The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-06-25
think you can accommodate Iae--I don't
mind sleepinp on the floOr.n

barred the door very quickly. Com
in, whoever you may bel only aske'
you to 90 on because am lone womal
with only one servant in the house."
The stranger entered-shaking him
self like Newfoundland dog upon tn
step, and scattering :. little shower 0
drops over his hostess and her NIGEL.
swept floor.
"Oh-that looks comfortable after
man has been out for hours in storm,
he said as he caught sight Of the fire
and striding along towards the hearth
followed by Bowse, who shifted suspl
ciously at the heels, he stationed himsel
in the arm chair. Mr.. Cobbs arm chat
which had been kept sacred to his mem
DRY for seven years. The widow wa
Mortified, but her guest looked so weary
and worn out that she could not ask hin
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 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 wet
coat--if he was in Mr.. Cobb's chair why
should be not be in MIR. Cobb's wrapper
She went nimbly to the closet, took il
down, fshed out pair of slippers from
boot-rack below, and brought them to
him.
~ think you had better take off your
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 60 into the
pantry and get you something to eat"
She hustled away son hospitable
thoughts INTENT" and the stranger made
the exchange. He was a tall, well-form-
ed man, with bold but handsome face,
sunburned and heavily bearded, and
looked 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 dea-
cons slippers. Then he 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.
cts a wonder Bowse don't growl +;
he generally does if strangers touch him.
Dear me! how stupid"
The last remark was neither address
ed to the stranger nor the dog, but to
herself. She had forgotten that the lit
tie stand was not empty-and there was
no room on it for the things she held.
" Oh, 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; l
can spread it as we'll as any woman.
I've learned that long with scores Of
other things i'll my wanderings. Now
let me relieve you of these dishes; they
are far too heavy for those little hands"
(the widow blushed); "now please sit
down with me, or cannot eat a morsel.' y
/" had supper long ago, but really !
think ] can take something MORE" said
Mrs. Cobb. gently drawing her chair
to the little table.
:" OF course you can, my dear lady,
in this cold autumn weather people ought
to eat twice as often ~ they do in warm.
Let me give you piece of this ham
your own curing ! dare say"
" Yes, my poor husband was very fond
Of it. He used to say that no one under.
stood curing hams and drying beef bet
ter than l."
He was most sensible man, l an
sure. drink your health, madam, in
this cider"
He took long draught, and set down
his glass;
1T is like nectar"
The widow was feeding Bowse and the
cat (who thought they were entitled to {
share of every meal eaten in the house)
and did not quite hear what was said.
fancy she would hardly have knowi
what " nectar " was so ii is quite as we'll
Fine dog, ma'am-and very pretty
cat"
They were my husbands favorites;;'
a sigh followed the answer.
9 Ah-your husband must have beer
a very happy man"
The blae eyes looked at her SO long
that she grew fiurried.
" Is there anything more can get fol
you, sir" she asked at last.
" Nothing more, thank you kindly,
have finished" z.ss -
she rose to clear the things away. I'll
assisted her, and somehow their hand
had queer knack Of touching as the,
carried the dishes to the pantry shelves
Coming back to the kitchen, she put tn
apples and cider in their old places, an,
brought out clean pipe and box o
tobacco from an arched recess near tn
chimney.
!" My husband always said he coul,
not sleep after eating supper late, nnies
he smoked.n she said. Perhaps yo
would like to try it, sir"
" Not if it is to drive you away" h
answered, for she had her candle in he
hand.
g Oh, mol do not object to smoke a
ALL" She put the candle down-som
faint suggestion about propriety' trout
led her, but she glanced at the clock an
felt reassured. It was only half-pas
nine. The stranger pushed the stan
back after the pipe was lit, and drew hi
easy chair a little nearer the fre-an
her own.
ITS not late-and when man ha
been knocking about in California an
all sorts Of places, for berth like this
and to have good-natured, prett
woman to speak to once again"
8 California; Have you been in Cali
formal" she exclaimed, dropping int
the chair at once.
fss Iyunr.N ocs Ovv alvy uho hol Ions, Nh c-s.I -