Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-15
interest. whats his last name,
.Malloy. slr-Martin Malloy.'

God bless my soul 7 said Mr.. Nc
! Graw this is a remarkable coinci
dence! Why, Maggie, this is tn,
very man Pm waiting TO hear from
A heavy sum of my money depend.
upon this friend of yours. | suppose
he is more than a friend, Maggie?'
Were promised to be married
sir, after this voyage. He had q
chance of rising to second mate
and oh, I'm so sorry we waited!'
80 am L. said Mr.. McGraw. ii
he'd stopped long enough to be mar.
ried, we might have got hold of him
for a witness, and that would have
been The making OF many thousand
pounds for me; but never mind
Maggie; let's depend upon the au.
curry OF the petticoat. You sec our
fates are linked tog sthe-, aud as only
one OF us wears petticoat, the one
garment must serve for US both and
I'm tell you what, Maggie'-for she
was fast vanishing again, and be
hated TO see her go-'I'll tell you
what; when Martin comes back, and
wins for me this money,a good round
sum of it shall go for a wedding out.
fit for YOU
IF he only comes back said Mag.
gle, ana went out the door, leaving
the ribbon still in the hand of Mr..
McGraw-a meditatiye, softened, al
together changed expression upon
his face.
81 most remarkable coincidence =
he repeated to himself. This &C.
counts for the interest I've taken in
that girl from the start. A queer
freak of destiny has til us to-
gether, and here we are both hang.
ing upon the fate of this sailor. /
don't suppose he's worthy OF her,
No doubt he's a rough, common,
abusive brute; but he's Young
here Mr.. MoGraw gave vent to a
grunt that was meant for sigh
'and, suppose, after his low fashion,
good-looking.' Here Mr.. MoGraw
kicked over the ottomon that OBJ
structed his way, put the blue ribbon
in his vest pocket, drew 4 chair to
the window, filed his pipe, and look
ing out upon triangular bit of the
western sky. fell into a profound
reverie.
The next morning Maggie was at
her old post at the attic window. Mr..
McGraw was also rafting at his
blinds ; but he looked fully as often
up at Maggie as he did down the
street tor the postman, and was quite
jocular and smiling for man OF his
nervous temperament.
ANY more signs, Maggie p he
said, almost dislocating his neck to
get good look at her pretty face.
Maggie shook her head, and smiled
mournfuily. Il dreamed of white
horses, sir, and mother says it's a
bad sign
Your mother is always a f.
Here the postmaE stopped at the
door, and nobody will ever know
whether Mr. McGraw meant to call
his landlady flne woman or fool,
tor all further conversation was
stopped by the coming of the long
looked-tor letters. There was one
for Maggie, and one for Mr. McGraw.
Maggie had run down to the door,
taken both letters, and fled up stairs
again. Her hand was trembling and
cold as she put the letter in Mr.. Nc.
Graw's hand.
Im afraid to open mine,' she said;
it's in strange handwriting.' Nj
MeGraw watched her disappear, then
tore open his own envelope without
a tremor. At the first sentence, how
ever, Mr.. McGraw started, and put
his spectacles firmer upon his nose,
and by the time he had read the
missiye half through, his face had
become the index OF many conflict
ing emotions. All at once there was
heavy thump upon the floor of the
room above.
My God I said Mr.. McGraw,
she's got the news already And
rushing out Of the room and up the
stairs as fast as mis- rather equity legs
could carry him, be saw The poor
girl stretched lifeless upon tho floor,
the fatal letter ornmpled in her hand.
Then he pogaded in right good earn
est; and beng man of action, had
proper restoratives used, doctor
brought, aud after time poor Mag.
gle YEARLY opened her eyes. The
moment she saw Mr.. McGraw 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 in.
quiringly, wondering how Mr.. Nc
Graw could remind Maggie of the
drowning of her lover. But Mr.. Nc
Graw 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.
'Where is be p she said. Let him
come to me. He has lost his money,
aud | have lost Here the words
troze on her lips, and she held out
her hands to Mr.. MeGraw, who had
reached the couch upon which they
had lifted her. She put her arms
about his neck, and sobbed there like
little child Mr.. McGraw had
lived a lonely bachelors life !; his
kith and kin were far away. This
was anew experience for him-new
and strangely sweet. For years and
years the fragrant breath of woman
had not touched bis lips. His eyes
were wet and blurred; queer chok-
ing sensation arose in his throat his
voice was husky as he blurted out
/ some consoling words.
He can never come back to speak
for you,' said poor Maggie. You
have lost all your money. I'm very
sorry for yon, Mr.. McGraw.'
She meant she was sorry for her.
self. but the poor child cravsd COM
partnership IN her griet.
Heaven knows she got it from Mr..
McGraw. From this time out be
became devoted to the duty of as.
suaging the grief of the bereaved
girl. He filed his pockets with bon
bons, and ribbons, and the various
gewgsws he thought would soften
the affection of a girl of twenty, and