Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-01-06

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! years The widow yas horrifed but her
| guest was SO weary and worn out that she
could not ask him to move, but hustled
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 Cow
during his illness, which stih hung in the
closet at the right She could not let
that poor man catch his death by sitting
in that wet coat 1t he was in Mr.. Cobb s
chair, why should he not be in Mr.. Cobb 5
wrapper ? She went nimbly to the closet,
took it down fshed out pair of slippers
from the boot-rack below, and brought
them to him.
L think you had better take off Jour
coat and boots; you will have the rheu.
matte fever or somethidg ike it if you
don't. Here are some things for you to
wear while you are drying. You must be
hungry, TOO. | will 20 into the pantry
and get you something to eat.
She hustled away 'on hospital thoughts
ent,' and the stranger made the ex-
change with qulzzical play round his
lips He was tall, well formed man
with a bid but handsome face
burned and heavily bearIed and look
ing anything but delicate; though his blue
eyes glanced out from under a forehead
as white as snow. He looked around the
kitchen with mischlevous air. stretched
out his feet before him, decorated with
the defunct deacou's slippers.
Upon my word; this is stepping into
the old mans shoes with vengeance
And what hearty, good humored look
ing woman she s,-kind as kitten, -
and then he patted old Bowse upon the
head, the widow bringing in sundry good
things, looked pleased at his attention to
her dumb friend
Its wonder Buwse does not growi,
He generally does when strangers touch
him. Dear me, how stupid ?
This last remark was addressed neither
to the stranger nor the dog, but to her
self. She had forgotten that the l.stie
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 little
pang that the widow saw them In his
haLds for they had been the deacon's and
were placed each night, like the arm chair
beside herr and depositing them on the
settle. Give me the table cloth, ma am
I've learned that, along with score OF
other things, in my wanderings. Now,
lat rail- e I,Io
they are far too heavy for those little
hands; (the widow blushed) and now
please sit down with me or nnot eat
morsel'
1 had supper long ago, but really l
think | can take something MORE SAID
Mrs. Cobb, drawing her chair near the
table
OF course you can. my dear lady. In
this cold autumnal weather, people ought
to eat twice as much as they do III warm
Let me give you piece OF ham-your
own curing, dare say
Yes; my poor husband was very fond
of It, L. used to say that no one under
stood curing ham and drying better than
L.
He was most sensible man, | am
sure. | will drink your health, madam,
in this cider
He t,ok long draught, and set down
his glass.
1t is like nectar
The widow was feeding Bowse and the
cat-who thought that they were Tilted
to snare Of every meal ate in the ouse
and did not quite hear what he said.
[ fancy she would hardly have known
what nectar was, so it was quite as well.
Fine dog, ma am, and a very pretty
cat
They were my husbands fayorites, -
and sigh followed the aeswer
'Ah, your husband must have been Il
very happy man.
The blue eyes looked at her so long
that she looked Hurrred.
Is there anything more | can get for
you sir 2 she SAID at last.
Nothing, thank you; have finished
She rose 20 clear the things away. He
assisted her, and mellow their hands
had a queer kuaek Of touching, as they
carried the dishes to the pantry shelves,
Coming back to the kitchen, she put the
apples and cider IN their places aud
brought out clean pipe and box Of
tobacco fiom an arched rece near the
chimney.
My husband always said he could nc,
sleep after eating late, unless he smoked,
she said, Perhaps you would like to try
it.
Not if it is going to drive you away
he answered; for she had candle in her
hand.
oh, no, I do net object to smoke at
She put the candle down-some faint
suggestion about 'proprie:y. troubled her
She glanced at the old clock and felt re-
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 pleadingly.
1t is not late, and when man has been
kuockad about n California, and all sorts
Of places, for score Of years, he is glad
enough to get into a birth like this: and
to have pretty woman to speak to again
California have you been to Caiifor
MIA ? she exclaimed, dropped into the
chair. Unconsciously she had cherished
the idea that Sam Payson, the lover of