The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-10-23
BURG, Pa, FRIDAY, OCT. %, 1868.

$50 you're up, eh Tina? And, q
fresh as Il rose, / declare!"
Tina put her red lips up to kiss he
bluff old father in an abstracted sort O
way. She hardly saw him as he stoo,
there.
ooh, by the way, Tina, | forgot 4
give you this note last night it was lef
by the hotel porter. Really, | believ
my memory isn't quite so good as !
was.n
Tina caught the note from her father.
hand, and broke 1t open in feveret
haste.
"The train leaves at seven !" She saw
the words as vividly rs il they hat
been written in characters of jagged
fire, and rs she read them the old clock
halfway up the wide, old-fashioned
staircase struck eight.
1t was too late-tuo late!
The sharp thrill of agony at her heart
was succeeded by passionate feeling OF
! resentment.
"Lpt him go!" she said to herself,
while the red pennons iiuttcred on her
cheek. II would not lift finger to
keep him here ~
So, when Bruce Medway's earnest
appealing letter came Il day or two az.
terward Ernestine folded it quietly
within Il blant envelope, without
breaking the seal, and sent 1t bsSk.
Verify women are strange enigmas,
even to themselves! Ernestne her
self could scarcely have told why she
kept the broken silver coin.-but she
kept it.
The short threatening October day
was drawing to n close; the fiery belt
across the western sky was flaming sui,
lently athwart the skeleton woods, and
shedding Il sort of aureole round Ernes-
tine Cady's slender figure as she hurried
on through the yellow, rustling drifts of
fallen leaves, carrying the heavy basket
on her arm.
Just as pretty as the rosy Tina of two
years since, hut paler, graver, and
more sedatc. Trouble had besieged the
family since their migration to the
grand domains Of the Far West. II
na had learned the serious part of
iiic'~ lesson, and she had learned it
well.
She lifted the latch Of the rudely con.
structed log house and entered. with
assumed cheerfulne,s on her face.
"lIow are yoa now, father :''
Better, think. Come to the fro,
Tina-yOu must be cold"
Not II bit. Has mother come back ~
"No; it's very strange she stays so
long. | suppose Mrs. Eddctts has
great deal to say, though. don't won
der your mother l. glad to get away
from Il sick room for while"
He spoke little bitterly, and Tina
WINGED as she listened, knowing that
her mother had made an excuse Of some
neghborly crrand to dispose in the
nearest village of such poor little odds
and ends of gold chains, plns, and rings
as yet remained to their diminished es-
tate. Was there any thing wrong In
this pious fraud: Tina almost felt as If
there was
1t was 1Ot pleasant to be poor
"She will bc home soon, father" said
Tina. "Only see what n basKetful of
cranberies have gathered out in the
swalnps! This will make the barrel
ful, and Mr.. Signet has promised TO
send it TO New York with his. Don't
they look like red jewels, fathcrs And
the money will huy you new coat"
He smiled family.
II think it had better buy my little
girl a new dress Shall | help you to
pick them over.
81 had rather do il by myself, father,
and you must try to sleep while"
Half an hour later Tina came through
the room, with a scarlet shawl thrown
over her head, and q wistful, scared
look in her eyes.
"You are not going out again, my
child ?n
"Only mp to the cranberry swamp,
father; it isn't dark yet; II have lost
something"
a ribbon or II collar, | suppose" said
Mr.. Cady to himself, rs he lay watching
the crimson glare of the October sunset;
while Tina, putting aside low tangled
bushes, md searching bits of rank,
swampy grass, was repeating to herself,
in quick nervous words.
"llow could lose it? Oh, how could
| be so careless !"
But the search was all In vain, and
the chill twilight sent her home, dis
pirited and unsuccessful, And Ernestine
Cady cried herself to sleep that night,
lust because she lost the broken silver
coin!
"You'l be sure to come, Medwny? |
want to introduce the successful author,
You will come ?"
"Ycs, will come, II you wish it"'
Bruce Medway went dreamily on his
way, and Mrs. Lyms whispered to one
OF her fashionable friends that "shs
was quite sure Mr. Medway had been
crossed in love--hc WAS so dellciously
melan choly!'
The table was superbly sproad-Mrs.
Lyman's dinners Were always CONNIE il
fam-and, through the sparkle of cut
glass and translucent glow OF painted
china, you saw baskets aud epergues
and pyramidal bouquets of magnificent
hot flowers. AS one of the Beau
Brummels of the day had said, at was
like looking ats beautiful picture to
dine with Mrs. Lyman"
The dessert was in Its first stages,
when the pretty hostess leaned coaxing-
~ across to Mr.. Medway.