Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-05

tneY BpenL lOuT hiLeT nOuT, UlT. mCUThW
content to hold one of her hands In his.
her eyes went wistfully wandering out
over the water, till the shadows grew
longer and longer, and the day was
done. Then he would say, gently,
"Come, Maggie" and she would obey
in a sweet, dutiful fashion, lifting her
face to his, full of some sort of affection
he didn't stop to consider what it was
but Maggie knew that she owed this
luxury OF melancholy entirely to Mr..
McGraw. He had coaxed her mother
into giving over Maggie's ordinary
drudgery to other hands, SO that she
could have the comfort of nursing her
| grief under the auspices of Mr.. McGraw.
His landlady had, indeed, needed very
| little persuasion, and met his entreaties
half way. Mr.. McGraw found nothing
distasteful in this maternal solicitude.
ha wing for years parried the thrusts and
caterIngs of anxious mothers in behalf
| of their portionless daughters, the more
so as it furthered his own happiness,
and rendered him more and more COM
Portable as time went by.
Now that the hot summer was gone,
and the stormy winds of winter began TO
blow, the old brick lodgings were
not so gloomy. The obliquely visioned
ancestor had been taken from the wall
the horsehair furniture covered with a
| gay chintZ; the rusty crate was rubbed
nto rubicund brightness, and therein
| he Goals blaZed generously. There was
no stint in the maternal blessings show
cred upon this lodger, and MIR. McGraw
| for the first time, appreciated his deal
ings with Il commercial woman, who
was willing TO spend money when there
was considerable TO be made by it. This
excellent woman even endeavored TO
put an air of smartness into Maggie's
wardrobe, and garnished her cloak with
n crimson trimming. Maggie wore the
cloak, but her face was sadly out of
keeping with the brave garment. She
had grown so much more subdued, and
so much IN noIderer manner and ap-
pearance, that Mr.. McGraw felt more
and more at ease in her society, and OF
the two he began to appear the bright
est, and wore an air of briskness and
vigor that went far to make up Tor his
mPture years. His lawyers declared
that never, in the whole course of their
experience, had they seen man pos
sessed with such admirable philos-
ophy.
AS the months went by, it began to be
generally conceded by all concerned
that Mr.. McGraw was paying atten-
tion to Maggie, and she was treated
with that rare consideration that her
good luck demanded.
The only creature that seemed utterly
ignorant OF the situation was poor Mag
gle herself. who had never for moment
forgotten her dead sailor. or ceased re-
viving his memory TO Mr.. McGraw.
who seemed the only one that could
fully sympathize with her and console
her. Prodded on by the encouraging
hints and illusions ofthe girls mother,
Mr.. McGraw had endeavored TO infuse
into his manner something of the bear
ing OF a lover, but Maggie invariably
received these advances with the gentle
gratitude that had become part of her
nature, and Mr.. McGraw instinctively
shrank from anything that might shock
her delicacy, or estrange her from him.
One morning, as they stood upon the
long pier and looked out TO sea, he said
TO the girl clinging to his arm: "Shall
You be sorry, my dear, TO see me one of
these days sailing away from you in n
ship like that one over yOnder, never
perhaps to look upon your sweet face
again?"
She said no word. clung closer to his
arm, and two big tears rolled out of her
eyes. He took courage then to put his
arm about her-not but that it had
often been there before, but that was in
fatherly sort OF way.
Would you be afraid, Maggie, TO
cross the sea with mepn he said.
Afraid" she replied; II could
never be afraid Of the sea-
There was an unpleasant infection in
these words that was closely connected
with the dead sailor, and Mr.. McGraw
essayed still another inquiry. Don't
you love me little, Maggie7" he said.
81 love you better than anybody
now" she said.
He longed to ask her If her love was
anything of the nature of the ardent
passion she had once held for the sailor
Malloy, but of course he refraihed. and
indeed he was well content with his
present happiness. Mr.. McGraw felt
certain OF the future. There seemed no
obstacle to his happiness, and that very
day he resolved to get his affairs in
shape so that he could leave the country
at a moments notice. He stopped and
kissed Maggie goodbye. and started off
blithely to see his lawyers.
Don't be long," she called from the
window. 81 shall wait here till you
come back"
"God bless the childl" said poor Mr..
McGraw. There certainly now is
nothing TO hinder our happiness"
The lawyers were out. and the Office
was in care oil the boy. On low chair
by the door n man sat, with his head
resting upon his knees. His whole an
pearance was of that slipshod nature
that 1t seemed rs If he might fall to
pieces at any moment. His frame. of
herculean dimensions. was the more
pitiable that the flesh had shrInken
from the bones, and the features OF his
face were harsh and forbidding in their
prominence. His clothes were faded
and patched, his hat was pulled over his
eyes, and altogether he was most for
lorn and pitiable object in this office of
q prosperous solicitor.
In the heyday of happiness, how could
MIR. McGraw pass this wretched fellow
creature by without wordP