The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-30

you," she added, hastily, and all her smiles
vanished, her chin sinking to her breast.
''HoW's mother?" asked the Devil, VINO
seemed to have a cold.
'fNicey, thank you She's in the tailor
trade today
THE tailor trade, is she? Then shirts
didn't pay?"
mot we'll trousers. It's the button
holes you see.
She was profound in her practical wisdom.
The Devil rose to go.
He must get back to the Office. He should
see her again. But she was going into
hospital she told him, to have an operation
on her leg. He wished her we'll then; he
hoped it might prove successful. He begged
her on departing, with humorous twinkle in
his eye, not to sheer at his foot when they
had made her whole again.
| He left her hurt and troubled, poor sensi
tive little soul! Then he forgot the Child for
Weeks-thingS were stirring IN the city
One evening, going homeward. he pass
ing the green when a woman ran to-
ward him with letter in her hand.
THE choild was dead he'd used to talk
wild in the park, had died at peace that
morning, talkin, affable wild de saints"
He was genuinely shocked. Then she gave
| him crumpled letter
Her own name was Riley; she lived on the
floor above. He recognized her the woman
whose husband div' too.
! He put some leading questions about the
mother of the Child he was wildly, in bad
circumstances, but lady, sure far all
cent buryin',' she said
Now the Devils thumb and finger, which
had strayed tc his waistcoat pocket, stayed
toying very lovingly with the golden coins
within.
A moment later lie nurryng down the
street, pursued by shrill- toned blessings and
loud calling on the saints.
When he reached home he opened the
Chlld's letter. 1t began, Dear Devil in a
round, uncertain hand. cit is cumming of
tomorrow. (The crooked one 1 mean). But
am not prowd, dear Devil. I wish it was
yure foot" 1t was signed You're loving
tickle friend you speak to on the CREAM
There was 'P. S.
Mothers ankshus. She says you will not
mind
| There was another
Mothers very sadly. Trousers are wurse
than shurts.'
AS he turned the letter there was a note
in the nurses hand.
"The Child-who is fast failing-begs me
to write these words She is sorry to go
without you, but will be waiting near the
deer. %
A week after the funeral the Devil paid
call. 1t was a. visit of coincidence. The
Child's mother had been i'll.
He found the docr ajar. 1t creaked on it's
hinges as he entered. The sound brought the
woman by the fire to ner feet. She came
toward him. -.
81 think, SIR she said, hurriedly, and Z
smoothing her ,roughened hair, you must be
the gentleman who's been kind to
and
"Maggie!" cried the man. and took step
toward her; and then they stood still and
stared in each others eyes.
She was weak and underfed, worn with
grief and worry. She dropped into a chair
presently, and began to cry behind her
hands. That distressed him. Hard, worldly
selfish, as folks called him. he set his teeth
and began walking up and down.
He recalled the Child's disclosures inno-
cent hints dropped in chatter by the way.
Father dead-she thought that she was
glad. He wasn't fond of children, and used
20 knock her mother down.
Why, he had shrugged careless shoulders
at the commonplace skeleton laid bare But
now?
He turned hot eyes and looked at her.
Maggie! His Maggie, as he had been used
to call her; the pretty, gentle creature who
had flushed under hi; first kiss! Something
in his throat swelled big and seemed to choke
him.
''Maggie!" going near and laying a hand
upon her arm.
She conquered her tears, and began some
untrcken thanks. Then he brought chair
ano placed it at her side.
Its years since we met said the man.
breaking the silence.
Eleven" said the woman, who struggled
to seem calm. Its long time,' she added,
and time brings many changes"
Does it? 1 don't see them To me you're
just the same"
He was studying her attentively. She bent
to stir the fire.
Maggie, you treated me very badly eleven
years ago."
L was eleven years younger, John" she
urged as lightly as she could
{ Eleven years younger; yes slip of sew
enteen his eyes left her face and wandered
to the fre-"and things have not gone well
with you? LIES been harder than you
thought"
Jim wasn't lucky'-evasively-" he al
ways did his BEST