New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-17


gle S. Maynard?
"Ccrtainly-I beg pardon. might have
known better than to take such letters as
these"
He snf lied as he handed Maggie the white |
envelopes, addressed in the delicate Chirog |
raphy ladies usually use. Then he gave
her the paper, and in return received his |
own letters. Maggie thanked him, he
| bowed, with a smile which made his face
very handsome, and the next moment had
gone with a musical peal of sleigh bells,
| while Maggie commenced her walk home.
| It was pleasant little incident to stir the
monotony of Maggie's wearisome life, and
thoughts of it diverted her mind from
dozen troubles, as she retraced her steps.
| 1t takes very little to make us happy, after
| all. Dir. Tracey's pleasant words and cour-
! teous manner made sunny hour IN the
| wintry lite which was Maggie's daily por'
| ton. On arriving home, Charley met her
at the door.
"Has your money come from the Banner
Office, Maggie"
NO" said Maggie, realizing the fact for
! the first time, so preoccupied had she been
with other thoughts, The pleasant smile
| her lips had worn all the way home left
| them slowly as she mounted the stair and
| threw off her cloak in the room. The money
| she had been depending on to pay her
months rent and furnish necessities for the
J coming week had not come as she expected
and her portemonnaie held only one dime.
| Her landlady always demanded the rent in
advance; if it was not paid punctually to
the day her tenants had immediate warning
| to leave. That part of the matter was very
| bad. AS for provisions for daily use, Mag
file thought it likely she might be allowed
to run up a small account at the store
where she usually traded but she dreaded
contracting debt which she had no imme.
diate prospect of paying. With her hands
clasped behind her, and a very Old look on
her young face, she paced the floor OF her
little room wondering which way she
should turn. At last she took up the morn
| ing's paper AID glanced over it again in
hopes to discover some opportunity OF
employment which she had failed to tnd
on her first search. Having looked through
the list of wants, she was about laying 1t
down with sigh when she discovered a
call for seamstresses attached to the adver'
tisement of a popular dry goods firm.
"kimball & Tracey were the names.
Maggie was tired, but there was no time
to lose. She put on her shawl and hood
| and returned to the city, went to the store
of Kimball & Tracey, and engaged and
received q quantity of work. The material
was coarse, strong print, to be made into
sale shirts. She borrowed money to pay
her rent, earned money to repay it at her
sewing; went without the overshoes, and
caught several severe colds in consequence
by sacrifice of personal comforts kept
Charley clothed for school, and herself out
of debt. And in this painful way the winter
of Maggies twentieth year passed,
But there was little vein of romance
running through the long, cold months
like a golden thread. Every day when sht
went to the postoffice she received pleas
ant smile and bow from the gentleman
whose mail she had once happened to re
ceive. He was always at the Office at th'
hour for distributing the Southern mail, a.
also was Maggie
One snowy afternoon the mail was detain
ed in consequence of the tracks being block
O ed up by snow, and as Mr.. Tracey anG Mag
gle waited in the office some fifteen o
!. twenty minutes they fell into conversation
I They spoke first of the belated mail and thC
] weather, then Of travelling and people, anl
things to be met in travelling. The othc'
was cold, and Maggie thought Mr.. Trace!
: might have employed his time more agreea
a bly, to himself by brisk ride in his elegan
v sleigh which waited at the door. But Mr
4 Tracey thought differently. He was yer,
. comfortable in his heavy fur oyercoat, anC
3 very pleasantly entertained by his compan
4 IONS sweet dignity and intelligence. Tn
4 mail came in and was distributed at last
but not until six o'clock. 1t was still snow
ing. Maggie was startled when she saw hov
deeply the roads were covered. How coul'
r she ever walk home through it in the dark
e 20 dear!n said she. She thought Mr.
Tracey had gone, but he had not. He wa
q close beside her.
You must allow me to take you hom
Y in my Sleigh" ne said; and before Maggi
had time to refuse or consent she wa
wrapped in the warm buffalo robes and fly
|. ing over the snowy road.
5 Mr.. Tracey did not ask her where sh
" lived. OF his own choice he took the roaC
If that led to her home. All through the driy
K he chatted merrily. Maggie was charmed
e out of herself The weather was rapid
d growing cold. When Mr.. Tracey hande
It Maggie from the sleigh she wondered II sh
d ought to ask him in. He must be cold, sh
le thought. If it is improper he will kno'
3 enough to refuse the invitation.
IS Evidently to Mr., TraCey's opinion tn
.e invitation was not an improper one. II
a drove his horse under the shed, accompal
70 led Maggie to her little sitting room, an
It took a seat by the fire. He would stay lon
enough to get thawed out, he said, laughing
or Mr.. Tracey was evidently very strang
" man. Hall an hour after he had entere
h the house, Charley, shy little Charley Ma
nard, was sitting comfortably on his knee
lie while Maggie, proud, quiet, reserved Maggi
d Maynard, was engaged in giving him he
ID confidence; telling him frankly the trials
to her situation. The recital OF her troubles
ID and the kind sympathy she received wa
le too much for Maggie after while, and sh
N got to crying. Then, suddenly ashamed {
at her weakness, she turned quickly away froI
the clear, truthful eyes of her companion.
e. "You must excuse me, Mr.. Tracey. d
ID not often make such baby of myself SD
I'd said.
as "You are anything but baby in sens
h. and dignity of character, my brave litt
y Margaret replied Mr.. Tracey. 'You hay
ae proved yourself true woman in the recit
d; you have given me. But much that yo
le have told me is not new to me at all. / hay
I'd long known of your cares and weary labor
he your exposures to the bad weather; yoI
er sisterIy love, and loneliness. You nav
q struggled alone long enough; you nee
I'll some one to take care of you. Doyon kno
tie it," .g.ar
We Maggie looked flushed. She drew bsc
)r- 8 little.
i'll ''Do you know who am, Maggie? ~
g, ''Air. Hugh Tracey I
OF ''Of the firm of Kimball & Tracey-yes.
1T am wealthy man, Maggie, able to provid
m abundantly for you and little Charley her
sp- | wish had the right.n
on He took her hand, but she drew it avs
an again. 4, ~, =. ....l ...-.s.,
~ 7''liIr. Tracey, in my heart DO not doul
as you b The least. | am sura you are goo
TX naA, bit for Charley, to whom owe righ
- as well hs to myself, | will make no confe
lr sion Or promises. must know more of yC
81 before permit you to address me as "
I'D Msggiei said this with a quiet dignit
he ir Tracey smiled. .,.-.esa4 lgsis sr.
q. NJ itHfell, YOU are right, my practical lit
~. flli. H0u have my full and free permissiC
ID faake any inquiries respecting my cha
he aCteE gou may see fit. But anticipate Il
= 60,