The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-07-31
From the National Magazine.
WIDOW MINARD'S FIRST LOVE.
,onc Iuded.

The stranger sent puff Of smoke curling
gracefully over his head.
It's very strange, my dear lady. how Of
ten You see one thing as you 60 wandering a.
bout the world after that fashion"
And what is that!"
Men without house or home above their
heads. rowing here and there. and turning up
in all sorts Of odd places; caring very little
for life as general thing. and making for
tunes Just 70 Hing them away again, and all
for ene reason. You don't ask me what that
iss No doubt you know already very we'll"
81 think not, SIR"
Because woman has Tilted them"
Here was long silence and Mr.. Minards'
pipe emitted SHIRT puts with surprising ra-
pidity. A guilty conscience needs no accu-
ser. and The widows cheek was died with
blushes as she thought Of absent Sam.
81 wonder how women manage when they
get served in the same way" SAID the strsn-
ger musingly, .yOu never meet them roam
ing up and down IN that style
No." said Mrs. Minards. with some spir
it, "f 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"
Like enough. We never know whose
hand gets pinched in trap unless they
scream. And women are too shy or too sensl.
ble-which you choose--for that"
did you ever in all your wanderinss.
meet any one BY the name Of Samuel Pay
son !" asked the widow unconcernedly. The
stranger looked towards her; she was rum
maging the table drawer for her knitting
work, and did not notice him. When IL was
found, and The needles in motion. he answer
ed her.
"Payson sam Paysonf Why. he was
my most intimate friend! DO you know
him 7"
"a IittIe-ihat il. used to, when was
girl. Where did you meet him y
He went with me on the whaling voyage. |
told you Of. and afterwards 70 California.
We had tent together. and some other TEL
lows with u. and We dug in the same claim
for more than six months"
!" | suppose be i quite well !"
Strong as an OK.
aAnd happy !" pursued the widow. bend
ing close 70 her knitting.
/" Hum, the less said about that the better,
perhaps. But he seems 70 enjoy life alter 4
fashion Of his own. And he got rich %.
there. Or rather, | will say, well of.'
Mrs. Minarls did not pay much attention
to that part 81 he story. Evidently she had
not finished asking questions, but she was
puzzled shout her next one. At last she
brought Il out beautifully.
WAS bis wife with him in California I"
The stranger looked II her with tWinkiing
eyes.
!" His wife, maAml Why. bless you, he
has not rot one"
.Oh, / thought--l mean | heard"-hefe
the little widow remembered the late Of A.
anias and sapphlra, and stopped short beiOre
she told such a tremendous tlb.
Whatever you heard Of his marrying
was All uonsense, 1 can assure you. knew
him we'll, and he had no thought Of the kind
about him. some Of the boys used 10 tease
him about IL, but be soon made them stUp. :
How e.
"fIe Just told them frankly the only wo.
man be ever lpsed had Tilted him years be.
fore, and married another man. After that
no one ever mentioned the subject 70 hin,
except me-"
Mrs. Minards laid her knitting aside, and
looked thoughtfuIly into The fire."
" lie wss another specimen o. The class q
men ] vas speaking u. have seen him
face death score " iimesas quietly A. faee
ihs IRE. II matters mighty little what takes
me sh,' he used 70 say. I've nothing 70 live
for, and there's 10 one that will shed teal
for me When am gone it'sa sad though
for q man % have. isn't III"
Mrs. Minards sighed - she said she though
Il was.
/" Bot did he ever tell you Tie name Of til
woman who Tilted him 4"
III know her hrsl name
"whst vas ilF
MARIA
Tie plump little widow started almost 90
Of hsf chair. the name MSS spoken 70 exact
~ A. Sam would have said il.
Did yos know her too !" be asked. look
ing kseniy Al her.
Yea
"lntimatelyr
"Yss"