Woodstown register. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 187?-1892, 1882-12-12
Maggie's Second String.

:
the same as engaged'-to Dick Hopper,
she could not keep from flirting with any.i |
one who showed the least desire to flrt
with her. And Dick Hopper did not like
it, SO they quarreled and parted, and made
ii up again-not once, but a hundred
times But think if Dick had known
all. the making-up would have been
slower. liza a II
The flirting with the young men he |
knew was bad enough, but there was
something worse. Wheaever Maggie
took the baby-'Squire Ridgeway's little
grand daughter, and the pride of the fam.
ily-up to the park to walk, she was sure
to go into the pretty summer-house that
overlooked the lake, and there, after sl
while; to be joined by young man-such |
an elegant gentleman, Maggie thoughtG
who paid her such compliments. nol
Nobody knew about this but cook, wherl
declared that Maggie ought to be ashamed
Of herself, and that Dick was worth twenty,
of that fellow.
But Edgar Montmorency was 50 elegant,
SO charming es - 1'4-' -S
Sand it's well to keep two strings TO
your. bow, cook" said Maggie. 'Dick is
so cross with ms sometimes"
!, Squire Ridgeway and his family were
gone up to towns and cook and Maggie
kept house. Generally only one left the
house at time, but this was a special
day. Maggie and cook were both going
out, and Maggie was to take the key in
her pocket and be home first. All was
settled. She had made up her mind to
see the military parade in the morning and
firing Of guns and fireworks in the even
ing, and was quite short with Dick when
he came in the evening before, and said,
in hestating sort Of way, g Maggie,
mother wants you to take tea and spend
the evening with her. Will you ~, 4
| 81 want TO see the soldiers" said Mag
gle. e IN
every well. Maggie" said Dick. "I'd
take you, if could, but something Will
keep me from going with you tomorrow
evening. Mother would like to have
YOU" 5t@ , l3 sI5
81 sha'n't shut myself up indoors TO-
morrow" said Maggie. -
Inwardly she added that she would not
GO to Dicks mothers and drink her W ishy.
washy tea, and hear her old stories, when
she could walk out with Edgar Montmor.
ency, have ice-drinks, see the fireworks,
and be envied by every girl she met.
cook went out early in the morning, 50
| did Maggie, but at FIVE she returned, made
herself trim and neat and went out again.
At the corner she met Edgar Montmor-
ercy, and he offered his arm and took her
to great platform.
"pve got seats engaged here" said Ed
gar, and Maggie, proud of her fine gen.
tleman, who could get seats on platform
amongst equality" mounted the steps and
took her place. e
"I'll stand behind you," said Edgar,
"and give me that great heavy key, for it's
what no lady should have to bother with
it's too big. Beside, your pocket is not
safe in crowd" ~
| Maggie took the key from her pocket,
and her beau leaned over her, talking to
her, and the display Of fireworks began
and after while Edgar Montmorency
whispered, "I'm going to get you some
refreshment," made use of his long legs to
Chamber over the seats, and was gone. y
/ Maggie sat still gazing at the fireworks,
| and uttering "Ohs - and "Ahs p of de.
light, and time passed So quickly that she
did not know how long she had been de-
| serted, when suddenly the last CLEAN OF
| color dropped down from the sky In a
train of sparks, and people began to de-
part. .YlGnCll -aa@e
| Where was Mr.. Montmorency s Mag
gle looked about her. There was no sign
of him. The crowd was dispensing the
windows were growing dark !; the tipsy
men seemed to monopolizs the pavement;
but he did not come and she must wait
| for him, for he had the key in his pocket.
| Maggie waited, and policeman called
to her, asking if she meant to stay there all
| night.
"Its IL o'clock" he said, "and decent
young girls ought to be at home"
| I'm waiting for my friend. ? said Mag
gle. ai
"Well, he seems to have forgot about
you," said the policeman, and Maggie de-
scended from the platform. bathsd in tears
and with dreadful presentment of evil in
her heart, hurried away homeward, and
just as she turned the corner, two homes,
fat, motherly figures waddled around 1t,
. and came towards her--csok and Dicks
mother.
"You've brought it on YOURSELF" said
f, cook, "but Pm sorry. If you want to see
what has happened at home you had bet
ter come" -}5t11aS2T> Es. 4
II "Dick sent us to see you took no HARM p
said the mother. "Ah, you'd better have
took tea with me-"
:. "What is the matter" asked Maggie.
"You'll see soon enough" said cook. 4
And Maggie, dreading she hardly knew
what, hurried along the street between the
: two old women. The fireworks had left
e only disagreeable odor of gunpowdel
behind them. Here and tb Z tipsy mar
lay on the steps of public house, other.
: staggered down the deserted streets howl
Z ing the dismal songs of intoxication.
AT last they reached Squire Ridgway's
house, and saw, to Maggie's establishment
q that it was brightly lighted, and that !
+ crowd had gathered about the doors.
IS "Now,"' said cook" snow Maggie, yol
will see your elegant gentleman" Ant
there, in group of stalwart policemen
: There, indeed, was Edgar Montmorency
70 and there were two other men, and al
= three were handcuffed all threr utterinl
furious imprecations. Qi ea
70 Maggie screamed aloud. and suddenl
= the truth dawned upon her.