Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-07-10
MIscELLANEnUs.
MAGGIE RYAN.


. II is cold. dreary and dark along the
road, and I've no place to go but Widow
Yarrow's; and that's miles away"
So spoke sad, rn-looki ing woman stand
ing ON the threshold of 4 well.to do farmers
house just as the last rays Of light we're fad>
Ing ifoth the evening sky.
The person she spoke 10. large woman, in
q bright, lowered dress aud white apron
the mistress of the houso-turned away pet
tishly.
"You came at night, Maggie, it seems to
me, and you eau go at night. And Jane
Smith is here, aud I've only one bed for the
servant, and you can't expect tidy girl like
Jane to sleep with--well, with strangers.-
I've paid you for your. three days, and good
ness knows. you've worried the out of my
senses since you've been here. and can't
keep you another night, and the earlier you
go. the sooner youth get there" is176s
K"Well, that's true anyway. Then,
ma'am," replied the woman, "and you are
mistress in yonr own house, but God knows
it's not dog I'd be drivin' out at night"
Then she tied her little pittance up in the
corner of her pocket handkerchief and walked
out of the gate and up the road without once
looking back. Hcr heart was heavy as lead,
and she was angry at the world that had been
. very hard one to her.
"Three years since Pat went away" she
said to herself, ''and never word from him.
Hes dead, no doubt. aud it's the very last
kind word got. wasn't shif,less and good
for nothing to him. Maggie he'd often
say, I'D change you for nobody's wife. ~
Och he was a mat, and he was good to me
when Was faded and wosn out with the hard
livin' and rarin' and losin' tho childer' ss he
was when l was purity girl, with cheeks like
roses, and he was boy courtin' me. Och.
Pat, where did you go at allr You died At
Q ditch like dog. maybe for all those hard
hearted gentle folks care, We all might"
She turned and shook her fist back at the
house she had just left, only biz of the roof
visible over the rising ground now.
"My heart was achin' for the childer and
Pat" she said, "but you coald have no
patience if . pertstie WAS burnt or . towel
not that smooth. You sent mo out with the
night falling. Bad luck to ye and to all your
like"
Then she plodded on ssain; but the woman
she left behind was not as bad as she had
fancied her. In her thrift and tidiDess she
could not understand this untidy careless
being. She knew nothing Of the misery of
her heart, or the sorrow that made her forget
the pots aud pals. She was actually half
afraid Of her, and anxious to get her out Of
the house. She felt it great mistake to hire
. tramp from the road. IS it were. and she
had paid her and was conscious Of no cruelty.
The daylight fed apace. the moon. risen
long ago, became visible-a faint streak Of
new moon that set in little while-only the
stars wese leit-and Maggie. wandering on
the road with her bundle under her arm-a
bundle Of rags and odd things petticoat-
began to lose her knowledge Of Il.
Here and there she saw lights in Q window,
but they were no promise Of hospitality to
her. II she could get to the Widow Var.
rows, that person who took the laborers TO
board, who let her lodge while she could
pay but where was the widows cottage-to
the right or the left ? She could not tell in
the darkness whether she had taken the right
turning. Hard by was = rushing sound, as Of
water. Danger there, perhaps. The rails
road was somewhere at hand, aud though
Maggie felt that the world was poor place,
she did not feel ready TO meet death yet.
"1ll just drop down in the grass. some
where, said the poor Womau "And God
between me and harm. If could hnd bit
of hay now, 'twould be comfort"
She stretched forward, peering through the
darkness, and her foo. struck some loose
branches that lay upon the ground, with .
cracking sound.
Whats thst7" said sharp voice very
near her in loud whisper.
ITS an imp OF . squirrel" said smother
voice. go on with your work, Jim. The
train will be along in Is minutes. Up with
that rail. Ali Well have them this time"
Held your tongue, fool" said the first
vuice YOU'RE halt drunk. / tell you
thought it was step"
And now Maggie. Who had sunk h.t upon
the ground knew all. Those who bad Whis-
peyed near her were train wreekers-
sI'Il make no noise," she thought. It's
none Of my business"
But lying in the grass. the sharp strokes
of steel on steel smote on her esr; she could
uOs forge. them. And suddenly it came