Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-11-19
an ecstasy of rapture too deep for

touched lightly the shining folds,
drew them softly through her fingers,
and laid them against her cheek with
had been some animate creature.
1t was indeed lovely piece OF
goods; soft, Iustrous background OF
bright, delicate blue, over which was
carelessly strewn half opened moss
roses and buds, the deep pink Of the
flowers and soft shaded gieen Of the
leaves forming lovely contrast to the
lustrous blue of the groundwork.
Older eyes than Maggie's, and those
more accustomed to luxuries, might
have dilated in delight at sight of sc
beautiful a gift.
"And is it mine-fer .rue?" she
said. at last, as if such good great for
tune could not possibly be hers.
Yes, all your own, to do just as
you choose with"
"Oh. OH" was all the delighted
child could say, but there was such a
world of love and gratitude in the
depths Of the soft, dark eyes, that DR.
Jay turned away with suspiclously J
wet eye lashes.
"You have made heaven for little
Maggie the head nurse said, upon
his next call. 81 never saw such plea
sure as the child takes with that bit
OF ribbon. She has certainly made a
hundred different combinations OF
bnws and dolls and all sorts Of fancy
ti1lngs out Of it. She is queen a
fairy princess, and everything else by
turns. Once | offered to cut it for
her, that she might make bows more
conveniently. You should have seen
her. She hugged it up to her, and
looked at ME with such frightened,
pleading eyes, one would certainly
have thought it was some living crea
ture | was going to harm. There,
just look st her. Isn't she picture:
She certainly was a most lovely pic
ture. as the doctor came up to the lit
tie bed The dark eyes were bright
with happiness, and the pale cheeks
flushed a delicate pink, rivalling the
roses on her beautiful gift. Pain and
sorrow were all forgotten in the de-
light of her new possession.
She had evidently exercised all her
taste and skill in arranging her be-
loved ribbon to the best advantage,
in anticipation Of the doctors visit.
1t was looped and bowed and festoon-
cd in a most graceful manner, about
her head and form. for, all unknown
to herself, Maggie had inherited all
the taste and skill of the loving. gen.
tie little French mother who, deserted
nv one v vho should have been her pro
tector. had died broken heas;sd ~ the
birth Of her child.
"lf she could but see how pretty
she looks :" the nurse said, softly
The next dav when, from the capa
cious pockets of his overcoat, DR.. Jay
brought forth a small hand mirror,
and held it before the eyes Of the de-
lighted child, her cup of happiness
was overflowing.
Every night the beloved gift wa
carefully smoo,h.d and folded in tis.
sue paper With one bunch Of roses
turned on the outside of the package
and with tender pressure of il agains,
her cheek, and loving good night
Kiss. Maggie would fall asleep. her
hand resting lovingly upon its soft
lustrous folds. At her first waking
moments it was unrolled. and the de-
light Of manifold manipulations re-
commended, with ever fresh delight.
But there came day when even the
possession Of her her hearts treasure
could not overcome the terrible p,lr
which racked her slight frame
For days she had been growing
worse, and the physicians saw no hope
save in an observation-disclosures and
dangerous. oas which if unsuccessful
must result fatally.
They had postponed it from week
to week, hoping for favorable results
without it. But one morning DR.. Jay
found Maggie lying so white and ex
hausted from pain and slreplessness
he saw clearly that there was no alter
native.
She seemed unconscious of his pre-
sence, even when he pressed the thin
white hand as he felt her pulse. Tn.
palli1. pain marked face. the limp
wasted little form. appealed most pa
thetically to his kind heart, and bend
ing over he pressed kiss Of fatherl,
tenderness on the white forehead
Her large dark eyes suddenly unclosed
the warm blood flushed the pal,
cheeks, and smile Of tender. loving
delight flashed over her face.
rs the pain 80 hard to bear. dear
child ~ he asked, pathetically.
All, how little Dr.. Jay susp ct.d, as
the dark eyes followed his with such
worshipful tenderness, that his kis,
was the first caress the poor child had
ever known! Kicks and cuffs and
drunken oaths had been often shower
ed upon her, but fathers kiss, s
mothers tender caresses. poor Maggie
worse than orphaned-had never
known.
"Fhere must be an operation with
out delav, was Dr. Jaws decision, af
terra brief consultation with the houS.
physician. TO morrow at eleven a
the ve'y lates.. She cannot live over
forty eight hours in her present con.
dition.'
Then to the head nurse whom he
had summoned. "You will please tel
her, Mrs. Hatch, sufficient to have hel
understand the necessity of the op"ra
ton. She seems unusually intelligent
and it will save her fright and ner
vousness, and she needs everything
possible in her favor. Do not tell he1
until an hour before the operation
let her sleep tonight if she can under
> the opiate, without knowing it,"
So at ten o'clock next morning tn
nurse, in the most tender manner DOS