The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-03-05
SELECT STORY.
MIR. DAYTON's HOUsEKEEPER.

Thursday, April sixth, at No -
Michigan Avenue"
Kate franklin read this in the paper
which lay on the counter in the little
grocery while waiting to have an ounne
or two of tea done up, and roll of ba.
ker's 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 return
ed to the little bare attic, and ate hel
scanty meal mechanically. She forgot
how unsatis6ed her appetite still was
in her busy thought.
"A stranger in a strange place, success
sively che had tried to find situation
as teacher, copyist, in store, sewing
She had failed in the first three, and
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 inhuence-Mrs. Davenport,
the.rich, huaghty step-sister who shad
ill-tearted her gentle mother while she
lived, and had hated Kate herself.
Perhaps, Kate thought, she would per-
NIT her to refer to her, because glad to
have her descend to menial employment.
Kate was competent for the situation,
for during her mothers long illness, and
her fathers absence, she had entire
charge of of their large family and
splendid house.
But an "elderly woman" Now Kate
was not an elderly woman, being only
only twenty; but she remembered, with
a sort of pleasure, that in private thea
tricals in happier days, she had initiated
the voice, and assumed the character of
an old woman with great success. She
old and wrinkled appearance, and she
had, in the bottom of a box, some false
grey hair and muslin cap worn on one
of these occasions. She did not need to
look so very old-only to present a ma
true and matronly appearance.
Mr. Edward Dayton waited at home
after his dinner to see the respondents
to his advertisement. He was hand
some man, not yet thirty, with a gay
frank, good.natured countenance.
He leaned back in a nonchalent way,
with his feet on another chair.
"There ought TO be Mrs. Dayton to
manage these housekeeping matters.
Well, there's time enough"
Two applicants were seen and dismiss
ed in Mr.. Dayton's gentlemanly way.
A third was ushered in. Mr.. Dayton
instinctively laid aside his segar, and
placed a chair for his visitor.
The lady likeness and propriety of her
manner pleased him at once. Fallen
fortunes" he commented to himself.
She answered his questions readily,
but in few words.
"a silent woman--a good thing" was
his inward remark.
az think you will suit me. Mrs. -,
what may / understand your name"
Franklin.
"Mrs. Franlin you will be required
to goout of town, abont seven miles, to
my country house, Oak Grove-in the
town of Embury, on the Grand Central
Railroad. The salary propose to pay
is six hundred dollars per annum. Do
my terms suit your"
She answered, quietly, that they did.
"Then it is ali settled. By the way,
suppose you have references, though
that is a mere matter of form"
The name of Davenport was given.
Davenport? Robert Davenport? 1
know them. All right. If convenient,
you will please go tomorrow, Mrs.
Franklin, or the next day. 1 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 un-
til Saturday. She will show you round"
SIS Mrs. =, is your wife there, or to
60 soon?"
He laughed.
"Mrs. Edward Dayton? No, she is not
there, and 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
"pleasure."
A yivid color came into the brown
cheek of the heusekeeper, and her man.
ner showed evident embarrassment.
"I thought believe-I cannot"
and stopped.
He did not notice it. His mind had
already turned to other things. He rose.
otis 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. 1t is quite
customary, believe, to do So"
The housekeeper's hand closed on the
fifty dollars that he gave her; and the
words she would have said, were left un-
uttered. She moved to the door. He
opened it for her courteously.
"Good morning, madam"
"Good morning." she replied.
81 cannot starve. | must go. can
keep up my disguise" she murmured.
Mr.. Dayton, accompanied by friend,
arrived at his country house the middle
of the ensuing week. Everything with
in and about the house was in perfect
order. Ifthe new housekeeper had made
few mistakes at first, they were soon
rectiied. Every room that she had
touched showed a magical change.
Her predecessor had been one of the
kind who believed in the sunlight never
entering a room for fear of fading the
carpets.
Mr.. Dayton felt the change without
knowing the reason of it. He looked
around him with a satisfied air.
1t was not possible to find fault with
the variety and quality of the food plac-
ed before them, nor the manner of its
being served; and the table appointments
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