Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-03-30
THE HoUsEKREPER'S DAUGHTER.

"I never did see such sight in al
my Gfe," quoth Mrs. Marley, elevatine
her two rheumatism-twisted old hands
in the air. "Dust on them beautiful
carpets; glass IN the cons ervatory win
dows all broken; chickens scratching uE
all the geraniums on the front lawn.
and the lazy servants dawdling away
their precious time while poor dear
Mr.. Avenel and Harry don't know any
more what's going on than if they was
boarders. Says I, Dear heart alive,
Mr.. Avenel, this is enough to make your
poor wife turn in her grave Says he
you know his pleasant way-'Well, l
know it isn't just right, Mrs. Marley;
but what can do? And I answers,
says I, Get housekeeper.' Says he.
'Wherer Says /, Advertise Saws he,
Mrs. Marley, you've hit the nail on the
head. I'll advertise tomorrow And
that's how that paragraph happened to
be in the papers"
Here Mrs, Marley stopped to catch
breath, and nodded emphaticallY at her
auditor, pale woman dressed in deep
mourning, with the unbecoming frame
work of o widows cap around her
face.
Sand do you think I should suit
the gentleman" the latter asked timid-
ly.
"You can but try" was Mr.. Narley's
encouraging response. "Mr. Avenels
as easy as lamb. and not one O. them
as is everlastinglY checking off bills and
counting nickels and pennies, and Har
ry'S dreadful pleasant TEMPERED. Any
way, If was you, Mrs. Hawkhurst, I'd
go up and see"
And Mrs. Hawkhurst, holding her
pretty little daughter by the hand, went
up accordingly to the handsome stone
house on the hill.
There she found MIR. Avenel in a state
of temporary siege, for others besides
herself had seen the tempting advertise
ment, and made haste to answer it.
There were fat women and lean, tall
women and short, Scotch women, and
trim, sharp-visaged women; women who
had seen better days, and women who
evidently hadn't.
Mrs. Hawkhurst looked around, some
what discouraged by the formidable ar
ray OF rivals.
There's no hope for me, she thought
despairingly and was Just about to turn
away, with timid Juliet clinging to her
hand, when Harry AveneI advanced.
"Did you wish to see my uncle
ma amp" he asked, courteously.
"I-I called about the housekeeper's
situation" meekly murmured the wi
dow.
And Harry bowed her in at once.
The fat and the tall, the German and
the Scotch, the sour and the sweet, went
away disappointed that day, for Mr..
AveneI decided to engage Mrs. Hawk
hurt as his housekeeper, with pelmis-
siou to keep Juliet with her.
"She is all I have, sir" said the
housekeeper, apologetically, 'and she
will try to be useful about the house."
Chow old is she ?" asked Mr.. Aven-
ell.
''Fifteen, SIR"
"WelI. let her stay" said the widow
or, good humoredly. "She'n eat no
more than q chicken. and dare say she
can do great many odd things about
the place"
Mrs. Hawkhurst proved herself an
executive officeress of the greatest abi-
ity. Gradually the "chaos and old
night" of AYenel Place was reduced to
system and order. The wheels of house
keeping revolved so softly that no one
knew they moved, yet these were the
results. You scarce ever saw the house
keeper gliding about the halls, yet the
servant declared she was omnipresent.
Mr.. Avenel found himself actually the
inhabitant of home once more, as the
years slowly passed away.
He was sitting on the piazza one day
smoking his cigar and watching the
graceful movement of Juliet hawkhurst
as she was planting trailing vines in a
marble vase that occupied the centre of
the lawn when Mrs. Marley came out.
ga nice evening sir" SAID Mrs, Mar
ley. "Oh, there she isI'
"Who" Mr.. Avenel asked.
'Why. that foolish child Juliet"
answered the old Lady sharply. 81