Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-02-01
A Heart OF Gold.

just because it was so grand to have
lover. was jus, sixteen years old,
pretty. and a bsckwoods girl. John
May was one of fathers "hsnds, "a
tall, gay fellow that was fond Of. All
The other girls liked him, even my sister
Lydia. who was even Prel,ier :han /; and
snll he wasn't "well Of and had no
good prospects. lie had his mother and
lille brother to take care of. and was only
a Maine climber hand" So my mother
told me when they first talked over my
proposal from him-lslher, mother and
my sisters. hsdu'i anything 10 say on
ly iha. loved him, and by-andby they
half Withdrew their objections, and lei me
do as | would.
He did love me. ] can remember now
a thousand little sacrifices he made, thai,
showed as plain as could be that he loved
me with true, unselish affection. III
was only proud Of his straight limbs.
strong hands. curly, 1sxen hair and frank
laugh, knew how all the girls envied me
when he began 10 show, as plain as day,
he was in love with me.
When he went up the -mount,in with
me one day. and rested on the ledge, he
asked ms-hushing up to his handsome
eyes-to be his wife. because he love d
me. though, | should have an engage
ment ring 10 show. But after VIC were
engaged, he never seemed 10 think of it.
The girls said tha, they did no, believe
that was engaged to him. and l thought.
John oegh, 10 conside: ,ha, had a right
10 ring. said so.
John" ssic ], pou,ng, "you ough. to
give me ring"
He looked surprised.
"Why, Katie" said he, "a ring don't
amount to anything"
"Yes i, does" / answered; "il means
that we are engaged"
"Bui don, We know il darling I" he
sdded kissing me fondIy.
"Yes, but other people dcn't. can't
tell everybody, and they ough. to know
it,"
"We'll show them marriage cerlif-
cate by-snd-by."
81 don'l want 10 be married a, pres.
ent',
"Very well. then, don't trouble your.
self about other people until you are.
See here, Katie, here is little gold heart;
il was made out Of the frs. dollar | ever
earned. when father died and | had molh.
er and Jimmy to take care Of. got it
made for keepsake. Take il snd wear
il 10 remember me.
|. was pretty li,lle brigh. thing, bu, it
was not the engagement ring tina. | want
ed. kept pouIing, but John treated me
as il were an unreasonable child, and
when l wouldn't laugh and chat with him
he grew grave, kissed me gently and
wen, away, leaving me by myself in the
moonligh. porch. ! was so angry that |
cried. had no idea that he would refuse
me he had never before refused me
anything. He had always appeared glad
when | expressed wish that he nigh.
crafty it. ! could not bear that he should
deny me SO coolly, when be saw how my
hear, was Sc. en- the thing speaking so
briefly, aud disregarding my resentment
as though l were child.
Ihsd not sat alone but a moment before
| heard bis step again. He came close 10
my side, and pu. hisarns round me.
"Ka,e," said he. and could see how
gentle and earnest he looked in the moon.
lighi. "lf could get you ring easily /
would do so, bu, cannot. canno, do
so without sacrificing the actual needs of
those love, You know, dear, tha, you
are going 10 marry poor man, and you
mus, learn what the words prudence,
ftugsli,y and economy mean. | had 10
learn them long before l was as old as
you are. Your desire for the ring is only
a whin, Katie, it isn't a necessity. lam
living very strictly now, that | may de.
prive my dear mother Of nothing in her
old age, il ] make you my wife next year.
You know what my means are. Katie,
won't you be good and help me 7"
He looked SO firm and good, yet 60
sorrowful and wis,ful, that cannot un.
ders,and now why was so stubborn and
wicked. ] looked him de6anily in the
eyes.
"How mesn |" said I.
He siraightened himself quickly, and
stepped back from me. Then be said in
an altered voice
"Do you think SO Ks,ie 7"
EYES," answered "i,'s as mean a.
dirt to talk economy to ne sbou, sueh