The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-17

fornia and all sorts of places, for a
birth like this-and to have good
natured, pretty woman to speak to
me once again"
California Have you been in
California ?n she exclaimed, drop,
ping into the chair at once.
Unconsciously, she had long cher
ished the idea that Sam Payson-
the lover OF Ger youth-with whom
she had foolishly quarrelled, had
pitched bis tent after many wander
ings, in that lar off land. Her heart
warmed TO one who, with something
of Sans looks and ways about him,
had also been sojourning in that coun-
try-and who very possibly had met
him-perhaps had known him inti-
mately At that thought her heart
beat quick, and she looked very gra-
ciously at the bearded stranger, who.
wrapped in Mr.. Cobb's dressing
gown, wearing Mr.. Cobb's slippers,
and sitting in Mr.. Cobb's chair, be-
side Mr.. Cobb's wife. smoking Mr..
Cobb's pipe with such an air OF feel
ing most thoroughly aud comforta-
bly, at home.
"Yes, ma'am-l've been in Cali
fornia for the last six years. Aud
before that | went quite around the
world in whaling ship"
Good gracious"
The stranger sent q puff of smoke
curliog gracefully over bis head.
"It's 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 2"
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 for
tunes. 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 well"
''l think not, SIR"
Because some woman has Tilted
them"
Here was long pause, and Mr..
Cobb's pipe emitted short puffs with
surprising rapidity. A guilty con
science needs no aecuser, and the
widows cheek was dyed with blush
es as she thought of the absent Sam.
II wonder how women manage
when they get served in the same
way" said the stranger, musingly.
"You never meet them roaming
about in that style"
No." said Mrs. Cobb, with some
spirit; "if woman is in trouble she
must stay at home and bear i. in the
best way she can. ADd there's more
women bearing such things than we
know Of, | dare sayn
Like enough. We never know
whose hands set pinched in the trap
unless they scream And women
are too shy, or too sensible, which
ever you choose, for that"
did you ever, in all your wander
ings, meet any one by the name of
Samuel Payson 2" asked the widow,
unconcernedly.
The stranger looked toward her
She was rummaging her drawer for
the knitting 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 litile-tbst is, | used to when
| was q girl. Where did you meet
him :"
"He went out with me on the wha-
ling voyage that / told you of, aud
sfterward to California We had
tent together, and some other fellows
with us, and We dug in the same
claim for more than six months"
Il suppose be was quite well?"
Strong as an OK, my dear lady"
"And-bappy ?" said the widow,
bending close over her knitting.
"Hum-the less said about that
the better-perhaps. But he seemed
to enjoy life after fashion of his
own And be got rich out there, or
rather will say-very we'll Off"
Mrs Cobb did not pay much at
tention to tba. part of the story. Ev-
identity she had not finished asking
questions. At last she brought it
out beautifully.
Was his wife with him 10 Cali
fornia ?"
Ills wife, ma'am ! Why, bless
you, be hasn't got one!"
-"Oh, / thought mean heard
here the little widow remembered the
fate of Ananiss and Sapphirs, and
stopped before she told such tre-
mendons fb.
Whatsoever you heard of bis
marrying was all nonsense. | can as
sure you. know him well, and he
had no thought of this kind about
him. Some ofthe boys used to tease
bim about it-but he very soon made
them stop"
How"
"He just told them frankly thai
the only woman that he had ever low
ed had Tilted him years before, and
married another mar. After that nc
one ever mentioned the subject tt
him except me-"
| Mrs. Cobb laid her knitting asid,
and looked thougbtfully into th'
fire
"He was another specimen of th'
class of men / was speaking of.
have seen him face death score o
times as quietly as face the fire. i
matters very little what takes me
off," he used to say; "1've nothing
to live for, and there's no one to shef
| a taar for me- when Pm gone It's I