Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-07
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
Cd that's miles away"
So spoke sad, worn-looking woman,
standing on the threshold of weli-to-
do farmers house, just as the last rays
of light were fading from the evening
sky. y....-r
The person she spoke to, large
woman il bright Powered dress and
white apron the mistress of the house
turned away pettishly.
:. "You came etnight, Maggie, it seems
to me, and you can 60 at night. You
don't suit. never. saw sueh shiftless
ways in my life. And Jane Smith is
here, and I've only one bed for the SER
want, and caa't expect tidy girl like
Jane to Sleep with-well, with stran-
gers. 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, aud L can't keep you another
!, night SO the earlier you go, the sooner
you'll get there, wherever it isl
"Well, that's true, anyway. Then,
maam," replied the woman, "yeu
are mistress in your own house but
God knows, it's not dog Id be drivin'
out at night" e.!
Thenshe tied her little pittance in
the corner of pocket
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 and toifsome one to her.
4" Three years since Pat went away"
she said to herself; sand it's the last
kind word I've heard. wasn't shift
less and good-for-nothing to him.
Maggie, he 4 often say, I'D change
you for nobody'sI wife, Och, he was
the man and as good to me when l
was faded and worn out with the hard
livin' and rarin' and losin' the childer,
as he was when was purity girl, with
cheeks like roses, and he was a boy
courtin' me. Och, Pat, where did you
go at all? You died in ditch like a
dog, maybe ; for all these hard hearted
gentle-folk care, we all might"
She turned and shook her fist back at
the house she had just left, only bit
of the roof visible over the rising
ground How. n - w..
-" My heart was aching for the dear
childer and for Pat, she went on !; 1" but
you could have no patience if a pertatie
was burnt, or towel not that smooth.
You sent NE out with the night falling.
Bad luck to ye and to all your like"
Then she plodded on again but the
woman she had left was not as bad as
che had fancied her. In her thrift and
tidiness she could net understand this
Hntidy, 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 a
great mistake to hire tramp from the
road, as it were, and she had paid her
and was conscious OF no cruelty.
4. lie daylight fled apace the moon,
risen long ago, became visible-a faint
streak OF new moon that set in little
whi1e-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-be-
gan to lose her knowledge of it. Here
and there she saw lights in window,
but they were no promise of hospitality
to her. If she could get to the Widow
Yarrow's, that parsonage, who took the
iaborers in 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 toll in
the darkness whether she had taken
the proper turning. Hard by was q
rushing sound, as Of water. Dagger
there, perhaps. The railroad was
somewhere at hand, and though Maggie
felt that the world was poor place,
she did not feel ready to meet death
yet. ....,..
.."I'll 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 q comfort"
She stretched forward, peering
through the darkness, and her foot
struck some loose branches that lay
upon the ground, with cracking
sound. -f..
whats that?" said a yoi;e very
near her, in SHARP whisper.
Its an imp of squirrel" said an
other voice. GO on with your work,
Jim. The train will be along in fifteen
minutes. Up with that rail. Hi!
Wen have them this time"
Hold your tongue, fool" said the
FRI; voice. You're half drunk, T
itliyou l thought ii was step"
And now, Maggie, who had sunk fiat