Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-12-10

kind as q kitten )" and then he pat
ted old Bowsc upon the head. The
widow, bringing in sundry good
things, looked pleased at bis atten-
ton to her dumb friend.
sits a wonder Bowse does net
growl lie generally does when
strangers touch him. Dear me, how
stupid"
This last remark was addressed
neither to the stranger nor to the
dog, but to herself. She had for
gotten that the little stand was not
empty, and there was no room on
it for the things she held.
"Oh, I'll manage that" said her
guest, gathering up paper, candle,
apples and spectacles, (it was not
without a little pang that she cav
them in his hand, for they had been
the deacon's, and were placed each
night, like the arm chair, beside
her, and depesiting them on the
settle. Give me the table cloth,
ma'am-Tve learned that along
with a score of other things in my
wanderings. Now let me relieve
you OF those Dishes; they are too
heavy for those little hand" s"-the
widow blushed-"and now please
sit down with me, or l cannot eat a
morsel."
II had supperlong ago, but really
| think | can take something more"
said Mrs. Cobb, drawing her chair
near the table.
"Of course you can, my dear la
dy. 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, l dare say" ..
Yes; my poor husband was very
fond Of it, lie used to say that no
one understood curing lam and
drying beef better than l."
"He was most sensible man, !
am sure. l will drink your health,
in this cider"
He took long draught, and set
down the glass, -
"It's like nectar"
The widow was feeding Bowse
and the cat (who thought that they
were entitled to a share of every
meal eaten in the house., and did
not quite hear what he said. ]
fancy she would hardly have known
what "nectar" was, so it was quite
as we'll
Fine dog, ma'am, and very
pretty cat"
They we're my husbands favor
ites, and a sigh followed the an
swer.
"Ah, your husband must have
been a very happy man"
The blue eyes looked at her so
long that she grew furried.
"Is there anything more | can get
for you, sir p she said at last.
Nothing, thank you; | have fin
ished." W
She rose to clear tho things
away. He assisted her, and some
how their hands had queer knack
of touching as they carried the
dishes to the pantry shelves, Com
ing back to the kitcE en-, she put the
apples and cideriu their places, and
brought out clean pipe and box
of tobacco from an arched recess
near the chimney.
sMy husband always said he
could not sleep after eating supper
late, unless hesmoked," she said.
"Perhaps you would like to try it,"
"Not ifit is going to drive you
away" he answered; for she had a
candle in her hand.
ooh, no, / do not object to
smoke at all" She put the candle
down-some faint suggestions Of
gpropriety" troubled her. She
glanced at the old clock and felt
rc-assured; it was only half-past
nine.
"The stranger pushed the stand
back, after the pipe was lit, and
drew her easy chair little nearer
the fire--and his own.
Come, sit down." he said, plead
ingly. "It is not late; and when a
man has been knocked about in
California, and all sorts Of places,
for score of years, he is glad
enough to get into a berth like this,
and to have pretty woman to speak
to again" a
"California! Have you been to
California ?" she exclaimed, drop
ping into the chair. Unconscious
iy, She had long cherished the idea
that Sam Payson--the lover of her
youth, with whom she had foolish
iy quarreled-had pitched his tent,
after many wandcrings, in that far
off land. Her heart warmed to one
who, with something of Sans
looks and ways about him, had al
SO been soiourniag in that country,
very possibly had met him-per7
haps had known him Intimately
AT that moment her heart beat
quick, and she looked very gra-
ciously at the bearded stranger,
who. wrapped in Mr.. Cobb's dress
ing gown, wearing Mr.. Cobb's slip
pers, and sitting in Mr., Cobb's
chair, beside Mr.. Cobb's wife, smok-
ed Mr.. Cobbsp pipe, with such an air
Of feeling thoroughly and comforts
ably at home.
"Y-es, ma'am, I've been in Cali
fornia for six years. And before
that | went quite round the world
in a whaling ship"