The Shasta courier., 1861-03-02

the widows cheek was dyed with bushes as
she thought of the absent Sam.
al wonder how women manage when they
get served in that way" said the stranger, mu-
singly.
"You never meet them rowing up and down
in that style.D
aNo," said Mrs. Cobb, with some spirit, if
woman is in trouble, she must stay at home
and bear it, the best way she can. And there's
more women bearing such things than we know
of, dare say"
alike enough We never know whose hand
gets pinched in trap unless they scream. And
women are too shy or too sensible-which you
choose-for that"
Did you ever, in all your wanderings, meet
any one by the name of Samuel Payson ~ ask
ed the widow, unconcernedly. The stranger
looked towards her-she was rummaging the
table drawer for her knitting work, and did not
notice him. When it was found, and the needle
in motion, he answered her:
"Payson? Sam Payson? Why he was my
most intimate friend Do you know him ?"
ga little-that is, l used to when was a
girl. Where did you meet him 2"
He went with me on the whaling voyage
told you of-and afterwards to California, We
had tent together-and some other fellows
with us-and we dug in the same claim for
more than six months.
81 suppose be was quite well ?"
Strong as an OK, my dear lady"
"And-and happy ?' pursued the widow,
bending closer over her knitting.
Hum-the less said about that the better
perhaps. But 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 fin
ished asking questions. But she was puzzled
about her next one. AT last she brought it out
beautifully.
"Was his wife with him in California n
The stranger looked at her with twinkling
eyes.
His wife, maam? Why, bless you, he has
not got one p
little widow remembered the fate of Annanias
and Saphira, and stopped short before she told
such tremendous flo.
"Whatever you heard of bis marrying was
all nonsense, can assure you. knew him
well, and he had no thoughts of the kind about
him. Some of the boys used to tease him about
it, but he soon made them STOP
"How?"
"He just told them frankly that the only girl
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 looked
thoughtfully into the fire.
I" He was another specimen of the class of
men was speaking Of | havo seen him face
death score of times, quietly face the
fire. 1t matters very little what takes me off, u
he would say, Pve nothing to live for, and
| there's no one will shed a tear for me when |
am gone It's sad thought for one to have,
isn't it 2"
Mrs. Cobb sighed as she said she thought it
was.
"But did he ever tell you the name of the la
dy who Tilted him?"
81 know her first name"
"What was lt?"
"Maria."
The plump little widow almost started out of
her chair the name was spoken exactly as Sam
would have said it,
"Did yon know her, too ?" he asked, looking
keenly at her.
"Yes"
i" Intimately?"
eyes"
"And where is she now? 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
"Ah But still she never thinks of SAN"
There was dead silence.
I" Does she ?"
How can tell ?"
4" Are you still friends?"
ayes"
" Then you ought to know, and you do
Tell me.
Pm sure don't know why ! should. But
if do, you must promise me, on your honor,
never to tell him, if you ever meet him again"
/" Madam, what you say to me shall never
be repeated to any mortal man, upon my
honor"
"Well, then, she does remember him."
But how ?n
"As kindly, think, ns he could wish"
81 am glad to hear it for his sake. You and
are the friends of both parties; we can rejoice
with each other"
He drew his chair much nearer hers and took
her hand. One moment the widow resisted,
but it was a magnetic touch. The rosy palm
lay quietly in his, and the dark beard bent so
low that it nearly touched her shoulder. 1t did
not matter much. Was he not Sans dear
friend if he was not the rose, had he not dwelt
near it, for long time.
I" 1t was a foolish quarrel that parted them,"
said the stranger, softly.
" Did he tell you about it ?"
"Yes, on board the whaler."
"Did he blame her much"
"Not so much as himself. He said that his
jealousy and ill temper drove her to break off
the match but he thought sometimes if he had
only gone back and spoken to her, she would
have married him after ALL"
I" am sure she would" said the widow, pit
eously. "She has owned it to me more than q
thousand times"
"She was not happy, then, with another"
"Mr. -, that is to say, her husband,
was very good and kind" said the little wo-
man, rather pentently, and they lived very
pleasantly together. There never was harsh
word between them" =.
Still-might she not have been happier
with Sam? Be honest, now, and just say what
you think"
! "Yes."
"Bravo that is what wanted to come at.
And now | have secret to tell you, and you
must break it to her."
Mrs. Cobb looked scared.
What is it ?'
81 want you to go and see her, wherever she
may be, and say to her, Maria r-what makes
you start so?
"Nothing-only you speak so like some one
| used to know, once in a WHILE"
"Dol? Well, take the rest OF the message.
Tell her that Sam loved her through the whole:
that, when he heard she was free, he began to
work hard to make a fortune he has got it :
and he is coming to share it with her, if She
will let him. Will You tell her this?
She did not answer. She had freed her hand