Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-03-20

ter, 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 notpay much attention
to that part of the story. Evidently she
had not finished asking question. But
she was puzzled about her next one. At
last she brought it out beautifully.
'.Was his wife with him in California;?
The stranger looked at her with twink
ling eyes.
His wife, ma am? Why, bless you
he has not got one!''
"Oh, thought mean hcard''-here
the little widow remembered the fate of
Ananias and Sapphira, and stopped short
before she told such tremendous fib.
Whatever you heard of his marrying
was all nonsense, 1 can assure you L
knew him well, and he had no thoughts of
the kind about him. Soaie of the boys
used to tease him about it, but he soon made
them stop"
"How?"
''He Just told them frankly that the
ouly girl that he ever loved had Tilted him
years before and married another man.
After that no one ever mentioned the sub
ject to him again, except me-
Mrs. Cobb laid her knitting aside, and
looked thoroughly into the fire.
''He was another specimen of the class
of men l was speaking of. L have seen
him face death a score of times as quietly
as l face tie fire. 1t matters very lit
tie what takes me off, he used to say; I've
nothing to live for, and there's no one that
will shed a tear for me when am gone.
It's a sad thought for me to have, isn't
it?"
Mrs Cobb sighed as she said she thought
it was
"But did he ever tell you the name of
the lady who Tilted him?"
al know her first name. @
"What was it?''
maria"
The plump little widow almost started
out of her chair; the name was spoken so
exactly as Sam would have said it.
''Did you know her tOO?' he asked,
looking keenly at her.
Yes"
'Intimately?"
"Ycs."
.'And where is she now? Still happy
with her husband, l 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 unsteadily.-t
"No; her husband is dead"
"Ah. But still she never thinks of
Sam. - I
There was dead silence.
docs She?"
"How can l tcll?''
care you still friends"
"Yes"
Then you ought to know, and you do.
Tell me.
"I'm sure 1 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 never
shall be repeated to any mortal man, upon
my honor.
"Well, then, she does remember him.
but how?"
'As kindly, 1 think, as he could wish. "
81 am glad to hear it for his sake You
and 1 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 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 dwclt very
near it, for so long, long time?"
at 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 thonght some I
times if he had only gone back aud spoke
to her, she would have married him after
all"
81 am sure she would" said the wild
ow piteously. She has owned it to NE
more than a thousand times
"She was not happy then with anoth-
ers
"Mr--, that is to say her husband,
was very good and kind, said the little
woman, thinking of the lonely grave out
on the hillside rather penitently, ''and
they lived very pleasantly together There
never was a-harsh word between them"
Still-might she not have been happier
with Sam? BE honest, now, and say Just
what you think."
"Yes."
"BIavv that is what l wanted to come
at. And now have a secret to tell you,
and you must break it to her."
Mrs. Cobb looked rather scared.
"What is it?'
al want you to 60 and see her, what
ever she may be, and say to her, .Maria!'
what makes you start so?'' I,
"Nothing-only you speak 50 ike some
one | used to know, once in while"
do L? Well take the rest of the mes
sage. Tell her that Sam loved her through
the whole; that when be heard she was
free, he began to work hard to make for
tune; he has got it, and he is coming to
share it with her, if she will let him.
VIII you tell her this?'
The widow did not answer. She had
freed her hand from his, and covered her
face with it. By-and-by she looked up
again. He was waiting patiently.
"Well?" II
81 will tell her" II
lie rose from his seat, and walked up
and down the room. Then he came back,
and leaning on the mantle-piece, stroked /
the yellow hide of Bowse with his slipper.
MAKE her quite understand that he
wants her for his wife. She may live
I I 4