The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-05-04
FATE AND ONE
MRS. MAGU|RE.
Between Them They Brought tho
Parted Couple Together.
BY N. LOUISE cuMMlNs.

benSe OI IdIllldTlly ia lHSlI gaze went
over her.
"And. sure, there'd be nothing
strange in that" she soliloquized, aft
er ME being attendant in this waiting
room for the past fifteen years"
Nevertheless her mind went back
gropingly trying to place the girl sit
ting opposite. She gave a quick glance
and reached what she sought with
such suddenness that she fairly start
ed.
"'Tls the very wan-the very wan
she muttered. But, Lord love us all.
what has changed her so much?"
Presently she rose, holding her knit
ting in her left hand, and made little
tour of the room, picking up a paper
here, Strengthening a chair there, ap-
parently intent only upon her business.
But she paused near the woman who
had attracted her attention.
"'Tis tiresome work waiting for
trains, ma'am," she hazarded.
1T is, indeed!'
At sight of such woe in her eyes.
which she had once seen filed with
such blessedness of joy that, as she
said, "they were like twin lights on an
altar" Mrs. Maguire's heart ached.
Though there's them that don't
mind it," she went on. Look there,
now" with a sidelong nod to where in
the outer waiting room a young couple
were seated oblivious of time and
place.
hfvlr nf a oir hof
sat in that very spot-let me see, it
must be all of four years ago." she
continued reminiscently. They had
missed their train and had to wait six
mortal hours for the western express.
Well, If you'll believe me, l don't think
they knew twas as many minutes"
Mrs. Mcguire saw the hands of the
woman cose slowly together suddenly
In her lap.
''Did you ever see them again?" she
asked slowly.
mot her"
The dark eyes came round in fash.
"And him?"
"Well, as sure as you hve"-Mrs. Ma
guire had seated herself and was knit
week. He come in and just sit in that
very spot ! took no notice to him at
first, but he looked so broke up l had
to. 1t seemed all wrong to see him
sitting without her"
The woman at her side sprang up.
'1t is suffocating in herer' she pant
ed.
Ch MI infn hn haf
"You recognized me-" she said weari-
ly.
"And If / did, a-lanive"-Mrs. Ma
guire laid soothing palm on her knee,
the soft grooming of her mother tongue
coming back to her-'T meant no harm
by what said. Sure, when looked
across the room you made me think of
a bit of a primrose you'd see In a
boreen at home whiting because the
bush that sheltered 1t was tore away"
"And l thought"-her slender body
seemed to contract with the agony of
recOllection-"God help me! What /
thought was not the truth"
God help us all when we begins to
doubt the wan that's dearer to us than
our hearts blood. 'Tis well to be
sure"-she went on slowly-"sure be-
fore you spake the word that can't
be onspoken."
''If some one had said that to me
then"' Her breathing seemed to tear
the delicate throat. But would not
listen TO him, and now-now it is too
later
"'Tis never that" Mrs. Mcguire said,
with conviction.
at is. He said If left him it would
be final"
If Mrs. Maguire's fingers flew her
thoughts went at such bewildering
pace that she started when her COM
panion rose. She took and patted be-
tween her own the hand held out to
her, looking beyond with unseeing
eyes.
She'll come back" she thought, with
the assurance of one who knew. "And
he, mother of God! Isn't it the pity of
the world to see them parted? And for
nothing at all, most likelyw
IL was strange after that on days
when a slight figure in dark blue sat
excuses Mrs. Mcguire found for excur-
sions TO different parts of the station,
with what eagerness she sat out on
these expeditions and with detection
written in every line Of her comely
face when she returned.
"'Tis watching for him she is her
self" she thought, meeting the wistful
interrogation of the dark eyes. And
never did maiden look for the coming
Of her lover as did Mrs. Mcguire for
the tall figure which had imprinted it.
self on her memory.
1t was matter of genuine impor-
tance, however, which called her away
one day just as her visitor entered
'I'll be back in a minute. 'Tis the
superintendent himself wants me-" she
explained, smoothing down a snowy
apron in little hustle of excitement
Half an hour later in returning she
a..A A. a