Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-11-04

She stopped breathlessv her cheehs'
brilliant from the exercise, her splendid
hair arranged.
II believe I feel like stiff old Mrs.
Franklin, with whom dancing does mt
agree"
ss'One more song by that heavenly
voice, Miss Franklin, aud | shall 60
away dreaming l have heard angels
sing" in the ludicrously affected voice
she had before initiated.
"Ah,' she laughed, yet half sadly
''the compliment poor old housekeepe1
Franklin receives hope won't quite
spoil her, and turn her silly old head.
She sat down at the piano and sang
s'Home Sweet Home" and then played
one of Beethoven's grandest, most sol
emn pieces.
She rose closed the piano.
s'The carnival is ended. Kate Frank
lin disappears from the scene and Nine.
Franklin enters.
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants
would suspect from the placid and dig
nifed department of housekeeper 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 occas-
ionally, invited her to the library,
where cheerful fire burned in the
crate. He read the letters and papers
which he had brought with him from
town while she knitted.
An hour or more passed in silence !;
indeed, the housekeeper seldom spoke
except when asked question. At
length Mr.. Dayton looked up to her
and said abruptly:
"Your's must be lonely life,
madam. If it is not painful subject,
may ask how long since you lost your
husband!"
Two hands suspended their employ
ment, two eyes looked up to him with
all alarmed expression. In his serious,
sympathetic countenance there was
nothing to brighten or embarrass. but
the red grew deeper on her brown
cheek.
at is a painful subject" she said at
list faltering. "If you will please ex-
cuse me"
One morning he was speaking of the
great loss to children in being deprived
of their parents.
Il never knew a mother" he said
She died before my earliest recollec
ton. believe that, a man as am, if
I had mother, ! should 60 to her with
all my griefs, az 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 just
about your age think"
Again there was vivid color in the
cheek of the housekeeper, such as is
rarely seen in the aged, but it was &C
companied by culver in the mouth,
and ended in cough, but both mouth
and cheek were quickly covered with a
handkerchief, and quite a violent fit of
coughing succeeded.
Mr.. Dayton, however, did not seem
to notice, though he had gwen her one
curious glance, instantly withdrawn,
and he continued;
"For instance, respecting matrimony,
whose advice of so much value as a
mothers! Who SO quick to see
through character and make a good
selection Had you 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
answered.
"True, but you have seen them all
and are, should judge, a good dis
cerner of character from observation.
Whom would you select from those
you have seen :" he persisted.
She redeemed and paled.
81 have heard the Misses Grandson
highly spoken Of Their appearance
would seem to prove the truth. /
doubt not that you agree with me, she
replied, quietly.
1t was now his turn to color, which
he did slightly.
81 do agree with you" he answered
elnphatically.
1t was late in September. Mr.. Days
ton and the housekeeper were both in
the parlor. He had been unusually
grave all day. 1t seemed to the house,
keeper that his manner was changed
toward her.
II have few questions to ask, if
you will permit me, Mrs. Franklin T.
She felt instructive alarm at his
tone.
Certainly with an effort.