Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-05-12
FATE AND ONE
MRS, MAGU|RE,
Between Them They Brought the
Parted Couple Together.
BY N. LOUISE cUMMINs.

- W. wv NtINilNS.
Mrs. Mcguire looked up from her
knitting a second time to meet the
same pair of brown eyes. Again a
sense of familiarity in their 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.
""Tis 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 a 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.
A1o lSSOAlS "OIA WdllluS LOT
trains, ma'am." she hazarded.
1T is, indeed!'
At sight of such woe in her eyes,
which she had once seer filled 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.
"They makes me think of a pair that
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, 1 don't think
they knew twas as many minutes"
Mrs. Mcguire saw the hands Of the
woman come slowly together suddenly
in her lap.
did you ever see them again| she
asked slowly.
"Not her."
The dark eyes came round in a flash.
and him?"
"Well, as sure as you live''-Mrs. Ma
guire had seated herself and was knit
ting complacently-"'twas only last
week. He come in and just sit in that
very spot. | took no notice to him at
first, but he looked so broke up | had
to. 1t seemed all wrong to see him
sitting without her"
The oma at her side sprang up.
cit is suffocating In herer" she pant.
ed.
Then she sank back into the chair.
"You recognized me- she said weari-
ly.
"And if l did. a-lanive"-Mrs. Ma
guire laid a soothing palm on her knee,
the soft grooming OF her mother tongue
coming back to her-"I meant no harm
by what | said. Sure, when / looked
across the room you made MI think of
a bit of a primrose you'd see in a
boreen at home whiting because the
bush that sheltered it 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 u all when we begins to
doubt the wan that's dearer to us than
our hearts blood. Ills well to be
~sure"-she e on slowly-"sure be-
fore you spake the word that can't
be o%nspoken."
If some one had said that to me
then" Her breathing seemed to tear
the delicate throat. But I would not
listen to him. and now-now it Is too
later
"'Tis never that" Mrs. Mcguire said.
with conviction.
1T is. He said if 1 left him it would
be final"
If Mrs. Maguire's fingers few her
thoughts went at such bewildering
pace that she started when her com
panion rose. She took and patted be-
tween her W the hand held out to
her, looking beyond with unseeing
eyes.
She'll come back" she thought, with
the assurance Of me 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 likely"
1t was strange after that on days
when a slight figure in dark blue sat
in the ladies' waiting room how many
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 a matter of genuine impor-
lance, however, which called her away
one day just as her visitor entered.