The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-10-20

z Nith th" aEilt PailAEs hhe asth u sale
/ ly toward bsr aud looked around the
room.
Upon my worl il Is very ridiculous
aud don't kuos What the neighbors
would say II they saw me.
saIl the plump fingers drew the peel
nearer
But they can't see nae, that's a com
fort, and the cat aud old Bowso will
never know what it means. ofcoufse,
/ don't bohoye anything about il.
The pairing hung gracefully from her
hand
Bat still | should Ike to try; it would
seem ike old times, and
Over her head il went aud curled mp
quietly on the floor at little distance.
Ola Bowse, who always slept with one
eye open, saw it fall and marched de-
hberately up to small it,
Bowse, Bowse, don't touch ii cried
his mistress, and bending over it with
a beating heart she turned as red as
fire. There was as handsome a capi-
tai 5 as one could wish to see.
A loud knock came suddenly at the
door The dog growled, and the wild
ow screamed and snatcbed up the an
pie pairing.
It's Mr.. Cobb; lis his spirit come
back again because | tried that silly
trick, she thought fearfully tc hersel
Another knock louder than the first,
and mans voice exclaimed
Hillo, the house
Who is it? asked the widow, some
what relieved TO find that the depart
ed Levi WINS still safe in his grave upon
the hill side.
A stranger, said the voice.
What do you want?
To get lodging here for the night.
The widow deliberated.
Can't you 60 on? There's a house
half mile further on, if you keep to
the right hand side Of the road, and
turn to your left after you get by
It's raining cats and dogs, and | am
very delicate, said the stranger I'm
wet to the skin. Don't you think that
you can accommodate me? | don't
mind sleeping on the floor.
Raining is it? / didn't know that
and the kind-hearted little woman un-
barred the door very quickly. Come
in, whoever you may be. / only asked
you to go on because I'm a lone wo-
man, with only one servant in the
house.
The stranger entered, shaking him
self like a Newfoundland dog upon the
step, and scattering little shower of
drops over his hostess and her nicely
swept floor.
Ah, that looks comfortable, after
man has been out for hours in storm,
he said as he caught sight of the fire,
and striding along towards the hearth,
followed by Bowse, who snuiied suspic-
iously at his heels, he stationed him
self in the arm chair--Mr. Cobb's arm
chair--which had been sacred to his
memory for seven years The widow
was Mortified, but her guest was so wea-
ry and worn out that she could not ask
him to move, but busted herself in
stirring mp the blaze, that he might the
sooner dry his dripping clothes. Anew
thought struck her. Mr. Cobb had worn
a comfortable dressing gown during
his illness, which still hung in the clos
ct her right. She could not let this
poor man catch his death by sitting in
that wet coat II he was in Mr.. Cobb's
chair why should he not be in Mr.
Cobb's wrapper? She went nimbly to
the closet, took it down, fished out
pair Of slippers from the boot rack be-
low, and brought them to him.
/ think you had better take off your
coat and boots; you will have the rheu-
matte fever, or something like it, il you
don't. Here are some things for you
TO wear while they are drying And
you must be hungry too. will 90 in
to the pantry and get you something to
eat.
She hustled away, ON hospitable
thoughts intent and the stranger
made the exchange with a quizzical
smile playing around his lips He was
tall, well formed man, with a bold
but handsome face burnt and
heavily bearded, and booking anything
but delicate, though his blue eyes
glanced ont from under a forehead as
white as snow he looked around the
kitchen with q mischievous air, stretch
ed out has feet before him, decorated
with the deiunct deacon's slippers.
4 Upon my word, this is stepping into
the old mans shoes, with vengeance
And wha, . hearty, good hnmored look
ing woman she a. Kind as kitfAn.