Year: 1861




exactly as Sam would have said il.


Did you know her, too? he asked,
looking keenly at her.
Yes


Ultimately


yes


'And where is she now? Still happy
with her husband, l suppose, and never
giving a second thought to the poor fell
low she drove out into the world?'


No. said Mrs. Minards, shading her
face with her hand, and speaking unstead-
| lily; mo, her husband is dead


'Ah! but still she never thinks Of Sam


There was dead silence.


Does sheY


How can tell?'


Are you still friends?'
yes


'Then you ought to know, and you do.
Tell me-


I'm sure don't know why L should.
But if | do you must promise me, on
your honor, never TO tell him, if you
should ever meet him again.


Madame, what you say to mo never
shall be repeated to any mortal man.
w VII bhNi1 bhO 0OSo iSmNiAOSA bAAAs


But how?'


'As kindly, think, as he could wish


q am glad to hear it for his sake. You
and l, are the friends of both parties we
can rejoice with each other


He drew his chair much nearer hers,
and took her hand One moment the
widow resisted, but it was a magnetic
touch, the rosy palm lay quietly in his,
and tho dark beard bent so low, that it
nearly touched her shoulder. 1t did not
matter much. Was he not Samuels
dear friend? If he was not tho rose, had
he not dwelt very near it, for long,
long time?


1T was foolish quarrel that parted
them, said the stranger, softly.


Did he tell you about it?'


Yes, on board the whaler.'


Did he blame her much p


'Not-se much as himself. He said that
his jealousy and ill.temper drove her to
break off the match, but he thought
sometimes if he had only gone back and
spoken kindly to her, she would have had
him after ALL


Il am sure she would, said the widow,
piteously. She has owned it to me moro
than q thousand times


She was not happy, then, with an
other?


'Mr.--that is to say her husband--was
very good and kind, said the little wo-
man, thinking of the lonely grave out on
the hillside rather penitently; 'and they
lived very pleasantly together. There
never was a harsh word between them


Still, might she not have been happier
with him? Bo honest, now, and say Just
what you think.


yes


Bravol that is what / wanted to come
at And now have a secret TO tell you,
and you must break it to her.


Mrs. Minards looked rather scared.


what is it?'


Il want you to go and sec her, whsr-
ever she may be, and say to her, Maria
what makes you start SOP


Nothing, only you speak like some
one / used to know, once in awhile


DO l? Well, take the rest of the
message. Tell her that Sam loved her
through tho whole that, when he heard
she was free, he began to work hard at
making fortune. He has got it, and is
coming home to share it with her, if she
will let him. VIII you tell her this?'


The widow did not answer. Sho had
freed her hand from his, and covered her
face with it. BY and by she looked up
again; he was waiting patiently.


'Well?'


Il will tell her.


lie rose from his seat, and walked up
and down tho room. Then he came back,
and, leaning on the mantel-piece, stroked
the yellow hide of Bowse with his slipper.
Make her quite understand that he
wants her for his wife. She may live
where she pleases, and how she pleases,
only it mnst DO with him..


Il will tell her.


Say he has grown old, but not cold;
that he loves her now perhaps better than
he did twenty years ago; that he has
been faithful to her all through his life,
and that he will be faithful till he dies
The Californian broke off suddenly
The widow answered still


Il will tell her.


And what do you think she will say
he asked, in an altered tone.


What can she say but Gomez?


'HurrahP


The stranger caught her out of her
chair as if she had been a child, and kiss
ed her.


tDon't--oh don'tp she cried out. Il
am Sans Maria


Well am Maria's Samp


OFF wentthe dark wig and black whisl1-
ers-there smiled the dear face she had
never forgottenl leave you to imagine
the tablsaU; even the cat got up to look,
and Bowse sat on his stump of tail, and
wondered if he was on his heels or his
head. The widow gave one little scream,
and then she


But, stop Quiet people like you and
me, dear reader, who have got over all
these folles, and can DO nothing but turn
up our noses at them, have no business
here. / will only add that two hearts
were very happy, that Bowse concluded,
after awhile, that all was right, and 50
l 4 IL