only
one person she knew in the whole
great city, of sufficient influence
Mrs. Davenport, the rich, naughty
step-sister, who had ill-treated her
gentle mother while she lived, and
hated Kate herself.
Perhaps Kate thought she would
permit her to refer to her, because
glad to have her descend to menial
employment.
Kate was competent for the situa-
ton, for during her mothers long i'll
ness and her fathers absence she had
entire charge of their large family
and splendid house.
But an "elderly woman" Now,
Kate was not an elderly woman, be-
ing only 20; but she remembered,
with a sort Of pleasure, that in pri-
vate theatricals in happier days she
had initiated the voice and assumed
the character of an old woman, with
great success. She knew how to
stain the skin to give an old and
wrinkled appearance, and she had in
the bottom of box some false gray
hair and muslin cap worn on one
of these occasions. She did not need
to look so very old-only to present
Il mature and matronly appearance.
Mr.. Edward Dayton waited at
home after his dinner, to see the re-
spondents to his advertisement. lie
was Il handsome man, not yet 30,
with q gay, frank, good-natured toun-
tenance.
He leaned back in nonchalant
way, his feet resting upon another
chair
"There ought to be Mrs. Dayton
to manage these housekeeping mat
tcrs. Well, there's time enough for
that"
Two applicants were seen and dis
missed in Mr.. Dayton's gentlemanly
way.
A third was ushered in. Mr. Day
ton instinctiveIy laid aside his cigar
and placed chair for his visitor.
The ladylikeness and propriety of
her manner pleased him at once.
"Fallcn fortunes" he commented to
himself
She answered his questions readily
but in few words.
"a silent woman--a good thing"
was his inward remark.
81 think you will suit me, Mrs
what may | understand your name?"
"Franklin."
"Mrs. Franklin, you will be rcquir-
ed to go out Of town, about seven
miles, to my country house, Oak
! Grove-in the town Of Embury, on
the Grand Central Railroad. The
salary l propose to pay is 5000 per
annum. Do my terms suit"
She answered quietly that they
did.
"Then it is all settled. By the
way, suppose you have references,
though that is a mere matter of form" p"
The name Of Davenport was Civ
en-.
Davenport? Robert Davenport?
I know them. All right. If conven-
lent, you will please go tomorrow,
Mrs. Franklin, or the next day. |
shall not come till the middle of next
week, and probably bring friend or
two with me. Have the chambers
in the center and wings prepared, if
you please. The housekeeper there
now will not leave until Saturday.
She will show you round"
'Is Mrs.-is your wife there, or 20
go soon?"
He laughed.
"Mrs. Edward Dayton? No, she
is not there, and l do not know of
her going, at present" Adding,
more seriously: 81 have not the
pleasure, Mrs. Franklin, Of having a
wife," with slight stress on "pleas-
ure."
A vivid color came into the brown
check of the housekeeper, and her
manner showed evident cmbarrass-
ment.
81 thought believe-I cannot"
and stopped.
He did not notice it. His mind
had already turned to other things.
He rose.
OTIS all settled, l believe. by the
way" his eyes falling on the rusty
black dress, 'you may like an ad-
vance as an evidence of the bargain
1T is quite customary, | believe, to do
so.'
The housckeeper's hand closed on
the fifty dollars that he gave her, and
the words she would have said were
left unuttercd. She moved to the
door. He opened it for her courte
ously.
"Good morning, madam"
"Good morning." she replied.
81 cannot starve. | must go. ]
can keep up my disguise" she mur
INJURED.
Mr.. Dayton, accompanied by {
friend, arrived at his country house
the middle of the ensuing week.
Everything within and without the
house was in perfect order. If the
new housekeeper had made few
mistakes at first, they were soon rec
tilted. Every room that she touched
showed a magical change.
Her predecessor had been one O.
the kind who believed in the sunligh
never entering room for fear o
fading the carpets.
Mr.. DAYTON felt the change with