Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-01-23

customary, L DelleNe, 10 DO so.
The housekeeper's hand closed OIL
the fifty dollars that he gave her; and
the words she would have said, were
left unuttered. She moved to the door
He opened it for her courteously.
-Good morning, madam
"Good morning." she replied.
II cannot starve. l must go. / car
keep up my disguise, she murmured
Mr.. Dayton, accompanied by friend
arrived at his country house the middle
of the ensuing week. Everything
within and about the house was in per.
feet order. If the new housekeepeI
had made a few mistakes at first, they
were soon rectified. 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 il. He looked
around him with a satisfied air.
1t was not possible to find fault with
the variety and quality of the food
placed before them, nor the manner OF
its being served; aud the table appoint
ments were perfect; and Dayton con-
graduated himself upon having secured
such jewel of a housekeeper.
The weeks passed. and a holiday
came. Mr.. Dayton had gone to town
the day previous, TO remain the rest OF
the week. The hOusekeeper had given
permission TO the servants To go also.
She felt a welcome relief to have the
house and day to herself. She locked
the doors carefully after the last SER
want. She would make the most of her
day. She would have no dinner, only
a lunch. She had almost forgotten her
real character in that which she had
assumed; but to-day she could be her
self without fear of intrusion or dis
covery.
She laid aside her cap and grey
dresses, washed the stain from her
skin, and arranged her luxurious hair
in becoming curls and donned pretty.
fresh muslin, which fitted well the
slight graceful figure. This done, she
entered the parlor and stood before the
mirror, as attractive a figure as one
would often see.
''Truly, L have forgotten my own
looks, am Kate Franklin, after all -
she laughed.
Removed from the long restraint.
her spirits rebounded. She felt gay,
light-hearted, and like committing any
foolishness.
Miss Franklin" she said, in the
mincing, affecting tones of an exquisite,
sit would be inexpressible pleasure to
hear the music of that long silent
voice.
at would be great pity to deprive
you of it them" she answered in her
natural voice, ''and myself also," she
added; and going to the piano she
opened it and played few pieces with
exquisite taste and skill, and then she
sang song after song, in a sweet. clear,
cultivated voice. She chose at first
the brilliant and triumphant, then the
sad and plaintiye succeeded. There
were tears in her eyes when she rose.
But to-day her moods were capricious.
"Mrs. Franklin, who is playing on
the piano?'' she asked in an excellent
imitation of Mr.. Dayton's voice.
''It is only |, sir, busting the keys.
They need dusting so Often," she re-
piled, in Mrs. Franklin's mature tones
and she busted them vigorously with
her pocket-handkerchief.
"Ah, me,'' she said. ''Now what
other foolish thing shall l do to prove
to myself that | am not an elderly
hOusekeeper, but young girl, who, by
virtue of her age, should be gay, by
right Of birth, wealthy. and of consid-
Grafton, visited and visiting, as Mr..
Dayfon's lady visits and is visited. He
is noble. good, and handsome" she said
with a sigh. 'She will be happy. How
gracefully she danced here at the party
the other evening, when the old house
keeper was permitted TO look on. She
looks good and amiable too. Mr.. Day
ton danced with her three times.
wonder if | have forgotten how to
dance:" and humming an air. she
floated gracefully about the room.
She stopped breathless, her cheeks
brilliant from the exercise, her splendid
hair disarranged.
: 81 believe feel like stiff, old Mrs.
Franklin, with whom dancing doesn't
agree.
.'One more song by that heavenly
voice. Miss Franklin, and 1 shall go
away dreaming / have heard angels
sing" i'm the ludicrously affected voice
she had before initiated.
''Ah," she laughed, yet half sadly,
''the compliments poor old housekeeper
Franklin receives, hope won't quite
spoil her, and turn her silly old head.''
She sat down again at the piano, and
sang "Home, Sweet Home" then
played one of Beethoven's grandest,
and solemn pieces.
She arose and closed the piano.
''The carnival is ended. Kate Frank
lin disappears from the scene. aEd
Madame Franklin enters"
Neither Mr.. Dayton nor the servants
would have suspected, from the placid
and digsified department of the house
keeper when they returned at evening,
Of what strange freak 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 OCCASION
ally. invited her TO the library, where
a cheerful fire burned in the crate. He
read the letters and papers which he
had brought with him from town,