The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-01-09

ye question"
'"ro be sure, Maggie"
"It's nine months now since KEN
here, an ut tho end av six or nine /
was promised some money"
"Quitc right, an haven't ye got itT'
"Not n pinny," she said.
"Ye say thntT He stopped short for
q moment then walked Oh slowly with
bent brows.
II spoke to uncle, an he put me afr
ag'in. I thought maybe ye'd see me
through wild It, Mr.. Riordan. Av
coorso If I'm worth no pay I'll lave an
welcome"
'"The ovid blngyard," Riordan NUT
tered under his breath.
"Ye sec" she went on, 81 want to
take look ut me own people, an till
Tvo money Pm tied here like dog to
Il gate"
"Mnggic, yen have livery penny ye
were promised for the last three
nonths tolnorrcr On me soul,
thought ycd had It,"
Maggie did not grasp the full mean
Ing of this; she only thought there had
been some mistake. "Ah, thank yc.
Mr.. Riordnn." she said, flushing with
pleasure.
AYE, an If I'vc my way yc shall
have mOrc-nll I've got. bcdnd, an yc
can live away from the ovid man."
| Gam | worth mOrc!' she asked.
"Yc'rc worth nll man can give yc
| Maggie. Sure, IF yen have me yen
never 80 near the shop ng'in. Pm yer
| own for the tukin, child, an that's
| Gods thruth!'
The meaning Of It rushed Ipon her
Hike II black mist. Her hcn;t slckcncd.
! Zach, not that" she cried. ''rhcrc's
| Il boy mt homo who's wultin' av me-
| an It's him Pm wraryin' to scc"'
| Riordnn took the blow like Il man.
| After moments; silence he lifted his
head and laid Il hand on her shoulder.
"If that so." he said, I'm done, hn
not another word'n say"
! Maggie smiled at him through tears
"Yc'rc a good man." she said, "an
God bless yc"
That night Hiordan returned with
her to the shop, where Power was ut
! his usual work with the books. Mag
| r." lent TO bed and slept more hap.
| pity ihnn she had done since tho
| world had changed for her. But all
| night In the little counting house
| Frank Power stood ut bay, until at
last, stripped bare Of lying and suhtcr-
fugr, his partner saw him for what he
| VnS-n Swindrv and thief. But Rior-
dan In his anger let slip word Of his
love for Maggie.
After breakfast just before the days
business commenced, Riordan called
her aside and slipped packet into her
hand.
"rhnt's the money!" he said "Yc
may 20 whin yc like"
, AN whin must be back, Mr. Rlor.
danT
| "Ah we'll, we'll think av that" II,
. united Il parcel. 1t contained spun silk
: shawls, an unproiltabc investment for
n that nctghborhood.
l. "Im thinkin'," he said, blushing tc
4 his hair, that wan av thcse'd shute yt
s fine. Just choose wai, Maggie"
O "Ah, ycrc too good. Mr. Riordun
q What'd do wild the like nv thatW
r "Wcar 1t, sure. They're ovid stock,
!. he added diiiidcntly. "an' anyway
n somcth!n'll be saved If yc take It
Wen not be here much longer"
, "Arc yc goin to lave the shopi"
"Ayc that's It, We've ended tho
I partnership"
, Thin mustn't come back2"
, II think It's goodby, Maggie, whin yc
go. But we'll see later"
He laid the shawl aside. "Ill parcel
1t up for ye." he said.
Before Maggie could answer her lln-
clc's voice called to her from the little
parlor behind the counting house Pow
er was leaning with his elbows on the
table, where the breakfast things still
remained.
"Sit down, Maggie" he said. She
obeycd him. He lifted cup as though
to drink, then put it down again and
moistcncd his lips with his tongue.
"I'm hard DRIVEN" he said, "an' It's
, ye can help me-"
"lIow can I hclp?"
"lInrd driven" he repeated. can me
: Rcttin an ovid man. I meant no harm,
. but the luck was dead ag'in me. l niv-
cr had chanst-a poor mans always
KEEP down."
Il thought sc were rich, uncle"
'Rlch! I'm not worth the price ay
me funeral, an PRISONS starln' me In
the face"
"But ye've done nothin' wrong. They
can't put ye away for bein' poor"
"But they can for stenlin', child, an
J that's what | was drove to, God help
me. Aye, this mint I might be tooli"
He shivcrcd and drcw hand across
his moist face.
"Yc n thicfm
"Thats the word, an yc may throw
1t at me-" he walled. "Maggic, there's
} only wan can save nc, an that's yer
sell"
i've only this" ahc said and put the
packet Riordan had given. her on the
table.
That's no goOd!' he cried; "It's sc
nm not money. It's me partner. John
Niordan. I've robbed, an yc ,can save
inc name. If yc'd marry him, he'd for
give me an not say word"
II can't" said Maggie. Gle asked