Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-04-17
Mr.. Dayton's Housekeeper.

"Wanted. housekeeper. No one
but an elderly, competent, person of the
highest respectability, need apply. Call
at the hours of three and four, Thurs
day, April 9Th, at No. - Michigan ave-
nue.. .re
Kate Franklin read this in the paper
which lay on the counter in the little
grocery, while waiting to have an ounce
or two of tea done up, and 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 re-
turned to the little bare attic, and ate
her scanty meal mechanically. She for
got how unsatisfed her appetite still
was, in her busy thought. ...
A stranger in strange place, sue
cessively she had tried to find situa-
ton as teacher, copyist, in a store, sew
ing. She had failed in the first three,
and was starving on the last.
She would apply for that place, but
she would need references. Only one
person she knew in the whole great
city, of sufficient influence Daven-
port, the rich, naughty step-sister who
had ill-treated her gentle mother while
she lived, and had hated Kate herself.
Perhaps, Kate thought, she would per-
init her to refer to her because glad to
have her descend to menial employ
ment.
Kate was competent for the situation,
for during her mothers long illness,
and her fathers absence, she had entire
charge of their large family and splen-
did house.
But an elderly woman" Now Kate
was not an elderly woman being only
twenty; but she remembered, with q
sort of pleasure, that in private theat-
ricals 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 q
mature and matronly appearance.
Mr.. Edward Dayton waited at home
after his dinner to see the respondents
to his advertisement, He was very
handsome man, not yet thirty, with .
gay, frank, good-natured countenance.
lie leaned back in nonchalent way,
with his feet on another chair.
There ought to be q Mrs. Dayton
to manage these housekeeper matters.
Well, there's time enough yet"
Two applicants were seen and dis
missed in Mr.. Dayton's gentlemanly
way.
A third was ushered in. Mr.. Day
ton instinctively laid aside his cigar,
and placed a chair for his visitor.
.... The lady-hkeness and pronrietv of
her manner pleased him at once. "F'alI-
en- fortunes" he commented to him
self.
She answered his questions readily,
but in few words.
ga silent woman-a good thing"
was the inward remark.
think you will suit me, Mrs. -
what may understand your name?"
Franklin"
Mrs. Franklin, you will be request
ed to 60 out of town, about seven miles
to my country house, Oak Grove-in the
town Of Embury, ON the Grand Central
Railroad. The salary I propose to pay
is six hundred dollars per annum. Do
my terms suit youi"
She answered quietly, that they did.
Then it is all settled. BY the way,
I suppose you have references, though
that is mere matter of FORM
The name of Davenport was given.
. "Davenportp Robert Davenport? +?
/ know them. All right. If conven-
lent, you please go tomorrow, Mrs.
Franklin, or the next day. I shall not
come until next week, and probably
bring friend or two with me. Have
the chambers in tho center and wings
prepared, If you please. The house
keeper there now will not leave until
Saturday. She will show you round"
:" Is Mrs. -, is your wife there, or
to go soonP" &af ss.. 'tas
He laughed. 4ulny
Mrs. Edward Daytonp No she is
not there, and I do not know of her
going at present" Adding more seri-
ously, /" I have not the pleasure, Mrs
Franklin, of having wife," with o
slight stress on pleasure.
A. vivid color came into the brown
cheek of the housekeeper, and her man.
ner showed evident embarrassment. s-
81 thought believe-I cannot -
and stopped.
He did not notice it. His mind had
turned to other things.
He rose. .,s
It's all settled, believe. BY the
way" his eye falling on the rusty Black
dress, you may like an advance, as an
evidence of the bargain. It is quite
customary believe to do So"
The housekeeder's hand closed on
the fifty dollars that he gave her; and
the words she would have said, were
left unuttered. She moved to the door.