New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-23

learueu IL well. She lifted the latcn Oh tne
rudely constructed log house and entered,
with assumed cheermlness on her face.
"how are you now, father ?"
Better, think. Come to the fire, Tina,
you must be cold.'
mot bit. Has mother come back ?"
"No; it's very strange she stays so long.
1 suppose that Mrs. Ebbetts has a great
deal to say, though. l don't wonder your
mother is glad to get away from sick
| room for a while"
He spoke a little bitterly, and Tina
WINGED as she listened, knowing that her
mother had made an excuse OF some neigh
| boriy errand to dispose in the nearest viii
lage of such poor little odds and ends of
gold chains, pins, and rings as yet remained
to their diminished estate. Was there any
thing wrong in this pious fraud Tina al
most felt as if there was
1t was not pleasant to be poor
"She will be home soon, father said
Tina. "0nly see what baskelfll of cram
berries 1 have gathered in the swamps !!
This will make the barrelful, and Mr.. Sig
net has promised to send it to New York
with his. Don't they look like red jewels,
father? And the money will buy you q
new coat"
liz EllilGu ldluIlN.
81 think it had better buy my little girl
new dress. Shall l help you TO pick
them over"
Il had rather do it by myself, father, and
you must try to sleep awhile
Half an hour later Tina came through
the room, with scarlet shawl thrown over
her head, and wistful, scared look in her
eyes.
"You are not going out again, my
child?'
"Only up to the cranberry swamp, father;
it isn't dark yet; II have lost some
thing
"A ribbon or a collar, / suppose" said
Mr.. Cady to himself, as he lay watching the
crimson glare of the October sunset; while
Tina, putting aside low tangled bushes
and searching bits of rank. swampy grass,
was repeating to herself in quick, nervous
words, "How could | lose it? Oh, how
could be SO careless?"
But the search was all in vain; and tie
chill twilight sent her home dispirited and
unsuccessful. And Ernestne Cady cried
herself to sleep that night Just because she
had lost the broken silver coin.
"You'n be sure to come, Mr.. Midway {?
"ohb W tuAtOuhG0 Vic 6uINCcclul dhbHOl
to my friends. You are to be my lion.
You will Gomez
Eyes, l will come, if you wish it,
Bruce Midway went dreamily on bis way,
and Mrs. Lyman whispered to one of her
fashionable friends that she was "quite sure
Mr.. Midway had been crossed in loVe-he
was SO deliciously melancholy !"
The table was superbly spread-Mrs.
I.vn hiDDara q mo- Je - f1,5I
and, through the sparkle of cut glass and
translucent glow Of painted china, you saw
baskets and epergnes, and pyramidal bou-
quets of magnificent hot-house flowers. As
one of the Beau Brummels of the day had
said: alt was like looking at a beautiful
picture to dine with Mrs. Lyman
The dessert was In its first stages, when
the pretty hostess leaned coaxingly across
to Mr.. Midway.
"Do try some of these little cranberry
pdteS, Mr.. Midway; have Just received q
barrel of the most delightful cranberries
from my dear old Uncle Sgnet, in Iowa.
Bruce was idly striking his fork into the
little crimson circlets, quite unconscious of
what he was eating.
''Hes, they are very NICE he said,
mechanically. And then he bent down to
was glimmering through the ruby trans
lucency.
Only broken silver coin
He took it out and looked at it, the
familiar date and die, all unconscious of
the buzz of voices and ring of idle laughter
AL round him--looked at it with vague,
superstitious thrill stealing over all his
nature-And he could almost hear his pulse
beat under the soft pressure of the other
half of this silver piece, for he still wore it
next his heart
"Brom Iowa, did you say, Mrs. Lyman -
"From my uncle, Squire Signet, who
lives in the far West"
"What part of Iowa is it that-that pro-
duces such harvest of cranberries ~
'Datersville, believe, near the Owasca
river" And then the conversation branched
off into some different channels. Bruce
Midway had found out all that he wished
to ascertain on that one occasion.
"a token and summons to him, where
ever be might be % Bruce remembered
the words he had spoken two years ago,
and his loyal heart gave a great leap as
the memory flooded it with warmth and
brightness.