Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-11-26
Men wffffout house or home above tbeiS

and all for one reason. You don't atk
what that is? No doubt you know already
very wen.'
Il think not, rir.'
Because woman has Tilted fhem.'
Here was long pause, and Mr. Cobbs
pipe emitted short puffs with surprising
rapidty. A guilty conscience needs no
accuser; the widows cheeks were dyed
with bushes as she thought OF sne absent
Sam.
Il wonder how women manage when
they get served in the same wky.' said the
stranger, musipgly. You never hret them
roaming up and down in .ha' style
No. raid Mrs. Cobb, with some spirit !;
if woman is In trouble, she must stay at
home and bear II in 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 a trap unless they
screxm. And women are too shy or too
sensible-which you choese-for that
Did you ever. in all your wanderings
meet any one by the name of Samuel Pay
SOM? asked the widow, unconcernedly.
The stranger looked towards her-shc
was rummaging at the table drawer for her
knitting work, and did not notice him.
When 1t was found, and the needles in
motion, be answered her.
.Payson2 Sam Payson? WY, he was
my most intimate friend. Do you know
him?'
A ltfle--that Is l used to when was
girl Where did you meet him.
He went with me on the whaling yoy-
age l told you of--and afterwards to Oaii>
fornia. Wehad a rent together, and some
other fellows with us, and we dug in the
same claim for more than six months
4 suppose he Was quite well?'
Strong as an OK, my dear lady
'And-and happy?' pursued The widow
bending over her knitting.
Hum, the less said about that the better
perhaps. But he seemed to enjoy life after
fashion of his own. And he got rich ou
there, or rather will say, well off,
Mrs. Cobb did not pSy much attention
to that part of the story. Evidently she
had not finished asking questions. Blu
she was puzsled about her ncxt one. Al
last she brought it out beautifully.
WAS his wife with him in California;
Ills wife, ma'am: Why, bless you, b,
has not got one.'
'Oh, | thought meant--I heard
here the little widow remembered the fate
Of Ananias and Sapphira, and stopped
short before she told such tremendou!
fib.
Whatever you heard of his marrying
was all nonsense, can assure you. Iknow
him well, and he had no thought of The
kind about him. Some of the boys use6
to tease him about it, but he soon mad,
them STOP
How =
He JUS, told them frankly that the only
woman he ever loved had Tilted him year.
before and married another man. Aftel
that no one ever mentioned the subject tt
him again, except me-
Mrs. Cobb laid her knitting aside, ant
looked thoughtfully into the fire.
He was another specimen of the clas!
of men l was speaking of. l have seer
him face death a score of times as quietly
as face the fire. 1t matters very iittl,
who takes me of, he used to say; "I'v,
nothing to live for, and there's no one tha
will shed a tear for nc when am gone
It's sad thought for a man to have, ism
| it?'
Mrs. Cobb sighed as she said she though
it was.
But did he ever tell you the name of th
lady who Tilted him"
Il knew her first name
What was it?'
Maria
| AhS Pt~ih httto "iuoW SitAOet etdi iC'
out Of her chair; her name was spOkel
exactly as Sam woul5 have said it.
Did you know her too 2 he asked, look
ing keenly at her.
| Yes
Ultimately!
| Yes.
And where Is she now !? Still happ,
with her husband. suppose, and neve
giving thought to the poor fellow sh
drove out into the World
No. said Mrs. Cobb. shading her fac
with her hand, and speaking unsteadily.-
| NO, her husband is dead
'Ah. But still she never thinks Of sami
There was Q dead silence.
Does she 2
How can tell?'
Are you still friends p
Yes
Then YOU ought TO know and you do
Tell me- s4sq
4 am sure I don't know Why / should
But II do you must promise me. on you
honor never to tell him; If you ever happci
to meet him again.
Madame, what ycd say to ME ncve
shall be repeated to any mortal man, upoi
my hunof'
well, then, she does remember hitn,'
Bat how 2 ifHi9i
AS kindly think as he could wish.'
4 am glad to hear il for Lis sake: Yol
and are the friends of both parties W.
can rejoice with each othef.' ~ 4aae
He drew bis chair much nearer hers
and took her hand. One moment the wild
ow resisted, but it was magnetic touch
the rosy palm lay quietly in his, and tb.
dark beard bent SO low that it nearly
touched her shoulder. It did not matter
much. Was lie not Ssmuel's dear friend
II he was not the rose, had he not dwell
very near il for long, long iimea