Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-09-24
"A FREE PRESS.
The silve Token.
q There Tina |"

Mr.. Bruce Medway trumphantly held up
two semi-circes Of silver in the DIR, 50 that they
might be sure to make sufficient impressiol
on Ernestine Cadys blue eyes, and smiled with
/ the eXu!tant satisfaction OF one who feels that
. he has accomplished his mission
/ He was bright, earnest-looking young fcl-
/ low. with grav-brown eyes and a square firm
/ mouth-nOt handsome but very manly and
/ as he sat there on the green woodland bank,
with the hair thrown back from his broad fore
head and the sunshine mirrored in his eyes,
( YOU felt iustinctiyely thathe was one who would
make his way in the world no matter what
obstacle might intervene.
! Ernestine Cady stood leaning against the
gnarled, messy trunk of an immense chestnut
tree, with her little feet half buried in plumes
/ Of noddng, fragrant ferus-a rural picture in
/ blue muslin and tiuttering azure ribbons. She
was very pretty, with the delicate bloom and
/ freshness Of a tiower-a flower that winds and
/ ffoats have never touched.
Didn't tell you | should do it, Tina ?"
Ernestnc took up the little tile that lay on
the bank
Il thought it an impossible task with such
/ an implement as that
Nothing is impossible, - returned Bruce,
| scntentiously as he passed a bit Of narrow blue
ribbon through hole in the broken piece Of
silver. Will you let me tie it round your
neck, Tina ?'
What for ?" But she stopped her pretty
head as she spoke, and let him tie the knot
beneath a cataract Of pale gold cOrls.
and | shall wear the other next my heart.
| They are amulcts, Tina-charms, if you choose
SO to phrase it! That silver piece carries my
allegiance with it. Tina if ever cloud comes
between us-if ever we are separated"
Bruce ~
Such things have happened, dearest; but,
nevertheless, in any event, this broken coin
shall be a token and a summons to me, wher-
ever may be-whatever Fate may have in
store. Don't look so grave, my little bluebird.
Is il so very wrong to miugle a bit of romance
in our everyday life? Where are your flow
crs 1T is time we were returning"
Through the green shifting shadows of the
woods, with blood red streams Of sunset light
ripping along at their feet, and delicions odors
of moss and fern and hidden flowers rising up
around. the two lovers walked homeward.-
Bruce Midway never forgot the brightness Of
that drowsy August afternoon.
" She will come-I am sure she will come p
The dew lay like rain Of diamonds on grass
and shrub, as Bruce walked up and down the
little pathway by the hidden spring, watching
the round red shield of the rising sun hanging
above the eastern horizon. And then he looked
at his watch.
81 The train will be due in nine minutes
Surely Tina will not let ne leave her without
one reconcilng word If we could but lyt
the last week over again Hush that mus
be her footstep on the moss"
lie stepped forward, with a glad tusheC
face and then the chill ,whitene>s Of despair
blauched every feature. as the hright-oycd lit
tie squirrel whose tiny tread over leaves anC
acorn-cups had deceived him, glided swift,
across the belt Of sunshine into emerald shadow
Bruce Melway stood an instant with his brow
contracted and his arms folded on his breast
Was he bidding farewell to the bright summc
that was past?
And the shrek of the coming train SOUNDED
through the blue purity Of the air, and tn
last little faint sparkle Of hope in the lover
breast died out.
Tina had not come-Tina had forgotten
him. Well, SO let it be.
And what was Tina Cady doing in the fresi
morning brightness?
She was very rosy and pretty in her trim
calico dress, with pink ribbons at her throa
verbena hanging low in her golden col Is OF hal
very picturesque as she reached up her han'
to break OFF spray Of spicy honeysuckle
80 wonder if Mr. Bruce Medway has com
to his senses vet, thought Tina with toss O
her head. 81 shant measure my actions b.
the rule and plummet Of his lordly will, ! cal
assure him. If | want TO tlirt with Pierc
Marbury shall do it "
$50 you're up, eh, Tina? And as fresh
a rose, declare"
Tina put her red lips up to kiss her bluI
old father in an distracted sort of way. Sh
r hardly saw him as he stood there.
Oh, by the way, Tina | forgot to give yo
this note last night-it was left by the hotc
porter Really, | believe my memory ism
quite so good as it was
Tina caught the note from her fathers hand
and broke it open in ievered haste.
"The train leaves at seven She saw tn
words as vividly as if they had been written i
characters Of Jagged FIRE, and as she read ther
the old clock halfway up the wide, old-fash
stoned staircase struck eight
1t was too late-too late
The sharp thrill of agony at her heart wa
- succeeded by passionate feeling Of resent
O meut.
let him gom she said to herself Will
the red pennonS futtered on her check. q
would not lift finger to keep him here"
So. when Bruce Medway's earnest ar
healing letter came day or two afterwar
Ernestine folded it quietly within blank en-
velope. without breaking the seal, and sent
back
Verify women arc strange enigmas. even t
themselves Ernestine herself could scarel
have told why she kept the broken silver col
but she kept it.
The short threatening October day wa
drawing to close the fiery belt across tn
western sky was flaming sullenly sthwart III
skeleton woods. and shedding a sort of aureol
round Ernestine Cady's slender figure as sh
, hurried on through the yellow, rustling drift
Of fallen leaves carrying the heavy basket
on her arm.
Just as pretty as the rosy Tina Of two year
since. but paler, graver, and more sedatee.-
, Trouble had beseiged the family since the
migration to the grand domains Of the Ia
West. Tina bad learned the serious part
Ere's lesson. and she had learned it well.
She lifted the latch Of the rudely constructe
log house and entered, with assumed cheerful
ness on her face.