The Van Buren press., 1868-12-15

Another Knock, lou,ter thau tue ufrt
and man . voice exclaimed
"llillo, the house"
"Who is III" asked the widow. some
what relieved to find that the departes
Levi was still safe in his grave upon th'
hill side. .
"A stranger said the voice.
"whs, do YOU ~antr
TO get lodging here for The night
The widow deliberated
Cant you 20 oni There's . hoWss
half mile further on, fyou keep 10 Oh.
right hand side Of the road. aud turn "a
your left after you e., By"
Its raining cat, anil dogs, and I'm
very delicate" said he stranger, cough
ing I'm wet to the skin Don't yor
think you can accom- m.,d,.te mel ldon
mind sleeping on the door"
Raining, Is ~ didn't know that I:
and the kinl.heartel little woman unbar
red the door very quickly Come IN
whoever you may he. only asked YOU
to go on, because l am aioae woman,
with only one servant in the horse
The stranger entered, shaking himself
like Newfoundland dog upon the step,
and scattering little shower Of drops
over his hostess and her nicely-swepi
floor. Ir1
"Ah, that looks comfortable, after a
man has been out for hours in storm,
he said AZ he caught sight Of the fire, aud
striking along toward the hearth. follow
ed by Bowse, who snuifed suspiciousIy a,
his heels, he stationed bimselt In the arm
chair-Mr. Cobb's arm chair, which had
been "sacrcd to hi. memory for seven
years" The widow was horriiicd, hut
her guest was 50 weary and worn out that
she could not ask him to move. but
busted herself In stirring up the blaze,
that he might the sooner dry his dripping
clothes A new thought struck her. Mr..
Cobb had worn comfortable dressing
gown during his illness, which still hung
in the closet at her right. She could not
let this poor man catch his death by sit
ting in that wet coat II he was in Mr..
Cobb's chair, why should he not be in
Mr. Cobb's wrapper? She weat ninblv
to the closet, took it down, ti,he out a
pair of slippers from the boot rack below,
and brought them TO him.
II think YOU had better take oil your
coat and boots; you will have the rlleu-
matte fever. or something like it, It you
don't Here are some things for YOU 10
wear while they are drying. Aud you
mus I've hungry. tso. I will 60 into the
pantry and get you something To eat"
She hustled away, ION hospitable
thoughts INTENT" and the stranger made
the exchange with quizzical smile playing
around his lips lie was a tall, we'll
formed man, with . bold but handsome
face, SUI. burnt and heavily bearded, and
L..ki,s.- aa,,thing hut DELICATE. tl,oy,ah hi,
head as white as snow He looked round
the kitchen with 4 mischicvous cir,
stretched out his feet before him, deco
rated with the deiunct deacon's slippers.
Upon my word, this 10 stepping into
the old mans shoes with vengeance
Aud what hearty, good hulnorcd look
inc woman she is-kind as kitten ANIL
he leaned forward and stroked the cat
and her brood, and then patel old Dowse
mon the head The widow. bringing In
suudry good things. looked pleased at
his attentions to her dumb friends.
"Its wonder Bp"se does not growL
He generally does when strangers touch
him. Dear the, stupid!' "
| This last remark was addressed Iseithe-
to the stranger nor to the dog. bnt b.
herself. She had forgotten thattlie little
stand was not empty, anl there wa' no
room on il for the things sae he'll.
"Oh. III manage that" sal her guest.
gathering up ps'er, camille. apples and
spectacles, IL was not without . ht,lc
pang that she saw them in his haal, Tor
they had been the deacon AMI we're
placed each night, like the arm caar. be,
side her, and depositiny them on the
settee. "Give me the table cloth, ma am
1 We lc,rned that. along with score OF
other things, in my wanderings. Nov
let me relieve you OF taose dishes; they
are far too heavy FOR those little hanls
the widow blushe,l-" anil now please
sit down with me, or cannot cat . NOR
sell /.
"Ihsd supper long ago. but really
think | can take something more. 'nIl
Mrs Cobb, drawing her chair near the
table,
"Of course you car, my dear ls'y. VI
this cold. autumn weather, people on!h'
| TO eat twice IS much as they do in warm
| Let me give you piece OF this ham
your own curing, ! dare say
"Yes; my poor husband vas very Zone
of t. He used TO SAY no one ua'crstoof
curing ham and driving beef better than l.
ale was most sensible man, ar
sure. I will drink yorr health, madam
In this ciler."
He took a long iraught sni sat dow'
!, bis glass. IL Is IKE nectar,
Tie widow was feeding BDwsc and IN
cat, (who thought they were eat Tel Y
a share Of every meal ate In the house
and din rot quite hear what he said.
, fancy she would hardly have known wha
, nectar was, so 1t was quite AZ yell.
"Fine dog, msam, AMI very prett.
cat" g.
"Thcy were my husbands fsvoritcs,
and A sirh followed The answer. FL
r "Ah. your husband must have been
t very happy man." .r... -
The blue eyes looked at her % lon
r that she grew durried.
us there anything more ] can get 10
4 you, sir" she said a, Last I.
Nothing. thank you have hn's'
. ed :,
She rose to clear the things away. u