The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-08

|iC aAcoC W CicaiI tuc IIILSs away. ne
assisted her, and somehow their hands
had queer knack of touching as they
carried the dishes to the pantry shelves.
Coming back TO the kitchen she put the
apples and cider in their old places, and
brought out clean pipe and box of to
bacco from an arched recess near the
chimney.
my husband always said be could not
sleep after eating supper late, unless he
smoked" she said. Perhaps you would
ike to try it, SIR"
Not if it is to drive you away" he
answered, for she had her candle in her
hand.
30, no-I do not object to smoke at
all.7 She put the candle down-some
faint suggestion about "propriety'
troubled her, but she glanced at the
clock and felt assured. 1t was only half
past nine.
The stranger pushed the stand back
after the pipe was lit, and drew her
easy chair little nearer the fre-and
his own.
Come, sit down." he said, pleadingly.
'It's not too late; and when a man has
been knocked about in California, and
all sorts of places for a berth like this;
and to have good-natured, pretty wo-
man to speak to once again"
California? Have you been in Cali
forniaf" she exclaimed, dropping into
the chair at once.
Unconsciously, she had long cherished
the idea that Sam Payson-the lover of
her youth-with whom she had so fool
ishly quarreled, had pitched his tentafter
many wanderings, in that far off land
Her heart warmed to one who, with
something of Sans looks and ways about
him, had been scjourning in that coun-
try--and who very possibly had met him
perhaps had known him Intimately
At that thought her heart beat quick,
and she looked very graciously at the
bearded stranger, who, wrapped in Mr.
Cobb's dressing gown, wearing Mr. Cobb's
slippers, and, sitting in Mr. Cobb's chair,
beside Mr. Cobb's wife, smoking Mr.
Cobbls pipe, with such an air of feeling
most thoroughly and comfortably at
home.
"Yes, maam; I've been in California
for the last six years. And before that
l went quite round the world in whal
ing ship"
Good gracious"
The stranger sent a puff of smoke
curling gracefully over his head.
ats very strange, my dear lady, how
often you see one thing as you go
wandering about the world after that
fashion,"
"And what is that"
Men, without house or home above
their heads, rowing here and there, and
turning up in all sorts of odd places,
caring very little for life as general
thing and making fortunes just to fling
them away again-and all for one reason.
You don't ask me what that is No
doubt you know already very we'll"
Il think not, sir"
Because woman has Tilted them"
Here was long pause and Mr. Cobb's
pipe emitted short puffs with surprising
rapidity. A guilty conscience needs no
accuser, and the widows cheek was dyed
with bushes as she thought of the absent
Sam.
Il wonder how women manage when
they get served in the same way" said
the stranger, musingly. "You never
meet them roaming up and down in that
style"
NO" said Mrs Cobb, with some spirit;
@if a woman is in trouble, she must stay
at home and bear it in the best way she
can. And there's more women bearing
such things than we know of, l dare
say"
Like enough. We never know whose
hands get pinched in trap unless they
scream. And women are too shy, or too
sensible, whichever you choose, for that.n
"Did you ever, in all your wanderings,
meet any one by the name of Samuel
Payson?" asked the widow, unconcern-
edly.
The stranger looked toward her-she
was rummaging her drawer for the knit
ting work, and did not notice him.
When it was found and the needles in
motion, he answered her:
@Payson? Sam Payson? What He
was my most intimate friend! Do you
know him."
"A ittle-that isl used 20 when 1 was
a girl. Where did you meet himG
"He went with me on the whaling
voyage told you of, and afterward to
California. We had a tent together and
some other fellows with us, and we dug
in the same claim for more than six
months"
II suppose he was quite well?"
"Strong as an OK, my dear lady"
@And-and happy" said the widow,
bending close oyer her knitting.
"Hum-the less said about that the
better-perhaps. But he seemed to en-
JOY life after fashion of his own. And
he got rich out there, or rather, will
say, very well Off"
Mrs Cobb did not pay much attention
that part of the story. Evidently she
had not finished asking questions. But
she was puzzled about her next one. At
last she brought it out beautifully:
"Was his wife with him in California;
The stranger looked at her with a
twinkling eye.
His wife, maam? Why, bless you,he
hasn't got one,'
20, l thought mean heard"-here
the little woman remembered the fate of
Ananias and Sapphira, and stopped be-
fore she:told tremendous fib.
Whatever you heard of his marrying
was all nonsense, / can assure you.
know him well, and he had no thought
of the kind about him. Some Of the boys
used to tease him about it-but he very
Io thor, otoa