The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-17
ITO get lodging for the night
The widow deliberated.


turn to the left after you get by
"It's raining cats and dogs,snd I'm
very delicate" said the stranger
coughing "I'm wet to the skin.
don't you think you can sccommo
date mel don't mind sleeping or
the floor"
Raining, is it? | didu't know
that" and the kind hearted little
woman unoarred the door quickly
Come in. whoever you may he-I
only asked you to go on because
am lone woman with only one serv
ant in the house,"
The stranger entered-shakine
himself like Newfoundland dog up
on the step, and scattering q little
shower of drops over his hostess and
her nicely swept floor.
| "Oh-that looks comfortable after
q man has been out for hours in a
stcrm," be said. as he caught sight
of the 6re. and striding along to-
ward the hearth, followed by Bowse,
who shifted suspiciously at his heels.
be stationed himself in the arm chair
Mr.. Cobb's arm chair, which had
been kept sacred to his memory for
seven years The widow was hor-
rilied, but her guest looked SO weary
and worn Out that she could Dot ask
him to move, but busted herself in
stirring up the blaze that be might
sooner dry his dripping clothes. A
new thought struck her, Mr.. Cobb
had worn comfortable dressing
gown during his Illness, which still
hung Ia the closet to the right. She
could not let the poor man catch bis
death By sitting in his wet coat-if
be was i'll Mr.. Cobb's chair WHY
should be not be in Mr.. Cobb's wrap
per? She went nimbly to the closet,
took it down, tished out a pair of
slippers from q boot rack below, and
brought them to him.
Il think you had better take off
your coat aud boots you will have
the rheumatic fever or something
like 1t il you don't. Here are some
things for you to wear while they
are drying. And you must be hun
cry, too. | will go into the pantry
and get you something to eat"
She hustled away on bospitable
thoughts intent, and the stranger
made the exchange. He was tall,
weil-iormed man, with a bold but
handsome face, sun-burned and heav-
lily bearded, aud looking anything
but delicate" though his blue eyes
glanced out from under a forehead
white as snow He looked around
the kitchen and stretched out his
feet before him, decorated with the
deacon's slippers Then be stroked
the cat and her brood, and patted
old Bowse upon .he head. The
widow bringing in sundry good
things, looked pleased at his atten-
tions to ner dumb friends.
ITS g wonder Bowse does not
growl; be generally does if strangers
touch him. Dear me, How stu.
pid"
The last remark was neither ad-
dressed to the stranger or the dog,
bat to herself. She had forgotten
that the little stand was not empty
and there was no room on it for
the things she had
"Oh, I'll manage" said the guest,
gathering up the paper, candle, ap-
pies, and spectacles-Gt was not
without little pang she saw them
in his hand, for they had been the
deacon's, and were placed each
night, like the arm chair, beside herr
and deposited them on the settee.
Give me the table cloth. ma'am;
| can spread it as well as any vo-
man. | learned that long ago with
scores of other things in my wander
ings. Now let me relieve you of
those dishes they are far too heavy
for those little hands ;" (the widow
blushed y now please sit down with
me Or / cannot eat morsel."
al bad 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 cold autumn weather, peo-
pie ought to eat twice as much as
they do in warm. Let me give you
piece OF this ham-your own cur
ing, l dare say"
"Yes; 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 a most sensible man ]
am sure. | drink your health in
this cider, ma'am."
He took a long draught and sci
down the glass.
"It's like nectar"
The widow was feeding Bowst
and the cat, (who thought they were
entitled to share of every mea
eaten in the bouse), and did not heal
what be said l fancy she woulC
hardly have known what nectar wa.
so it was quite as well.
"Fine dog, ma'am, and pretty
cat"
They were nv husbands favor
ites," sigh followed the answer
"Ah-your husband must have
been very happy man."
The blue eyes looked al her sc
long that she grew hurried
"Is there anything more that
can get for you, sir p she asked a
last.
Nothing more, thank you kindly
have finished"
She rose to clear the things away
He assisted her, and somehow theiI
hands had a queer knack OF touch
ing as they carried the dishes to tb,
pantry shelves. Coming back to th,
kitchen, she put the apples and eide
in their old places, and brought out
, clean pipe and box OF tobacco from
the arched recess near the chimney
"My husband always said b,
could not sleep after eating suppe
late, unless he smoked" said she
Perhaps you would like to try il
sir 2"
"Not if it is to drive you away,
be answered. for she bad her candl