The Osceola times., 1877-08-25
MAGGIE RYAN.


MAGGIE RYAN.
"But Just let me stay until morning
ma'am. 1t is cold, dreary and dark
along the road, and, indeed I've no
place to go but Widow Yarrow's, and
that's miles away"
So spoke sad, wOrn-looking woman,
standing on the threshold of we'll
tO-dO farmers house, Just as the last
rays of light were fading from the even
ing sky.
The person she spoke to, large
woman in bright, lowered dress and
white apron--the mistress of the house
turned away pettishly.
"Y0u came at night, Maggie, it
seems 10 me, and you can 70 at night.
You don't suit. / never saw such shift.
less ways in my life. And Jane Smith
is here. and I've only one bed for the
servant, and can't expects tidy girl
like Jane 10 sleep with--well with
strangers. I've paid you for your three
days, and, goodness knows, you've wor-
ried me out of my senses since you've
been here, and can't keep you another
night; and the earlier you 60, the SOON
er you'll get there, wherever it is.''
"Well, that's true, anyway. Then,
ma'am," replied the woman, "and you
are mistress in your own house, but,
God knows, it's not dog I'd be drivin'
out at night" Then she tied her little
pittance in the corner of a pocket
handkerchief and walked away out of
the gate and up the road, not looking
back once. Her heart was heavy as
lead, and she was angry at world that
had been a very hard one to her.
"Three years since Pat went away"
she said TO herself; "never word from
him. He's dead, no doubt; and it's the
last kind word I've heard. I wasn't
shiftless and good for nothing to him.
Maggie, he'd often say, I'D change
you for nobody's wife, Och, he was
the man; and a. good to me when |
was faded and worn out with the hard
livin' and rarin' and losin' the childer,
a. he was when was purity girl, with
cheeks like roses, and he was boy
courtin' me. Och, Pat, where did you
60 at all? You died in ditch like a
dog, maybe; for all these hard.bearted
gentle-folk care, we all might"
She turned and shook her fist back
at the house she had Just left, only a
bit of the roof visible over the rising
ground now.
my heart was aching for the chill
der and for Pat" she said. "but you
could have no patience if a pertatie was
burnt, or a towel not that smooth.
You sent me out with the night falling.
Bad luck to ye and to all your like"
Then she plodded on again; but the
woman she had lett was not as bad as
she had fancied her. In her thrift and
tidiness she could not understand this
untidy, careless being. She knew
nothing of the misery at her heart, or
the sorrow that made her forget the
pots and pals. She was actually half
afraid of her and anxious to get her out
of her house. She had felt it great
mistake to hire tramp from the road az
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 a little
while--.only the stars were left---and
Maggie, wandering on the road with her
bundle under her arm--a bundle OF
rags and odds and ends tumbled to-
gether in an old flannel petticoat---b
gan to loose her knowledge oft. Here
and there she saw lights in window,
but they were no promise Of hospitality
to her. II she could get TO the widow
Yarrow's, that parsonage, who took the
laborers to board, would let her lodge
while she could pay; but where was
the widows cottage---to the right or to
the left? She could not tell in the dark,
ness whether she had taken the proper
turning. Hard by was a rushing sound,
as of water. Danger there. perhaps.
The railroad was somewhere at hand,
and though Maggie felt that the world
was a poor place, she did not feel ready
TO meet death yet.
"Pll Just drop down in the grass
somewhere" said the poor woman
"And God between me and harm. If !
could find bit Of hay now, 'twould be
comfort"
She stretched forward, peering
through the darkness, and her foot
struck some loose branches that lie up
on the ground, with a cracking sound
"What's that" said voice very
near her in sharp whisper.
"It's an imp OF q squirrel" said an
other voice. "Go on with your work, Jim
the train will be along in fifteen minutes
Up with that rail. Hi Well have
them this time"
Hold your tongue, fool" said tht
frst voice. "Ypu're halt drunk.
tell you thought it was a step"
And now Maggie, who had sunk fla
upon the ground, knew all. Those whit
whispered near rer were trsin-wreckers
"f'll make no noise,' said she, "It
none Of my business"
But lying in the grass. the sharl
strokes Of steel on steel smote on he
ear she could not forget them. An,