The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-01-17

nimbly to the closet, took it down,
fshed out a pair Of slippers from the
boot-raok below, and brought them to
him.
"I think you had bottor take of your
coat and boOts--you will have the rheu-
matte fever, or something like it, if you
don't. Here are some things for you
to wear while they are drying. And
you must be hungry, too l will go
into the pantry and get you something
to cat.
She hustled away, con hospitablc
thoughts intont," and the stranger
made the exchange with a quizzical
smile playing around his lips. He was
a tall, well-formed man, with a bold,
but handsome face -- sun-burnt and
heavily bearded, and looking anything
but "delicate," though his blue eyes
glanced out from under a forehead as
white as snow. lie looked around the
kitchen with a mischievous air, and
stretched out his feet before him, dec
GRATED with the defuuct Deocon's slip.
pers
"Upon my word, this is stepping into
the old mans shoes with n vengeancel
And what n hearty, good -humored look
ing woman she is,--kind as a kitten"
and he leaned and stroked the cat and
her brood, and then pattcd old Bowsc
upon the head. The widow, bringing
in sundry good things, looked pleased
at his attention to her dumb friend.
cts a wonder Bowse does not
growl--he generally does when stran-
gers touch him. Dear me! how stupid
The last remark was neither address
ed to the stranger nor the dog, but to
herself. She had forgotten that the lit
tie stand was not empty and there was
no room on it for what things she held.
ooh, I'll manage it, said her guest,
gathering up paper, candle, apples and
spectacles, Git was not without a little
pang that she saw them within his
hand, for they had been the Deacon S,
and were placed each night, like the
armchair, beside her. and deposited
them on the settee.
Give me the table-cloth, ma'am-I can
spread it as we'll as any woman-Ive
learned that, along with scores Of other
things, in my wanderings Now let me
relieve you of those dishes--they are
far too heavy for those little hands "-
the widow blushed--'and now please to
sit down with me, or 1 cannot eat a
morsel"
81 had supper not long ago, but real
ly [ think | can take something more,
said Mrs. Cobb, drawing her chair near.
err to the table.
"Of course you can, my dear lady--in
this cold autumn weather people ought
to eat twice as much as they do in warm
Let me give you a piece Of this ham
your own curing, I dare say"
"Hes-my poor husband was very
fond of it. He used to say that no one
understood curing ham and drying beef
better than l"
ale was a most sensible man, am
sure. l drink your health, Madam, in
this cider"
He took a long draught and set down
the glass
1T is like nectar"
The widow was feeding Bowse and
the cat Cwho thought they were entitled
to a share of every meal eaten in tho
house, and did not quite hear what he
said. fancy she would hardly have
known what "neotar" was-so it was
quite as we'll.
"a fine dog, maam, and very pref.
ty cat"
They we're my husbands favoritos,
and a sigh followed.
"Ah-your husband must have been
very happy man"
The blue eyes looked at her so long
that she grew aurried.
"Is there anything more I can get fOI
you, sir?" she asked at last
Nothing, thank you, I have finish.
ed"
She rose to clear the things away
II assisted her,and somehow their hands
had queer knack Of touching as they
carried the dishes to the pantry shelves
Coming back to the kitchen she put the
apples and ciderin their old places, and
brought out clean pipe and box Of to.
bacco from the arched recess near the
chimney.
"My husband always said he could
not sleep after eating supper late, unless
he smoked" she said "Perhaps you
would like to try it"
"NOt if it is to drive you away" he
answered, for she had her candle in her
hand.
ooh, mol do not object to smoke al
ALL" She put the candle down-somC
faint suggestions about "propriety
troubled her but she glanced at the old
clock, and felt re-assured 1t was only
half-past nine.
The stranger pushed the stand back
after the pipe was lit, and drew her easy
chair little nearer the fre--and his
own,
(Conclded nert toeeb)
VICToR EMMANUEL AND THE Carl,
BALDIANs.- Victor Emmanuel would
like to zee the volunteers more literally