The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1895-08-21
MAGGIE'S Ell OPRMENT.

aSher husband, and she folded her arms
across her breast and looked at him re-
proachful1y.
Mr.. Wigfall was a successful farmer.
The school of experience, he said had
cost him good deal, but he had gone
x through it and been profited in the
end. He always claimed to have
ideas" of his own, which, somehow,
he invariably contrived to carry out
e i'll q way to suit himself This was the
tirst time during twenty years Of mar
ried life that his confding spouse had
ever questioned his methods, and it
surprised him SO very much that he
could only look at her in dumb aston
astonishment
Now, tell me what in the name OF
tely against Ted Minter9' she asked,
with asperity in her voice. II ALWAYS
thought you had a very high opinion
of him before, ever since he was
boy
'SHe hasn't any spunls, and, what is
worse, he isn't likely to have any as
"A fall. e.
"Pshaw, jim You know better than
that. Ted has got grit and you know
it." cried Mrs. Wigfall Thon she adj
ded, as clincher: "Hc always man
ages to come around and see Maggie
when he wants to, in spite of your
threat to shoot him on sight"
Maybe he does manage to come.
But he doesn't want to see her very
bad except when have my back turn
ed, or am away from home"
but he always comes in ut the
front door" insisted Mrs. Wigfall.
Z And always goes out of it, too in
Q hurry, when | show myself. It is
lucky for him that the cap snapped
on my gun when 1 shot at him to-
night"
The gun was empty, Jim," laughed
Mrs. Wigfall.
How do you know"
1--WE examined it this evening before
you came home"
"I'll lock that gun up after this. so
you women folks can'tmeddle with it.
And next time 1 snap a cap at Ted
sMSlnter somebody is going to get
!, sun III sss,assaia Mrs. Wigfall, in
NOV, then W. NJ 4 mako i fool
persuasive tones, aTa. the fleaeHnfSsllu.u;pl flaHfslu up
against You before, before, bsa But litogs IT !s rs
thing my whole heart is interested,
and will see that Maggie and Ted
get one another if they feel that way
"And 7 have made up my mind
that they shall be kept apart, sa id Mr..
Wigfall.
well, then it is Ted, Maggie and
myself that you will have TO light and |
we will see who wins in the end. !"
"l've got an idea and I'll bet on
that" muttered Mr.. Wigfall
s a. couple of days lE.ser Mrs. Wigfall
and her daughter Maggie were sitting
on the poaoh in the warm spring sun
shine, the former shelling tho seasons
first mess of new peas, and the latter
busily engaged with her crochet need
le.
Tied sent me note this morning
by Cousin Tom, saying he was coming
here this evening, said Maggie. Nov
mamma. can't you manage to keep
papa off the porch tonight, SO ho and
Ted won't get into any trouble2"
II don't know Maggie, but can
try" replied Mrs. Wigfall. II wish
you and Fed would hurry up and
come to an understanding before
your father becomes plumb cantank,
erous and does something desperate"
mothers eyes as she stopped her work
q moment and looltedup at her rdaugh-
ter.
Ted wants me to run away with him
and marry him. He just begged mo
and begged mo the other evening
when he was here.
1T is a bad business at best, this
running away" half unused Mrs.
3WigfalI. There is no telling what
father would do then. You can't count
on him from one moment to the
next. !"
"Ted said he wasn't afraid"
"No; he would risk almost any
thing, / suppose, to get you"
IF he asks me again tonight, mann
ma what shall tell him2'
II really don't know, daughter
Then, looking up, smiling, she asked
"What would you like tell him?"
Maggie blushed prettily. She sprang
up from her chair, ran to where her
mother was sitting, and put both arms
around her neck.
IT would like to say yes, she whis-
pered shyly. II never would ac-
knowledge to Ted how much thought
of him, but to you, mother dear,
Z. can own up that I would do almost
anything in the world to make him
happy. | would 60 anywhere with
him.
There was happy CLEAN in the
mothers eyes as she looked at her
daughters pretty face ) .I.
II know how it feels, my dear" she
said. ut comes to all Of us, that feel
ing, sooner or later, and then it either
makes or mars our lives"
L. -. Ill n. =.
asks me again tonight7" Maggie whis-
pered.
"Tell him what your heart bids you
say"
''Then it will be yes"
After awhile mother and daughter
left the porch and went into the house.
4 AS they did SO Mr.. Wigfall stepped
a out upon the porch, through an open
window, and an amused smile played
around his lips.
ut works like charm, he] mur-
mured, as he went down the front
steps and wonded his way toward the
barn.
After supper that evening, when
Mrs. Wigfall was trying to think Of
some scheme to keep hep husband in
side the house he approached her.
to the lodge tonight, he said. II
sae}l nleht. probably be away till mid
Mrs. wigfall tried to look disap-
pointed.