Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-02-08
WIDOW TowNsEND's FIRST LOVE.

Tbs fea Gr55fafffa repace in an
old-fasbioned public house in an old-fash.
Toned village, down IN that part of the Old
Dominion called the eastern Shore. >
A cat and three kittens basked in the
warmth, and decrepid yellow dog, lying
full in the TT fiectien of the blaze, wrlnkled
his black nose approvingly. as he turned
his feet where his fore feet had BEEN
Over the chimney hung several fue hams
! and pieces OF dried beef. Apples were
festooned along the ceiling, and other signs
of plenty and good cheer were scattered
profusely about. There were plants, too
on the window lodges, horse shoe gerani-
ums, and dew-plants. and a monthly rose
just budding, to say nothing of pots of
violets that perfumed the whole place
whenever they took it into their purple
heads to bloom. Tue floor was carefully
swept, the chairs had not speck of dust
upon leg or round, the long settee near
the fireplace shOne as if it bad been just
vanished, and the eight-day clock in the
corner had had its white face newly wash.
ed, and seemed determined to tick the
louder for 1t.
Two arm-chairs were drawn up at a
cosy distance from the hearth and each
other; a candle, a newspaper, pair OF
spectacles. dish of red checked apples
and pitcher Of cider, filled little table
between them. In one IF these chairs sat
notwithstanding woman about forty
five, with CHEEKS as red as the apples. and
eyes as dark and bright as they had ever
been, resting her elbow on the table and
her head on her hand, and looking thought.
fully into the fire.
This was widow Townsend, ''relict" of
Mr.. Leyi Townsend, who had been moul.
derlng into dust in the neighboripg
churchyard for seven years and more.
She was thinking of her dead husband
possibly because all her work being done
and the servant gone to bed. the sight of
his empty chair at the other eide of the
table, and the silence of the room, made
her little lonely.
''Seven years. so the widows reverie
ran. 1T seems as if it were more than
fifty. and vet l don't look 50 very old
neither. Perhaps its not having any
children to bother my life out, as othel
people have. They may say what they
like children are more plague than pro
fit, that's my opinion. Look at my sister
Jerusha, with her six boys. She's worn to
shadow, and Pm sure they have done it.
though she never will own it.
The widow took an apple from the dish
and began to peel it,
"How fond MIR. Townsend used to be Of
these apples! He'll never eat any more OF
them, poor fellow, for don't suppose they
| have apples where he has gone to. Heigho
| remember very we'll how used to throw
apple peel over my head when was gir
to see Who | was going to marry"
Mrs. Townsend stopped short and blush
ed, for in those days she did not know
Mr.. T., and was always looking eagerly tt
gee if the peel had formed capital s. Hell
meditations took a new turn.
"How handsome Sam Payson was. anG
how much | used to care about him !
wonder what has become of HIM Jerushs
says he went away from our village JUS
after did, and no one has ever heard Of
him since. What a silly thing that quarre
was If it had not been for that
| Hero q lNnr din ri y ~
the widow looked very steadfastly at thu
vacant chair of Levi Townsend, deceased
Her fingers played carelessly with thu
apple-peel; she drew it safely towards her
and looked around the room.
Upon my word, it is very ridiculous
and l don't know what the neighbour
would say if they saw me.''
''Bat then they can't see me- that's
comfort; and the cat and old Bose neve
will know what it means. OF course
don't believe anything about it."
The peel hung gracefully from her hand
but still. should like to try; it would
seem like old times, and"
Over her head it went, and curled u,
quietly on the floor at little distance
Old Bose. who always slept with one ey,
open saw it fall, and marched deliberate
ly up to smell it..
"Bose-Bose-don touch 7" cried BIZ
mistress, and bending over it with beat
ing heart, she turned as red as fire. Their,
was as handsome a capital S as any on,
could wish to see.
A great knock came suddenly at tn
door. Bose growled, and the widow
screamed and snatched up the apple reel
Its Mr.-it 8 bis spirit come back again
because 1 tri,d that silly trick" sh
thought fearfully to herself.
Another knock-louder than the first
and mans voice exclaimed:
"Hello-the housed"
"Who is it ?" asked the widow. con
siderably relieved to find that the departe,
Levi Was still in his grave on the hill
side."
"a stranger" said the voice.
"What do you want ?"
ITO get lodging here for the night.D
The widow deliberated.
"Can It you 60 on ? There's house hal
a mile farther, if you keep to the right
hand side of the road, and turn to the lief
after you get by
TITS raining cats ard dogs, and l an
very delicate said the stranger, cough
ing. II IA wet TO the skin; don It you thln
you can accommodate me? I don't min,
sleeping on tie floor"
"Raining, is it, 1 didn't know that,