Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-05-24

and mans voice exclaimed
'Hillo, the house !
WHO is it ? asked the widow, some
what relieved to find that the departed
Levi was still safe in his grave upon thu
hillside.
"A stranger, said the voice.
What do you want 2
To get lodging for the night
The widow delberated.
Cant you go on-there's house bal
a mile further, if you keep to the righ
hand side Of the road and turn to the lef
after you get by
IT'S raining cats and dogs, and an
very delicate,' said the stranger, cough
ing. Pm wet to the skin, don't you think
you can accommodate mel don't mind
sleeping on the floor
Raining, is it? didn't mind that,
and the kind hearted little woman unbar-
red the door very quickly. Come in,
whoever you may be, l only asked you
to 60 on because | am lone woman with
only one servant in the house.
The stranger entered, shaking himself
like Newfoundland dog Oh .Le step, and
scattering little shower Of drops over
his hostess and her nicely swept floor.
oh! that looks comfortable after a
man has been for hours out in a storm,
he said as he caught sighto Of the fire, stri-
ding along toward the hearth, followed by
Bowse who snufed suspiciously at his
heels, he stationed himself in the arm
chair-Mr. Cobb's arm chair, which ha
been kept sacred to his memory for seven
years. The widow was Mortified, but her
guest looked so weary and worn out that
she could not ask him to move, and she
busted herself in stirring up tue Goals that
he might the sooner dry his dripping
clothes.
A new thought struck her. Mr.. Cobb
had worn a comfortable dressing gown
during his Hines, and Il sGll hung in clos
ct at the right She could not let the
poor man catch his death by sitting in
that vet coat--if be was in Mr., Cobb's
chair, why should be not be in AIr. Cabb'a
wrapper? She went nimbly to the clos
ct, took it down, fshed out pair of slip
pers from a boot rack below, and brought
them to him.
i think you had better take off your
coat and boots; you will have the rheu-
matte fever or something ike it if you
don't Here are some things for you to
wear while they are drying. And you
must be hungry, tool will 60 into the
pa ry and get you something to eat.
She hustled away, on hospitable tho't
intent and the stranger made the ex-
change with a quizzical smile playing
around hislps. He was tall, well form
ed man, with bold but handsome face,
sun-burnedan heavily bearded, and look !
Ing anything but delicate, though Lis |
blue eyes glanced out from under q fore
head as white as snow. He looked round /
the kitchen with mischieyous air, and .
stretched out his feet before him decora-
ted with the Deacon's slippers.
Upon my word, this is stepping into
he old mans shoes with vengeance ! 1
And what hearty, good-humored look
ing woman she is Kind as a kitten "
And he leaned forward and stroked the .
cat and her brood and then patled old .
Bowse on the head. The widow, bring
ing in sundry good things, looked pleas
ed at his attentions to her dumb friends,
It's a wonder that Bowse don't growl,
ne generally does if strangers touch him.
Dear me, how stupid p
The last remark was not addressed to
he stranger, nor to the dog, but to her
self She had forgotten that the little
stand was not empty, and there was no
'oom on it for the things she held.
oh, III manage itp said the guest,
gathering up paper, candle, apples, and
pectacles-it was not without a nang
hat she saw them in his hand, for they
lad been the Deacon's, and were placed
zach night like the arm chair beside her
md deposited them on the settee.
Give me the table cloth, ma'am; | /
an spread it as well as any woman. l L
ave done that along with scores of 9TH
T things in my wanderings. Now let
ne relieve you of those dishes they are
ar too heavy for those little hands'-the /
widow blushed-'and now please sit down
Nth me or cannot eat morsel,'
4 bad supper long ago, but really, l {
hiuk l can take something now, said
Irs. Cobb, drawing her chair nearer the :