Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-05-05
MAGGIE.

tensions to any other beauty than that
which abides forever with kind heart
and gentle thoughts, and her mind and
heart were one. Like brooding hen, with
her world beneath her wing, she would
have been content to live for those children
of her dreams that were never to he born.
Still young girl, she hoped fora life, wait
ing in patient apprenticeship till freedom
and sweet bondage should come mt once,
till she could understand love and live so
that she should die in the attained peace
that rises from natural fulfillment.
And in the long twilight of morning ex-
pectancy Maggie Wyatt tended another
woman's children on the banks of the Aus
tralian Murray, just where it ceases to foam
and fret, where it promises to widen and
grow deep so that it may bear burdens,
even as those do who drink it's waters until
another cup is offered them.
She loved the children and was patient
with them. 1t pleased her to learn theft
ways. Their mother trusted her, for she
looked calm and sweet. To one who might
have known her she would have been sweet
er, as sweet even as the golden waffle that
crowned the spring. But among the men
there none knew her worth. They were
busy with other things Nor indeed had
she seen among them even the semblance
of her dream. Yet the shadow of it came
at last and worked with the others of her
long year among the hills
He was a tall young fellow of 10, not
handsome nor ugly, but quick and strong
to learn what work came to him As yet,
for all his youthful fancies of great pre-
cocious knowledge, he had not even the
capability of learning the hearts of women.
That was perhaps to come, but he loved the
horses and the lonely mountains, and the
aspect of the quiet streams, and the colors of
bright birds. But soon the others saw and
smiled.
Maggie is very fond of Jack Seaton,"
they said.
But it never occurred to Jack for one mo-
ment. He was so busy in his new country.
They lived under the same roof, for he
was learning the ways of the sheep that
browsed upon the hills above them. So he
often heard her voice "a she spoke to the
children. But he never knew how beauti-
full a voice it was. And sometimes when
she spoke to him or answered he saw her
eyes But he never saw their beauty,
though the beautythat grew into them was
for him alone. No others ever said they
were lovely. If he had looked upon them
in some far year when he had learned good
and evil and was very tired he might have
known But now he was but an ignorant
child
One day, it was Sunday and summer, he
asked her if she would walk with him to
the shed where they shearcd the sheep 1t
lay through two gates and WAS half a mile
away. She walked exalted, but with down
cast eyes, trying to believe she was with
her lover, not being satisfied to know she
was with love Jack talke of horses, and
the past shearing, and the tricks of sheep,
and the sea, and of England, She knew he
was only boy, and though she was full
year younger she felt so strangely old Fo
the woman who loves is us old as the rae
she has borne the worlds children. b..
Jack was very young still.
They went through the woodshed and in
the big door. They sat down in the heavy
shadow that was shot with blazing sun
rays that pierced the worn and broken roof
Outside the light beat upon brown grass
and the barren sheep yard. Stray locks of
wool grew odorous in the heat. Just where
they sat was the mark of II snake that had
crawle.l by week ago, for the dust lay
heavy there. Then puff of waffle scent
about them. The cooler hills had breathed
upon the plain.
"How beautiful the waffle smellsw said
Maggie.
Il smell the sheep yolk, answered Jack,
with II SMILE And he talked Of lis dog.
AS they went back she broke tiny
branch of waffle and gave it to him. He
smelled it and dropped it us he opened the
garden gate for Der. Then he went to his
room and wrote letters home. She sat by
the river all the afternoon with the chill
R,1t hon ha r;x
Would her life stream ever broaden?
Perhaps" she said and smiled.
But the summer passed and the winter,
and Maggie went back to town to live with
her sister. 1t struck her to the very heart
to see how little Jack was troubled. 1t
pleased her so that her heart stopped beat
ing when he said he might soon see her in
! town.
Il will write and tell you where live"
said Maggie.
She wrote him letter She wrote him
many, but only one was sent, and that was
not answered for Il long time When Jack s
answer did come, he had seen as little in
the timid written word as he had seen in
| her timid eyes For six months he had
| heard no more, but then he went down To
the town-that was only 40 miles away
One afternoon as he sat under the veranda
of his hotel he saw "A young woman pass
who was dressed in mourning She looked
at him absently as she went by, and il
seemed to him that he vaguely remembered
her face. He asked the townsman who sat
near him.
It's Miss Wyatt" he was told.
Next day he met the same girl in the
street and stopped. Raising his hat, he said
II think you are Miss Wyatty Night
ask how your sister isl knew her at tn
NUT"
She threw one quick glance at him, and
then tears filled her eyes.
you are Mr.. Seaton?' she said And il
was Maggie's very voice.
Yes" answered Jack.
Maggie is dead" said the girl, and ther
she wept bitterly. walk with me "A lttl,
way, Mr.. Seat0n."
And without saying anything at all Jach
went with her. They came ut last to a lit
tie house set back behind rose garden
Il cannot ask you in, but wait. Maggie
left a letter for me to give you"
And Jack leaned against the fence anC
waited. Magge's sister returned in min
ute, and as she came down the path he saw
! Ia. - . l...