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

MF. UdytOn ) hOuSekIcper.
"Wanted-A hOusekeeper. No one
but an elderly person, competent, and
of the highest respectability, need ap-
ply. Call between the hours of three
and four, Thursday, April sixth, at
Avenue
Kate Franklin read this in the paper
which lay on the counter in the little
grocery 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 re-
turned to the little bare attic. and ate
her scanty meal mechanically. She
forgot how unsatisfied her appetite still
was, in her busy thought.
A stranger in a strange place, success
sively she had tried TO find a situation
as teacher. copyist, in store, or sewing.
She had failed in the first three, and
was 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 influence-Mrs. Dav-
export, the rich, naughty step-sister,
who had ill-treated her gentle mother
while she lived, and had hated Kate
herself.
Perhaps, Kate thought, she would
permit her TO refer to her, because glad
TO have her descend TO menial employ
ment.
Kate was competent for the situation,
for during her mothers long illness,
and her fathers absence, she had en-
tire charge of their large family and
splendid house.
But an ''elderly woman" Now Nate
was not an elderly woman, being only
twenty; but she remembered, with a
sort of pleasure, that in private theat-
ricals in happier days, she had initiated
the voice, and assumed the character
of an old woman with great success.
sIlt hlltN HoN W -lsAii Nht ShAh ~ So
an 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 pre-
sent a mature and matrOnly appear
ance.
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 nonchalant 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 dis
missed in Mr.. Dayton's gentlemanly
manner.
A third was ushered in. Mr.. Dayton
instinctively laid aside his segar, and
placed chair for his visitor.
The lady-likeness and propriety of
her manner pleased him at once. "Fal-
len fortunes, - he commented to himself.
She answered his questions readily,
but in a few words.
"A silent woman-a good thing, y
was his inward remark.
Il think you will suit me. Mrs. -
what may understand your name?"
"Franklin.''
"Mrs. Franklin You viii be required
10 90 out of town, about seven miles,
TO my country house, Oak Grove-in
the town of Embury, on the Grand
Central Railroad. The salary | pro-
pose to pay is six hundred dollars per
annum. Do my terms suit you?"
She answered quietly that they did.
.'Then il is all 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 conven-
lent, you Will please go tomorrow,
Mrs. Franklin, or the next day. 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 until Saturday. She will
show you round"
sis Mrs. -, your wife there, or to
90 soon?" -rA
He laughed.
"Mrs. Edward Dayton? No, she is
not there, and | do not know Of her
going at present." Adding more seri-
Ously, 81 have not the pleasure, Mrs.
Franklin, of having a wife," with
slight stress on pleasure.
A vivid color came into the brown
heck of the housekeeper, and her man.
ner showed evident embarrassment.
81 thought believe-I cannot"
and stopped.
He did not notice it. His mind had