Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-23

Two hands suspended their employ
ment, two eyes looked up at him with
&c alarmed expression. In his serl-
Gus, sympathetic countenance there
was nothing to lrighten or embarrass
but the red grew deeper on her brown
cheek.
1T is painful subject she said at
last, faltering, If you will, please
excuse me.
One morning he was speaking OF
the great loss to children in being de-
prived Of their parents.
I never knew a mother, he said.
She died before my earliest recoIlec-
tions. l believe, man as | am, if |
had mother, | should 50 to her with
all my griefs, as little child would.
have sometimes thought Of asking
you to act as mother in the quiet
evenings, when | have longed to con-
ile in some one. My mother would
have been about your age ! think.
Again there was vivid color IN
the cheek of the housekeeper, such as
is rarely seen in the aged, bat it Is
accompanied by culver OF the
mouth, and ends in Il cough, but both
mouth and cheek were quickly COW
cred with a handkerchief, and quite a
vio,ent fit Of coughing succeeded.
Mr.. Dayton, however did not seem
to notice, though he had given her
one curious glance, instantly with
drawn, and he continued:
For, instance, respecting matrimo-
nv, whose advice is Of 80 much value
as mothers? Who is 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%
4 am not acquainted with any Of
the youn5 ladies, Mr. Dayton, she an
! swercl ialntIy after pause, during
which ue seemed to wait for an an
s"er.
"Gruo but you have seen them all,
and are, | shoald Judge, a good dis
cerner Of character, from observation.
Whom would you select from those
YOU have seen?' he persisted.
She redeemed and paled.
i have heard the Misses Grandson
highly spoken Of. Their appearance
would seem to prove the truth. |
doubt not that You agree with me,
she returned quietly.
1t was now his turn to color, which
he did slightly.
1 do agree wish you, he answered
emphatically.
1t was late in September. Mr.. Day
ton and The housekceper We're both IN
the par.or. lie had been unusually
grave all day. 1t seemed to the house.
! keeper that his manner was changed
| toward her.
I have few questions to ask, ii
you Will permit, Mrs. Franklin? :?
Sic felt instructive alarm at his
tone.
Certainly, with an etlort.
There was an omlnous pause.
4 have been told, he said, that
Miss Kate Franklin, a young lady, by
Disgusting herself, palmed herself of
upon me for several months as an ell
derly lady. Is there any truth in the
story looking searchingly at her
Yes, it is true, she murmured, fal,
terlng.
4 confessI fail to see for what OBJ.
ject. My heart you could hardly eX-
! pect to gain in that character.
y our heart she repeated scorn-
fully. 4 had no such laudabIe ambi-
/ ton; had never seen or heard OF
you till saw your advertisement
Would You want to know for what
purpose | took upon me disguise sc
rep1gnant? You shall. 10 save my
self from starvation. | had eaten but
one meal day for a week when | APP
piled to you, and was suffering with
hunger then. Ny money was all gone
except teW pennies, with when tC
buy roll Of bread for the next day 5
meal, and had no prospects for more
for had been refused further sewing
But why shonld you find faalt, hel
pride rising. What matter if | was
Miss or Mrs. Franklin, old or young
if | fulfilled the duties | undertook
Have | not taken good care Of your
house? Have I not made you comfor
table? If / have not, deduct from this
quarters salary, which you paid this
morning, whatever you like.
I have no fault to find, except fol
placing yourself and me in an awk'
ward position, were this TO become
known.
Waves of color mounted to the poo'
housekeeper's temples.
I thought meant, that no ono
should know, least of all, you-beslde'
i thought when | engaged to come
that you were married. Oh, .wha
shall do q And she burst into pas
sion Of tears.
Mr.. Dayton's manner changed.
Kate Kate | did not mean tc
distress you. Nobody knows but M
-nobody shall know, and he 8oothe,
-, 4,., i ,,l,, sk,t, lo,1- m, l,ov,