The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-11-19
Miscellaneous.
MR., DAYTON'S HOUSEKEEPER.

WANTED A HOUSEKEEPER- NC
ONE but an elderly person, compe
! tent, and of the highest respe ctability need
apply. Call between the hours of . and 3
Thursday, April 6, at No., Michigan
avenue.
Kate Franklin read this in the paper
which lay on the counter in the little gro
Gerry 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 returned
to the little bare attic, and ate her scanty
meal mechanically. She forgot how un-
satisfied her appetite still was in her busy
thought
a stranger in strange place, successfully
she had tried to find situation 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 in
tluence-Mrs Davenport, the rich, naughty
step-sister who had ill-treated her gentle
mother while she lived, and hated Kate her
SELF
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 situation, for
during her mothers long illness 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, being only 20; but
she remembered, with a sort of pleasure,
that in private theatricals in happier days
she had initiated the voice and assumed the
character Of an old woman with great sue
cess. 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 a muslin cap worn on one of these
occasions. She did not need to look so very
old-only to present mature and matronly
appearance.
Mr.. Edward Dayton waited at home after
his dinner to see the respondents to his ad-
vertisement. He was handsome man, not
yet 9O with gay, frank, good natured
countenance.
He leaned back in nonchaant way, his
feet on another chair.
"There ought to be Mrs Dayton to man.
age these housekeeping matters. Well,
there's time enough"
Two applicants were seen and dismissed
in Mr.. Daytons gentlemanly way.
A third was ushered in. Mr.. Dayton
laid aside his cigar, and placed
a chair for his visitor.
The ladylikeness and propriety of her
manner pleased him at once. "Fallen for
tunes" 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 name2"
Franklin"
MIS- FRANKLIN, you VIII be required to
go out of town, about seven miles, to my
country house, Oak Groye-in the town of
Embury, on the Grand Central Railroad.
The salary | propose to pay is 5000 per
annum. Do my terms suit you9"
She answered quietly that they did.
"Then it is all settled. By the way, |
suppose you have references, though that is
n mere matter of form"
The name of Davenport was given.
"Davenport2 Robert Davenport /
know them. All right. If convenient, you
will please go tomorrow, Mrs, Franklin, or
the next day, | shall not come till the
middle of next week, and probably bring a
friend or two with me, Have the chambers
in the centre and wings prepared, if you
please, The housekeeper there now will
not leave until Saturday, She will show
you round"
as Mrs.-is your wife there or to 60
soon7"
He laughed.
"Mrs, Edward Dayton2 No, she is not
there, and do not know other going at pres
ent." Adding more seriously; 81 have
not the pleasure, Mrs, Franklin, of having a
wife," with slight stress on pleasure"
A vivid color came into the brown cheek
of the housekeeper, and her manner showed