Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-06-25

Into his mead. lnOSo ldntdStic sHduo"y
bushes outlined against the dark pur-
pie sky exercised strange fascination
over his not very vivid imagination.
He spent much of his vigil by the sleep
ing child looking out at them: and at last
be noticed with some surprise Ter the
night was a dead calm) that the tops OF
the bushes were moving. They moved
once or twice. then weresstill, then stirred
again gently: Jacob stared out at them
intently. Was the wind rising? Yes;
the wind must be rising, for there
could not be doubt that the bushes
were swaying to and fro in the gloom.
All at eRce Jacob heard the swapping
of a branch at its joint-there was no
deceiving his ears as to this sound; then
the bush that was nearest to the win
dow seemed to grow smaller, its branch
es were really being pushed aside;
then slight girlish figure came forth
and stood before the window. 1t was
Maggie-it was Maggie GENE home In
the darkness and through the trees so
that no eye could see her. She came
close to the window, put her hand to
her eyes, and peered In. Apparently
she could see no one. "Mother," she
whispered, her lips almost touching the
pane, her left hand supporting her on
the window sill. Jacob did not stir.
He sat with his hand to his side; there
was fear upon him that his heart, after
that first wild convuIsion, had ceased
to beat. Mother; are you 10, mother?"
Maggie said. And Jacob marveled at
the firmness and composure OF her
voice.
He rose then and llmped to the win
dow. 1t occurred to him that some
thing supernatural was happening.
Like most men brought up with their
faces to the earth, be was somewhat
superstitious. He did not at once speak.
When Maggie saw him she drew back
little from the window, and stood per-
fecty still looking at him. She could
see his face better than he could see
hers. and 1t frightened her--She had
never supposed that his eyes could
look like that.
Maggie turned aside, as though about
to 30 away; and then Jacob raised his
hands as a signal to her to stay, and
called out ,.Maggie!" in voice which
he meant to put ring OF welcome,
though 1t was so low that the girl did
tot know that he had spoken to her.
She appeared undecided, and Jacob
called her by name again, this time so
that she could hear. She stood facing
him once more: Eyes, Jacob, its me,
she said. "Is mother at homer"
He went out into the pitch-dark pas
sage and opened the door for her. 1t
was her own home, but it seemed to
Jacob as though he were entertaining
her. She stepped with strange rapid
ity into the passage, as though to es-
cape from some one. Yet once
she had got into the house, and after
Jacob had shut the door, she remained
in the passage-stood there in the
darkness absolutely motionless, so far
as Jacob could tell, for he could not see
her In the least, and saying not word.
1t was like the conduct Of girl who
had lost her way and was trying to re-
member where she was, where she had
come from. Her child was not in her
arms.
Maggie" Jacob said, you've come
home, Maggie"
one SlRntu bWiCO
Eyes, Jacob" she replied, but she did
not even then go down the passage. "ls
mother In, jacob" she added, after
moments silence; and Jacob knew from
the sound Of her voice that her face was
urned from him.
mo, Maggie, she's gone west to
your sisters. I'm lookln' after the
your mother asked me to stay
In the house till she came back"
The girl sighed again-the deepest,
strangest. most piteous sigh Jacob had
ever heard from a huhan breast. Be-
fore either had spoken again, yet an
other sigh had broken from her; and
then he knew that she was moving
along the passage: and then he heard
her signing again.
maggie! Maggie" Jacob cried;
"your hearts breakin', Magsiep