Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-25

leer of his for the last fortnight. It's
mercy 1 haven t stabbed HIM through the
canvas. And, ay,"he added, for the girl
was fast vanishing out of sight, and she
was wondrous pleasant article to look
upon in this gloomy old barrack-"say,
said Mr. McGraw. He was still twirling
the bit of blue ribbon in his fingers, and
now held it out to the young girl 1T
fell in the window to-day as we were both
looking for that COMPOUNDED postman. |
hope we'll have better luck tomorrow,
Maggie
"t thought sure we would to-day, sir, .
said Maggie, blushing and signing. 81
had a good sign this morning"
"What was that, Maggie said Mr..
McGraw, still holding his end of the blue
ribbon,
"Why, see, sir, said she, and pointed
to the skirt of her dress. ~ put it on
wrong side out this morning, and never
changed it, for Martin used to say it was
sure sign of good luck
land who is Martini" said MI. McGraw.
cit so hapaens that am interested in that
name.
"The one I'm looking for a letter from,
sir. The vessel was due month ago:
and here her voice broke, and her brown
eyes filed with tears.
ga sailor with the name of Maftin?'
said Mr.. McGraw, with increased interest.
''What's his last name, Maggie@'
"Malloy, sir-Martin Malloy.''
''God bless my soul!'' said Mr..
McGraw; ''tbis is remarkable comet
dencel Why, Maggie, this is the very man
I'm waiting to hear from. A heavy sum
of money depends upon this friend of
yours. I suppose he is more than a
friend, Maggie9''
"We're promised to be married. sir, af-
ter this voyage. He had chance of rs
ing to second mate; and oh, I'm so sorry
we waitedr'
$50 am I, said Mr.. McGraw. If he'd
stopped long enough to be married, we
might get hold of him as a witness, and
that would have been the making of many
thousand pounds for me; but never
mind, Maggie; let's depend upon the
augury of the petticoat. You see our fates
are linked together, and as only one of
us wears petticoot, the one garment
must serve for us both; and I'll tell you
what Maggie she was fast vanish
ing again, and he hated to see her go-I
Will tell you what; when Martin comes
back, and wins for me that money good
round sum of it shall go for wedding
outfit for YOU"
eff he only comes backp' said Maggie,
and went out the door, leaving the rib
bon still in the hand of Mr.. McGraw-a
meditative, softened, altogether changed
the expression on his face.
ga most remarkable coincidencer' 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 both together, and here we
are both hanging upon the fate of this
sailor. l don't suppose he's worthy of
her. No doubt he's rough, common
abusive brute, but he's young''-here
Mr.. McGraw gave vent to grunt that
was meant fora sigh-sand, after his
low fashion, goodlook1ng.'' Here Mr..
McGraw knocked over the ottoman that
DISTRACTED his way, put tie plue ribbon
IN his vest pocket, drew chair to the
window, filed 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. MI. McGraw
was also rafting at his blinds; but he
looked fully as often up at Maggie as he
did on the street for the postman, and
was quite jocular and smiling for man
of his nervous temperament.
''Any more signs, Maggie2'' almost
dislocating his neck to get good look
at her pretty face.
Maggie shook her head, and smiled
mourntully.
81 dreamed of white horses, sir, and mo-
ther says it's bad sign
"Your mother is always f. Here
the postman stopped at the door, and no.
body will ever know whether MI. Nc raw
meant to call his landiady a fine woman
or fool, for all further conversation was
stopped by the coming Of the long-looked-
for letters. There was one tor Maggie,
and one for MI. McGraw. Maggie had
run down to the door, taken both letters,
and fled up stairs again. Her hand was
trem bling and cold as she put the letter
in Mr.. McGraw's hand.
"I'm afraid to open mine,' she said
''it's IN a strange handwriting MI
McGraw watched her disappear, then
tore open his own envelope without a
tremor. At the first sentence, however,
Mr.. McGraw started, and put his spec
tacles frmer upon his nose, and by the
time he had read the missive half through
his face had become the index eff many
conflicting emotions. All at once there
was heavy thump upon the floor of the
room above,
"My Godr' said Mr.. McGraw, s'she's
got the news already. And rushing out
of the room and up the stairs as fast as
his rather equity 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 a man OF action, had
proper restoratives used, doctor brought,
and after time poor Maggie YEARLY
opened her eyes. The moment she saw
Mr.. McGraw she screamed and tainted
again.
"I'm bitter reminder of her loss,'
said Mr.. McGraw. The doctor and Mag
gie's mother looked at him 1nqulringly,
wondering how Mr.. McGraw could re-
mind Maggie of the drowning OF her low
or Rl1t Mr. McGraw did NOT eynIair i.