The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-08-14

said Maggie, blushing and signing. i
had good sign this morning"
What was that, Maggie 2" said Mr..
McGraw, still holding his end of the
, blue ribbon.
Why, see, sir, she said, and pointed
to the skirt of her dress. 81 pat it on
wrong side out this morning. and never
changed 1t, for Martin used to say it was
sign OF good luck. "
And who is Mr. Martin ?" said Mr..
McGraw: g 1t so happens that | an III
terested in that name.
The one I'm looking for letter
from, sir. The vessel was due a month
ago; and here her voice broke, and the
brown eyes filed with tears.
"a sailor with the name of Martin q
SAID Mr.. McGraw, with increased inter
est. whats his last name, Maggie ??
Malloy, sir-Martin Malloy."
God bless my souln' said McGraw;
"this is a remarkable coincidence.
Why, Maggie, this is the very man I'm
waiting to hear from. A heavy sum OF
money depends upon this friend of yours.
| suppose he Is more than friend, Mag
gle?
We're promised to be married, sir,
after this voyage. He had a chance OF
rising to second mate; and, oh, I'm So
sorry we waited,'
$50 am |, said Mr.. McGraw. Il;
he Il stopped long enough to be married
we might have got hold of him for a wit
ness, ana that would have been the max
ing of many thousand pounds for me;
but never mind, Maggie; let's depend
upon the augury of the petticoat. You
see our fates are linked together and as
only one of us wears petticoat, the one
garment must serve for rs both; and I'll
tell you what. Maggie" -for she was fast
vanishing again, and he hated to see her
gO-"Ill tell you what, when Martin
comes back, and WINS for me chat money,
a good round sum of it shall go for a
wedding outfit for You.
" If he only comes back = said Mag
gle, and went ont of the door, leaving
the ribbon still i'll the hand of Mr.. Nc
Graw-a medltative, softened, altogether
changed expression upon his face.
" 4 most remarkable coincidence - he
repeated to himself. "This accounts for
the interest I've taken in that girl from
the start A queer freak of destiny has
lIAIpNI1 TO 'pS'tllt1, anu litlt WI bbtil
hang upon the fate of this sailor. | don't
suppose he's worthy of her. No doubt
he's Il rough, common, abusive brute;
but he's young here Mr.. McGraw
gave vent to Il grunt that was meant for
a sigh" and, | suppose, after his low
fashion, good looking" Here Mr.. Nc
Graw kicked over the ottoman that OBJ
structed his way, put the blue ribbon III
his vest pocket, drew chair to the win
dow, filled his pipe, and looking out up
on a triangular bit of the western SKY
fell into profound reyerie
The next morning Maggie was at her
old post at the attic window. Mr. Nc
Graw was also rattling Mt his blinds; but
he locked fully as often up at Maggie as
he did down the street for the postman,
and was quite jocular and smiling for a
man of his nervous temperament
Any more signs, Maggie?' he said.
almost dislocatlng his neck to get good
look at her pretty face
Maggie shook her head, and smiled
mournfully
81 dreamed of white horses, sir, and
mother says it 3 bad sign
''Your mother is always . f" Here
the postman stopped at the door, and
nobody will ever know whether Mr.. Nc
Graw meant to call his landlady a fine
woman or fool, for all further CONVEX
sation WAS stopped by the coming of the
long looked-for letters There was one
for Maggie, and one for Mr.. McGraw.
Maggie had run down TO the door, taken
both letters, and fled mp stairs again
Her hand was trembling and cold as she
put the letter i'll Mr.. McGraws hand.
I'm afraid to open mine, she said;
cts in a strange handwriting" Mr..
McGraw watched her disappear, then
tore open his own envelope without
tramor. At the first sentence, however,
Mr.. McCiraw started, and put his spec
tacles frmer upon his nose, and by the
time he had read the missive half
through, his face had become the index
OF many conflicting emotions. All at
once there was heavy thump upon the
floor of the room above
my Cod" said Mr.. McGraw, "she's
got the news already. And rushing out
of the room and up the stairs as fast as
his rather equity legs could cary him, he
saw the poor girl stretched lifeless upon
the floor, the fatal letter crIlmpled in
her hand. Then he pounded in right
good earnest; and being man Of action,
had proper restOratives used, a doctor
brought, and after time poor Maggie
YEARLY opened her eyes. The moment
she saw Mr.. McGiraw she screamed and
tainted again.
I'm a bitter reminder Of her loss"
said Mr.. McGraw. The doctor and
Maggie's mother looked at him inquir-
inglv, wondering how Mr.. McGraw could
remind Maggie Of the drowning of her
lover But Mr.. McGraw did not explain;
he merely stepped aside when Maggie
opened her eyes again. After her first
long, sobbing breath, her first words
were for Mr.. McGraw.
"Wherc is he? she said. Let him
come to me. He has lost his money,
and | have lost" Here the words froze
on her lips. and she held out her hands
to Mr.. McGraw. who had reached the
couch upon which they had lifted her.
She put her arms around his neck and
sobbed there like a little child. Mr.
McCraw had lived lonely bachelors
life; his kith and kin were far away
This was a new experience to him
new and strangely sweet. For years
and years the fragrant breath of wo-
man had not touched his lips. His eyes
were wet and blurred: a queer choking
sensation arose in his throat his voice
was husky as he hlurted out some con
selling words.
"He can never come back to speak for
you" said poor Maggie. "1ou have
lost all your money. I'm very sorry
p NJ -