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

looked very gracIonsly at the bearded
stranger, who wrapped in Mr.. Cobb's
dressing gown, wearing Mr. G bb's slip
pers, and sitting in Mr Cobb's chair
beside Mr.. Cobb's wife, smoking Mr.
Cobb's pipe, vas looking SO thoroughly
and comfortable at home.
Yes ma am, I've been in California
for six years; and before that I went
quite round the world in whaling ship
Good gracious!'
The stranger sent puff ofsmoke curl
ing gracefully over his head.
1t is very strange. my dear lady, how
often you see one thing as you go wand
ering about the world in that fashion
And what is that 2
Men without house or home above their
heads, rowing here snd there. and turning
up IN all sorts Of odd places caring very
little for life as general thing, and max
ing fortunes just to fling them away again
and all for one reason. Yon don't ask
what that is. No doubt you already know
very we'll,
i think not, sir,
Because oman has Tilted them
Here was long pause ard Mr. Cobb's
pipe emitted short puffs with surprising
rapi dity. A guilty conscience needs no
accusUr; the widows cheeks were dyed
with blusnes as she thought of the absent
Sam
1 WonCor bow women manage when
they get served in the same way said
the stranger musingly. You never NEE ,
them roamin up and down in that style
No. said Mrs. Cobb, with some spirit !;
If woman is in trouble, she must stay
home aud bear it 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 plucbed ia the trap, unless they
scream. Aud women are too shy, Or too
sensible which you please-for that
Did you ever, III all your wanderings,
meet auy one by the name of Samuel
Paysun 2 ~sked the widow. unconcei ned
ly
The stranger looked toward her; she
was ruHagIng at the table drawer for her
kn ttIng work, and did tot notice him
When It was found and the needles were
III motion, he answered her.
Payson ? Sam Papson Why he was
my most intimate friend. Do you know
HIM Z
a ittlc,-that is, l used to when |
was girl. Where did you meet him ?
He went with me on the whaling voy-
age to d you of, and afterwards to Cali
fprnla We had tent together, and
some other fellows with us, and We dug
i'll the same cl4im for more than six
months
1 suppose he was quite we'll ?
Strong as an OK, my dear lady.
'And-and happy? pursued the wid-
Nv. bending over her knitting.
Hum, the less said about that the bet
ter perhaps. But he seems to enjoy life
after fashion Of his own. And he got
rich out there, or rather will say, well
off
Mrs Cobb did not pay much attention
to that part Of the story. Evidently she
had not finished asking questions. But
she was puzzled about the next one. At
last she brought it about beautifully.
'Was his wife with him in California !
His wife, ma'am? Why bless you, to
as not got one
o. | t.ought--I meant---I heard
Here the little widow remembered the
fate Of Anant4s and Sapphira, and stop
ped short before she cold such a tremend-
Gus ib
Whatever you heard Of his marrying
was all nonsense, | can assure you,
knew him well, and he had nc thoug hit OF
the kind about him Some Of the boys
began to tease hin bout it but he soon
made them stop
How p
He just told them frankly that the
onl y woman he ever loved jilted him years
before and marrled another man. After
that no oue even mentioned the subject
to him again, except me.
Mrs. Cobb laid her knitting aside, ard
looked thoughtfu,ly into the tire.
He Was another specimen OF that class
oi men | was speaking Ut. / have seen
hIm face death score Of times as quietly
as / race the fire 1T matters very little
who takes me off, he used to say i
nave no hrug to live for, and no one that
will shed lear for me when am gone.
Ii a sad thought Tor man to have, lSn I
At?
Mrs Cobb sighed as she said she
thought it was.
But did he never tell you the name Q.
the lacy who jllted him Z
i knew her first name
W hat was It ?
Maria
The plump little widow almost st arted
cut Of The chair; her name was spoken ex-
actly as Sam would have said it.
'Dlu you know her. too?' he asked
looking keenly at her.
Yes
And where is she now? Still happy
with her husband, | suppose, Tnd never
giving simple thought to the poor fel
low that she drove out into the world
No said Mrs. Cobb, shading her face
with her hand and speaking unsteadily.
No, her husband Is dead
'Ah but she never thinks Of Sam
There was dead silence,
Does She?
How can i tell p
Are you still friends 2
Yes.
Irba1 vor1 81 Il