Year: 1878

not be in Mr.. Cobb's wrapper2 She
went nimbly to the closet, took it down,
fished out pair of slippers from the
boot rack below, and brought them to
him.


&C 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 those are drying And you
must be hungry, too. I will go into the
pantry and get you something to eat"


She hustled away, "on hospitable
thoughts INTENT" and the stranger made
the exchange with quizzical smile play
ing around his lips. He was tall, we'll
formed man, with bold but handsome
face, sunburned and heavily bearded and
looking anything but delicate, though
his blue eyes glanced out from a fore
head as white as snow. He looked
around the kitchen with a mischievous
air, stretched out his feet before him,
decorated with the defunct deacon IS slip
pers.


"Upon my word, this is stepping into
the old mans shoes with vengeancel
And what hearty, good-humored look
ing woman she is, kind as a kitten )"
and then patted old Bowse upon the
head. The widow, bringing in sundry
good things, looked pleased at his atten-
ton to her dumb friend


" It's a wonder Bowse does not growl.
| IIa craparo1Ixy Iooo xubor, Stra =, crorc fnunh
him. Dear me, how stupid ~


This last remark was addressed
neither to the stranger nor to the dog,
but to herself. She had forgotten that
the little stand was not empty, and there
was no room on it for the things she
held.


" Oh, I'll manage that" said her
guest, gathering up paper, candle, ap-
Piles and spectacles-it 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-and depositing them on the set
tee. "Give me the table cloth, ma'am
I've learned that, along with score
of other things, in my wanderings.-
Now let me relieve you of those dishes.
they are too heavy for those little hands"
the widow blushed-" and now please
sit down with me or L cannot eat
morsel."


/" L had supper long ago, but really L
think can take something more" said
Mrs. Cobb, drawing her chair near the
table.


"Of course you can, my dear lady
In this cold, autumn weather, people
ought to eat twice as much as they do in
warm. Let me give you piece of this
ham-your own curing, dare say ?"


"Yes,m poor husband was very fond
of it. He used to say that no one un-
derstood curing hams and drying beef
better than did,
"He was a most sensible man, L am
sure. I will drink to your health,
madam, in this cider"


He took one long draught and sat
down his glass.


C 1t is like nectar"


The widow was feeding Bowse and
the cat (who thought they were entitled
to a share Of every meal ate in the house,
and did not quite hear what he said L
fancy she would hardly have known
what nectar was, so it was quite as
well.


Fine dog, madam, and very pretty
cat"


"They were my husbands favorltes, -
and a sigh followed.


"Ah, your husband must have been
very happy man."


The blue eyes looked at her so long
she grew flurried.


Is there anything more can get for
you, sir ?" she said at last.


Nothing, thank you; 1 have finish
ed"


She rose to clear the things away. He
assisted her, and somehow their hands
had queer mack of touching as they
carried the dishes to the pantry shelves.
Coming back to the kitchen, she put
the apples and cider in their places, and
brought out clean pipe and box of
tobacco from an arched 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.r


"Not if 1t is going to drive you away"
he answered. for she had n candle In her