Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-07-11

little nearer the fre-and his own.
'sCome, sit down. he said ,peadingly ssIt's
not late-and when man has been knocking
about in California and all sorts of places, for
berth like this-and to have a pretty woman
to speak to once again.
'sCslifornia Have you been to Californian
she exclaimed, dropping into her chair at
once. Unconsciously she had long cherished
the idea that Sam Payson-the lover of her
youth-with whom she had so foolishly quar-
relied, had pitched his tent, after his many
wanderings, in that far off land. Her heart
warmed to one who, with something of Sans
looks and ways about him-had also been So
journing in that country-and who very possi-
bly, bad met him-perhaps had known him in
timatey At that thought her heart beat
quick, and she looked very graciously at the
bearded stranger, who, wrapped in Mr. Cobb's
dressing gown, wearing Mr.. Cobb's slippers,
and sitting in Mr.. Cobb's chair, beside Mr..
Cobb's wife, smoked Mr.. Cobb's pipe with
such an air of feeling most thoroughly and
comfortably at home.
"Yes, ma'am-I've been in California for
the last six years. And before that went
quite around the world-in a whaling ship.''
"Good gracious 20
The stranger sent a puff of smoke curling
gracefully over his head.
s'It's very strange, my dear lady, how often
you see one thing as you go wandering about
the world after that fashion,
Sand what is that 20
ssMen, without house or home above their
heads, rowing here and there and turning mp
in all sorts of odd places, caring very little
for life as general thing-and all for one
reason. You don't ask mo what that is. No
doubt you already know very WE'LL"
81 think not, sir.''
ssBecause a woman has Tilted them.''
Here was long pause and Mr.. Cobb's pipe
emitted long pufs with surprising rapidity.
l., 4
the widows cheek was dyed with bushes as
she thought of the assent Sam.
ssI wonder how women manage when fhey
| get served in the same way f'' said the stran-
| ger, musingly. eYou don't meet them roam
| ing up and down in that style.''
"No,' said Mrs. Cobb, with some spirit.
ssIf woman is in trouble she must stay at
home and bear it the best she can. And there
| is more women bearing such things than we
know of daIe say
"Like enough. We never know whose hand
gets pinched in the trap unless they scream.
And women are too shy or too sensible, which
you choose, for that
ssDid you ever, in all your wanderingS meet
any one by the name of Samuel Payson 2"
asked the widow unconcernedly. The stran-
! ger looked towards her-she was rumaging
| the drawer for her knitting work, and did not
notice him. When it was found and the nee-
| dies in motion, he answered ner.
"Payson2 Sam Payson Why he was an
| intimate friend. Do you know him !''
| CA little-that is, used to, when l was a
! girl where did you meet him rs
| ssHe went with me on the whaling voyage
| told you of, and afterwards to California. We
| had tent together, and some fellows with US,
| and we dug in the same claim for more than
| six months.''
| ssI suppose he is quite well.''
| ssStrong as an OK, my dear lady,
| ssAnd-happy 2" said the widow, bending
/ closer over her knitting.
"Hum-the less said about that the better,
perhaps. Bat he seemed to enjoy life after a
| fashion of his own. And he got rich out there,
or rather, will say well off,
| Mrs. Cobb did not pay much attention to
that part of the story. Evidently she had not
finished asking questions. But she was puz-
zled about her next one. AT length she bro't
| it out beautifully.
s.Was his wife with him in Californian 20
The stranger looked at her with a twinklng
eye.
ssIIis wife, ma'am2 Why, bless you he has
not got ones
ssOh, thought mean heard''-here the
| little widow remembered the fate of Annanias
and Sapphira, and stopped short before she
| told such tremendous fib.
"Whatever you heard of his marrying was
| all nonsense, can assure you. l know him
well, and he had no thought of the kind about
him. Some of the boys used to tease him a.
bout it, but he soon made them STOP
| ssHow ?''
"He just told them frankly that the only wo-
man he ever loved had Tilted him years before
and married another man. After that no one
ever mentioned the subject to him again ex-
| cept me-"
Mrs. Cobb laid her knitting aside and look
ed thoughtfhlly into the fire.
ssHe was another specimen of the class of
men was speaking of. / have seen him face
death a score of times as quietly as l face the
fire. ssIt matters very little what takes me
of, - he used to say, 'sI've nothing to live for
and there's no one that will shed tear for me
when am gone.' It's q sad thought for a
man to have, isn't it ?''
Mrs. Cobb sighed little as she said she
thought it was.
"But did he ever tell you the name of the
lady who Tilted him 2''
sI know her first name.''
| "What was it 20
i oMaria.''
The plump little widow almost started out
of her cnair; the name was spoken so exact.
ly as Sam would have said it.
"Did you know herr he asked, looking
keenly at her.
eyes,
"Intimately''
eyes,
"And where is she now7 Still happy with
her husband, suppose, and never giving a
thought to the poor fellow she drove out into
the world"
"No,'' said Mrs. Cobb, shading her face
with her hand, and speaking unsteady. "Ne
her husband is dead.''
ssAh. But still she never thinks of SAM"
There was dead silence.
ssDoes she ?''
ssHow CAN'T tell 20
care you still friends ?''
EYES,
, ..Thcn you ought to know and You do know