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

empty arm chair of Levi Cobb, deceased
Her fingers played csrelessly with the
apple pairing; she drew it slowly toward
her, and looked around the room.
upon my word, it is very ridiculous
and l don't know what the neighbor:
would say if they sawme."
Still the plump fingers drew the red
peel nearer.
"But then they can't see me, that's a
comfort, and the cat and old Bowse will
never know what it means OF course ]
don't believe anything about it,
The pairing hung very gracefully from
her hand.
But still l should like to try it; it
would seem like old times, and
Over her head it went and curled up
very quietly on the floor at a little dis.
tance. Old Bowse, who always slept with
one eye open, saw it fall, and marched
deliberately up to smell of it
"Bowse-Bowse-dont touch it, cried
his mistress, and, bending over it with a
beating heart, she turned as red as fire
There was as handsome capital IS" as
anyone could wish to see.
A great knock came suddenly at the
door. Bowse growled, and the widow
screamed and snatched up the apple
pairing.
"It's Mr. Cobb-it's his spirit come
back because l tried that silly trick" ," she
thought fearfully to herself
Another knock, louder than the first
and mans voice exclaimed:
"Hillo, the house,
"Who is lt?" asked the widow, some
what relieved to find that the departed
Levi was still safe in his grave upon the
hillside.
"A stranger" said the voice.
what do you want?"
"To get lodging for the night"
The widow deliberated.
"Can't you go on there's house
half a mile further, if you keep to the
right hand side of the road and turn to
the left after you get by"
ats raining cats and dogs, and I'm
very delicate" said the stranger, cough
ing. am wet to the skin-don't you
think you can accommodate mel don't
mind seeping on the floor"
Raining, is it? didn't know that y
and the kind hearted little woman un
barred the door very quickly. "Come
in, whoever you may be. only asked
you to go on because am lone woman
with only one servant in the house."
The stranger entered, shaking himself
like Newfoundland dog upon the step,
scattering little shower of drops over
his hostess and her nicely-swept floor.
"Oh, that looks comfortable after a
man has been out for hours in storm" ,"
he said, as he caught sight of the fire
and, striding along toward the hearth
followed by Bowse, who shifted suspi-
ciously at his heels, he stationed himself
in the arm -chair-Mr Cobb's arm chair
which had been kept sacred to his mem
ory for seven years. The widow was
Mortified, but her guest looked so weary
and worn out that she could not ask him
to move, but busted herself in stirring
up the blaze that he might the sooner dry
his dripping clothes. A new thought
struck her; Mr. Cobb had worn a com
Portable 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 wei
coat. If he was in Mr. Cobb's chair, why
should he not be in Mr. Cobb's wrappert
She went nimbly to the closet, took il
down, fished out pair of slippers from
loot rack belov, and brought them tc
him.
"I think you had better take of youl
coat and boots; you will have the rheu
matte fever, 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; will go into the
pantry and get you something to eat"
She BUSTED away "on hospitable
thoughts intent" and the stranger made
the exchange. He was tall. we'll form
ed man, with bold but handsome face
sunburned and heavily bearded, and
looking anything but delicate" though
his blue eyes glanced out from under a
forehead as white as snow, He looked
around the kitchen and stretched Out
his feet before him, decorated with the
deacon's slippers. Then he leaned for.
ward and stroked the cat and her brood
and patted old Bowse upon the head
The widow, bringing in sundry good
things, looking pleased at his attentions
to her dumb friends.
"Itis 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 her
self She had forgotten that the little
stand was not empty, and there was no
room on it for the things she held.
90, I'll manage it," said the guest
gathering up paper. candles, apples and
spectacles-Gt was not without little
pang that she saw them in his hand, for
they had been the deacon's, and were
placed each night, like the arm chair,
beside her)-and deposited them on the
settee.
"Give me the table-cloth, ma'am; /
can spread it as well as any woman. P7e
learned that along with scores Of other
things in my wanderings. Now let me
relieve you ofthose dishes; they are far
too heavy for those little hands," (the
widow blushed) "now please sit down
with me, or cannot eat morsel."
a had supper long ago, but really l
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, people
ought to eat twice as much as they dc
in warm. Let me give you piece oi
this ham-your own curing,I dare say?"
"Yes; my poor husband was very fond
of it. He used to say that no one un
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