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


were both looking for that coniounded
postman. hope we'll haye better luck
tomorrow, Maggie"
Il thought sure we would to-day,
sir" said Maggie, blushing and signing.
81 had a good sign this morning."
"W hat was that, Maggiep" 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 put 1t on
wrong side out this morning, and never
changed it, for Martin used to say it was
sign of good luck"
And who is Martini" said Mr..
McGraw. 1T 80 happens that am in
terested in that name."
"The one I'm looking for letter
from, sir. The vessel was due month
ago;" and here her voice broke, and the
brown eyes filled with tears.
"A sailor with the name of Martin P"
said Mr.. McGraw, with increased in
terest. whats his last name, Mag
gieP"
"Malloy, sir-Martin Malloy."
God bless my soul!" said McGraw;
"this is 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 a
friend, Maggiep"
"We're promised to be married, sir,
after this voyage. lie had Il chance of
rising to second mate; and oh, I'm so
sorry we waitedr'
$50 am l." said Mr.. McGraw. "If
he'd stopped long enough to be married
we might have got hold of him for n
witness, and that would have been the
making of many a thousand pounds for
me; but never mind, Maggie; let's de-
pend upon the augury of the petticoat.
You see our fates are linked together,
and as only one of us wears n petticoat,
the one garment must serve for us both;
and I'll tell you what, Maggie"-for she
was fast vanishing again, and he hated
to see her go" I'll tell you what, when
Martin comes back, and wins for me
this money, good round sum of it
shall 20 for wedding outfit for you"
IF he only comes back" said Mag
gle, and went out of the door, leaving
the ribbon still in the hand OF MIR. Nc
Graw-a meditative, softened, alto
gether changed expression upon his
face.
"A most remarkable coincidencem he
repeated to himself. This accounts
for the interest I've taken in that girl
from the start. A queer freak of destiny
has thrown us together, and here we
are both hanging upon the fate of this
sailor. don't suppose he's worthy of
her. No doubt he's rough, common.
abusive brute; but he's young"-here
MIR. McGraw gave vent to a grunt that
was meant for sigh-"and. / suppose,
after his low fashion, good looking"
Here Mr.. McGraw kicked over the
ottoman that obstructed his way, put
the blue ribbon in his vest poe ket, drew
a chair to the window, filled his pipe,
and looking out upon triangular bit
of the western sky fell into profound
reverie.
The next morning Maggie was at her
old post at the attic window. Mr..
McGraw was also rafting at his blinds;
hut he looked fully as often up at Mag
gle as he did down the street for the
postman. and was quite jocular and
smiling for a man of his nervous tenn
permanent.
:" Any more signs, MaggieP" he said,
almost dislocating his neck to get n good
look at her pretty face.
Maggie shook her head, and smiled
mournfully.
Il dreamed of white horses, sir, and
mother says it's bad sign"
Your mother Is always a f." Here
the postman stopped at the door, and
nobody will ever know whether Mr..
McGraw meant to cal his landlady a
fine woman or fool. for all further
conversation was stopped by the coming
of the long-looked-ior 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 rs she put the letter in Mr..
McGraw's hand.
i" I'm afraid to open mIne," she SAID;
its in n strange handwriting" Mr.
McGraw watched her disappear, then
tore open his own envelope without a
tremor. At the first sentence, however,
MIR. McGraw started, and put his spec
tacles firmer upon his nose, and by the
time he had read the missive half
through, his face had become the in
dex of many conflicting emotions. All
at once there was heavy thump upon
the floor of the room above.
My God!" said Mr.. HcGraw, "she's
got the news already. And rushing out
OF the room and up the stairs as fast as
his rather gouty legs could carry him,
he saw the poor girl stretched lifeless
upon the floor, the fatal letter crumpled
in her hand. Then he pounded in right
good earnest; and being n man OF
action. had proper restoratives used, a
doctor brought, and alter time poor
Maggie wearily opened her eyes. The
moment she saw Mr.. McGraw she
screamed and tainted again.
80 I'm bitter reminder of her loss,
said Mr.. McGraw. The doctor and
Maggie's mother looked at him inquir-
ingly, 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.
Wh"re is hep" 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 lhev had lifted her