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

McGraw. His landlady had, indeed
needed very little persuasion, and met
his entreaties half way. Mr.. McGraw
found nothing distasteful III this maternal
solicitude, having for years parted the
thrusts and Gatherings of anxious mothers
in behalf of their portionless daughters
the more so as it furthered his own hap
piness, and rendered him more and more
+ comfortable as time went by
Now that the hot summer was gone.
and the stormy winds of winter began to
I blow, the old brick lodgings were not so
+ gloomy. The obliquely visioned an
cestor had been taken from the wall; the
horsehair furniture covered with a CAV
chlntz; the rusty CRATE was rubbed into
IA rublcund brightness, and therein the
, Goals blaZed generously. There was no
STINT III the maternal blessings showered
+ upon this lodger, and Mr. McGraw for
the first time appreciated his dealings
with a commercial woman, who waswill-
ing to spend money when there was con-
siderable to be made by 1t. This excel
I lent woman even endeavored to put an
1 air of smartness into Maggie's wardrobe
and garnlshed her cloak with Il 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 older
III her manner and appearance, that Mr.
! McGraw felt more and more at case III
/ her society, and of the two he began to
/ appear the brightest, and wore an air of
/ hrlskness and vigor that went far to
make up for his mature years. His
! lawyers declared that never, in the whole
! course of their experience, had they seen
/ n man possessed with such admirable
I philosophy.
AS the months went by, it began to be
generally conceded by all concerned
that Mr.. McCiraw was paying atten-
ton 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 bad never for a mo-
ment forgotten her dead sailor or ceas-
| ed reviving 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 Of the girls mother.
Mr.. MeCtraw had cndeavored to iufuse
into his manner something of the bearing
OF lover, but Maggie invariably receiv-
ed these advances with the gentle graft
tude that had become a part OF her
nature, and Mr.. McGraw instinctivply
shrank from anything that might shock
her delcacy, or estraugc her from him.
One morning, rs they stood upon the
long pier and looked out to sea he said
to the girl cllnging 10 his arm, "Shall
you be sorry, my dear, to see me one
Of these days siiling away from YOU in a
ship like that one over yonder never
perhaps to look upon your sweet face
, again.
She said no word, chung closer TO his
arm. and two big tears rolled out of her
eyes. He took courage then 10 put his
arm about her-not but that it had often
been there before, but that was in faith
erly sort of a way
"Would you be afraid, Maggie, to
cross the sea with me?" he said
"Afraid = she replied 81 could
never be afraid of the sen. y
There WAS an unpleasant infection III
these words that was closely connected
with the dead sailor, and Mr.. McGraw
essayed still another inquiry "Don't
you love me a little, Maggie?" he said
81 love Won 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 RETAINED, and
indeed he was well contented 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
50 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 cried from the
window. 81 shall wait here till you
come back"
Good bless the child" said poor Mr.
McGraw. "There certainly now is
nothing to hinder our happiness.
The lawyers were out, and the Office
was III care of the boy. On low chair
by the door a man sat, with his head
resting upon his knees. His whole APP
pearance was of that shpshod nature
that it seemed as if he might fall to
pieces at any moment. His frame, of
herculean dimensions, was the more
pitiable that the flesh had shrunken from
the bones, and the features of his face
We're harsh and forbidding in their prom
incncc. 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
prosperous solicitor
In the heyday of happiness, how could
Mr.. McGraw pass this wretched fellow
creature by without a word?
Good morning, my poor fellow, he
said. You seem to be in sorry plight
Can | do anything for you?'
"1ou can tell me, said the man, in
hoarse and hollow voice, 4" if it's true
that these people here will he glad to
see me. I'm told there's a reward Of
fered for any news of me, and I'd like
little money to prink up before | go to
see my sweetheart. She'll he thinking
its my ghost if gotc her like this. y
"Some wretched criminal, thought
Mr.. McGraw, "who has risked every
thing to see this woman he
loves. See here my good fellow" he
SAID. lowering his voice, if this money
will be of any use to you. take II and 60;
but I'd keep clear Of the law if l were
you.
"why, thank You, sir, )" said the man,
putting back the bills, but I'm no beg
gar I'll wait and hear what these land
sharks have to say.
At that moment the senior lawyer en-
tered, and turned upon the fellow "A dis
L