The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-29

The one I'm looking for letter
from, sir. The vessel was due month
ago. and here her voice broke, and the
brown ewes filed with tears.
"A sailor with the name of Martini"
said Mr.. McGraw, with increased inter-
est. whats his last name, Maggie?"
"Malloy, sir. Martin Malloy."
"God bless my soulr' said Mr.. Nc
Graw; this is a remarkable coincidence!
Why, Maggie, this is the very man I'm
waiting to hear from. A heavy sum of
my money depends upon this friend of
yours. | suppose he is more than
friend, Maggie?"
"We're promised to be married, sir,
after this voyage. He had a chance of
rising to second mate; and oh, I'm so
sorry we waitedr'
4" So am t. said Mr.. McGraw. IF
he'd stopped long enough to be mar
ried, we might have got hold of him for
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 petit
coat. You see our fates are linked to-
gether, and as only one of us wears a
petticoat, the one garment must serve
for us both; and I'll tell you what, Mag
gie''-for she was fast vanishing again,
and he hated to see her go-''TlI tell
you what; when Martin comes back,
and wins for me this money, a good
round sum of it shall 90 for a wedding
outfit for you"
''If he only comes back" said Mag
gle, and went out the door, leaving the
ribbon still in the hand of Mr.. McGraw
"a meditatIve, softened, altogether
changed expression upon his face
"a most remarkable cOincidencem
he repeated to himself. This &C
counts 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 Mr.. McGraw gave vent to
grunt that was meant for a sigh-''and,
[ suppose, after his low fashion, good
looking" Here Mr.. McGraw kicked
over the ottoman that INSTRUCTED his
way, put the blue ribbon in his vest
pocket, drew a chair to the window,
filled his pipe and looking out upon
triangular bit of the western sky, fell
into a profound reverie.
The next morning Maggie was at her
old post at the attic window. Mr..
McGraw was also rafting at his blinds;
but he looked fully as often up at Mag
-, 10 l,l IArrr,, Tho - fnr. tho
postman and was quite jocular and
smiling for a man of his nervous tenn
permanent.
Amy more signs, Maggie?n he said,
almost dislocating his neck to get
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 f" Here
the postman stopped at the door and
nobody will ever know whether Mr..
McGraw meant to call his landlady a
a fine woman or fool, for all further
conversation was stopped by the COM
ing of the long-looked-forl 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 as she put the letter in Mr..
McGraw's hand.
I'm afraid to open mine," she said;
"it's in strange handwriting" Mr..
McGraw watched her disappear, then
tore open his own envelope without
tremOr. At the first sentence, however,
Mr.. 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 index
of many conflicting emotions. All at
once there was a heavy thump upon the
floor of the room above.
MY Godr said MIR. McGraw, "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 man of ac-
ton had proper restoratiyes used, a
doctor brought, and after a 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
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.
"Where is he?" 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 they had lifted her.
She put her arms about his neck and
sobbed there like a little child. Mr..
McGraw had lived lonely bachelors
life: his kith and kin were far away.
This was a new experience for him
new and strangely sweet. For years
and years the fragrant breath of
woman had not touched his lips. His
eyes were wet and blurred; a queer
choking sensation arose in his throat;
his voice was husky as he blurted out
some consoling words.
A" He can never come back to speak
for you," said poor Maggie. " You
have lost all your money. I'm very
sorry for you, Mr.. McGraw."
She meant she was sorry for herself,
but the poor child craved companion
ship in her grief.
Heaven knows she got it from Mr..
McGraw. From this time out he be-
came devoted to the duty of assuaging
the grief of the bereaved girl. He filled