Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-06-20

Cobb had worn a comfortable dressing-gown
during his illness, which still hung in the
closet at the right. She could not let this
poor man catch his death by sitting in that
wet coat-if he was in Mr.. Cobb's chair why
should he not be in Mr.. Cobbs wrapper
She went nimbly to the closet, took it down,
ished out pair of slippers from boot rack
below, and brought them to him.
81 think you had better take off your coat
and boots; you will have the rheumatic fe-
yer or something like it if you don't. Here
are some things for you to wear while they
are drying And you must be hungry, too !;
I will 60 into the pantry and get you some
thing to eat"
She hustled away ION hospitable thoughts
intent" and the stranger made the exchange
He was tall, well.formed man, with bold,
but handsome face, sunburned and heavily
bearded, and looking anything but "delicate"
though his blue eyes glanced out from under
forehead white as snow. He looked around
the kitchen, and stretched out his feet before
him, decorated with The deacon g slippers.
Then he leaned forward and stroked the cat
and her brood, and patted old Bowse upon the
head. The widow bringing in sundry good
things, looked pleased at his attentions to her
dumb friends.
"It's wonder Bowse does not growl; he
generally does if strangers touch him.
Dear me how stupid"
The last remark was neither addressed to
the stranger nor the dog, but to herself
She had forgotten that the little stand was
not empty-and there was no room on it tor
the things she held.
"Oh I'll manage it," said the guest, gath
ering up paper, candle, apples, and spectacles
Git was not without little pang that she saw
them in his hand, for they had been the dea'
cons, and were placed each night, like the
armchair, beside her, and deposited them on
the settee.
"Give me the table.cloth, ma'am; I can
spread it as we'll as any woman. I've learned
that along with scores of other things in my
wanderings. Now let me relieve you of those
dishes they are far too heavy for those little
hands," (the widow blushed j "now please
sit down with me, or I cannot eat morsel."
81 had supper long ago, but really think
can take something more" said Mrs. Cobb,
gently drawing her chair nearer to the little
table
"Of course you can, my dear lady-in this
cod autumn weather, people ought to eat
twice as much as they do in warm. Let me
give you piece of this ham-your own
curing, dare say"
Eyes; my poor husband was very fond of
it. He used to say that no one understood
curing hams and drying beef better than l."
HE was most sensible man, am sure.
I drink your health, madam, in this cider"
He took long draught, and set down the
glass.
"It is like nectar"
The widow was feeding Bowse and the cat,
(who thought they we're entitled to share of
every meal eaten in the house. and did not
quite hear what he said. fancy she would
hardly have known what nectar" was-so it
was quite as we'll.
"Fine dog, ma'am-and very pretty cat"
"They were my husbands favorites," a sigh
followed the answer -
Ah!-your husband must have been
very happy man."
The blue eyes looked at her so long that
she grew hurried.
"Is there anything more ! can get for you,
sir?' she asked, at last.
Nothing more, thank you kindly, have
finished"
She rose to clear the things away. He as.
sisted her, and somehow their hands had
queer mack 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 a box of tobacco from an arched re.
cess near the chimney.
"My husband always said he could not sleep
after eating supper late, unless he smoked"
she said perhaps you would like to try it,
SIR"
"Not if it is to drive you away" he an.
swered, for she had her candle in her hand.
"Oh no-I do not object to smoke at ali.
She put the candle down-some faint sugges-
ton about 'propriety' troubled her, but she
glanced at the clock and felt reassured. 1t
was only half past nine.
The stranger pushed the stand back after
the pipe was lit, and drew her easy chair a
little nearer the 6re-and his own.
"Come, sit down." he said, pleadingly. "It
is not late-and when man has been knock
ing about in California and all sorts of places,
for berth like this-and to have good-na-
tured pretty woman to speak to once again"
"California Have you been in Califor-
mia ?" 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 foolishly quarreled,
had pitched his tent, after many wanderings,
in that far.ofF land. Her heart warmed to
one who, with something of Sans looks and
ways about him, had also been sojourning in
that country-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.. Cobbs slippers, and sitting
in Mr.. Cobb's chair, beside Mr.. Cobb's wife,
smoked Mr.. Cobbs pipe, with such an air of
feeling most thoroughly and comfortably at
home.
"Yes, ma'am-I've been to California for
the last six years. And before that went
quite round the world-in whaling ship"
"Good gracious" !"
The stranger sent puff of smoke curling
gracefully over his head.
"It's very strange, my dear lady how often
you see one thing as you 60 wandering about
the world after this 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
nne reason. You don't ask me what that is
No doubt you know already very we'll.
81 think not, sir"