Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-02-08

only one servant in the house."
The stranger entered, shaking himself
like Newfoundland dog upon the step
and scatter ng little shower OF drops
over his hostess and her nicely swept floor
"Ah, that looks comfortable after a
man has been out for hours in a storm
he said as be caught sight of the fire; and
striding along towards the hearth, follow
ed by Bose, who shifted susplciously at his
heels, be stationed himself in the arm
chair-Mr Townsend's arm chair which
had been kept ''sacred to his memory" fol
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
nIathnn
A new thought struck her. Mr.. T. had
worn comfortable dressing-gown during
his illness, which still hung in the closet
at her right. She could not let this pool
man catch his death, by sitting in thai
wet coat. If be was in MIR. Townsend's
chair, why should he not be in Mr.. Town
sends wrapper? She went nimbly to the
closet, took it down, fshed out pair OF
slippers from boot-rack below, and
brought them to him.
II think you bad better take off your
coat and bOOts-you will have the rbeu
m attic fever. or something like it, if you
don't. Here are some things for you te
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, ION hospitabIe
thoughts INTENT" and the stranger made
the exchange with a quizzical smile play.
ing around his lips. He was tall. we'll
formed man, with bold but handsome
face, sun-burned 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 with mischievous
air, and stretched out his feet decorated
with the defunct Boniface's slippers.
Upon my word, this is stepping into
the old mans shoes with a vengeance
And what hearty, goodhumored looking
woman she is! Kind as kitten,' and he
leaned forward and stroked the Cat anC
her brood, and then patted old Bose upon
the head. The widow, bringing in sundry
good things, looked pleased at his atten
tion to her DUMB friends"
Its wonder Bose 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 herself
She had forgotten that The little sJanc
Was not empty, and there was no room OF
1t for the THU gs she held.
"Oh, I'll manage it," said her guest
gathering up paper, candle, apples, anG
spectacles lit was not without little pane
that she Saw them III his hand, for they
mad been her husbands, and were placed
each night, like the rm-chair, beside
uer) and deposlting them on the seLtee.
Give me the table cloth, ma am, 1 can
spread it as we'll as any woman; I've
learned that, along with scores OF other
things, in my waLderlngs. Now let mt
relieve you Of those dishes, they are tal
TOO heavy for those hands"--the widow
blushed land now please sit down witt
me, or cannot eat a morsel."
Il had supper long ago, but really Car
take something more" SAID Mrs
Townsend, drawing her chair near the
table.
''Of course you can. my dear lady; ir
this cold, tall weather people ought to cal
twice as much as they do 10 Warm. Lei
me give you piece of this ham, your OWL
curing, dare Say"
Yes my dear husband was very fond
Of it. He used to say that no one under
stood curing ham and dr. ying beef better
than l."
"He was most sensible man, { an
sure. drink your health ma 'am, in tbI!
cider"
He took long draught, and set down
his glass.
'ly Is like nectar.'
The WIDOW was feeding Bose and thu
Cat (who thought they were entitled to ;
share OF every meal eaten in the house
and did 1ot quite hear what he said.
''Flne dog, ma am, and very prett!
cat"
They were my husbands favorites,
and sigh followed the answer.
IAN, your husband must have been
very happy man."
The blue eyes looked at her so long thai
she grew Hurried.
lis there anything more l can get fo
you, siI?'' she asked, az last.
Nothing, thank you, have finished
She rose to clear the Things away. lii
assisted her, and somehow their hands ha(
queer knack OF touching as they carried
the dishes to the pantry shelves. Comins
back to the kitchen she put the apples au6
cider in their old places, and bought GU
a Clean pipe and d box Of tobacco from al
alcned recess near the chimney.
My husband always said he could not
sleep after eating supper late unless he
smoked" she said Perhaps you would
like to try it,"
Mot If it is to drive you away" he ans
wered, for she had he: candle in hel
hand.
'Oh. no; ] do not object to smoke al
ALL" She put the candle down, some fam
suggestion about ''propriety" troubled
her, but she glanced at the old clock, ant
felt treasured. 1t was only half pas
nine.
The stranger pushed the stand back af.
ter the pipe was lit, and drew her easy
chair near the fire and his own