Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-09-24

made IN excuse of some neighborl errand to
dispose in the nearest village Of sue poor lit
tie odd. and ends of gold chains, pins and
rings as vet remained to their dimini led estate
Was there any thing wrong in this pi US fraud
Tina almost felt as if there was
1t was not pleasant to be poor
"She will be home soon, father, said Tina
d" Only see what basketful of c-anberries !
have gathered out in the swamps This will
make the barrel full, and Mr.. Siguet has Tro-
missed to send it to New York with hi. Don't
they look like red jewels, father? And the
money will buy you new coat.
He smiled family.
al think it had better buy my little girl a
new dress Shall help you to pick them
over.
al had rather do it by myself, father, and
you must try TO sleep while"
Half an hour later Tina came through the
room. with scarlet shawl thrown over her
head. and a 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 IL have lost something"
" A ribbon or a collar, suppose, said Mr..
Cady to himself as he lay watching the Grim
son glare of the October sunset while Tina,
putting aside low tangled bushes and search
ing bits of rank swampy grass, was repeating
to herself, in quick nervous words
Chow could lose it? Oh, how could be
so careless
But the search was all in vain, and the chill
twilight sent her home dispirited and unsuc-
cesslu. And Ernestine Cady cried herself to
sleep that night, just because she lost the bro
ken silver coin!
"You'll be sure to come, Medway? want
to introduce the successful author TO my friends.
You are to be my lion. You will come ?"
"Yes, | will come, if you wish it y
Bruce Midway went dreamly on his way,
and Mrs. Lyman whispered to one Of her fash
iouable friends that A" she was quite sure Mr..
Midway had been crossed in love-he was SO
deliciously melancholy"
The table was superbly spread-Mrs. Ly-
mans dinners were always CONNIE IL fdut-
and. through the sparkle OF cutgass and trans
lucent glow of painted china, you saw baskets
and epergues and pyramidal bouquets Of mag
nifcent hot-house flowers. As one of the
Beau Brummols of the day had said, " 1t was
like looking at a beautiful picture to dine with
Mrs. Lyman
The desert was in its first stages when The
pretty hostess leaned cUaxiugly across to Mr..
Midway.
"Do try some of these little cranberry tarts,
Mr. Midway; have just received barrel Of
the most delightful cranberries from my dear
old Uncle Signet, in Iowa"
Bruce was idly striking his fork into the lit
! tie crimson circlets, quite unconscious of what
| he was eating.
Yes, they are very nice, he said mechani-
cally. And then he bent down to see what
bit Of extraneous white element was glimmer-
ing through the ruby translucency.
Only broken silver coin!
He took it out and looked at it, the familiar
date aud die, all unconscious Of the buzz Of
voices and ring of idle laughter all around HIM
looked at it with a vague supersttlous thrill
stealing over all his natur0-and he could al
most hear his pulses beat under the soft pres
sure of the other half OF this silver piece, for
be still wore it next his heart
From Iowa, did you say, Mrs. Lyman 2
From my uncle, Squire Siguet, who lives
in the Far West"
'What part Of Iowa is it that-that pro-
duces such a harvest Of cranberries|
"Datersville, believe, near the Owasca Ri
yer" And then the conversation branched of
into some different channel. Bruce Midway
had found out all that he wished to ascertain
on that one occasion.
" A token and summons to hun, wherever
he might be! Bruce remembered the words
he had spoken two years ago, and his loyal
heart gave a great leap as the memory Hooded
it with warmth and brightness
"Cranberries ?-yes-I remember EN-, said
old Squire Signet, biting the end Of his cedar
pencil. Crop was uncommon good this fall
old Cady's darter brought EN- here to sell by
the peck"
TO sell! Bruce began for the first time to
appreciate the tides of trouble that had cddled
round the serene little iset Of Ernestine 5 heart
"Wherc do they live-Mr. Cady's family,
mean ?"
"See that ar old blasted pine down in the
holler2 Well, just beyond there a road lead'
down past Cady's Won't stop little longer
Well, good eyenin' Squire "
And Bruce Midway walked down through
the orange twilight TO where the skeleton arm
of the blasted pine seemed to point TO the light
in far-off window-walked to meet the dear
est treasure of his heart
Through the uncurtained panes he could sec
the tiny room all bright and ruddy with CHEEKY
fre-ight, the slender dropping figure sitting
alone on the hearth-stone with its golden shine
Of hair and the thoughtful bend Of its neck
And he opened the door softly and wentin.
"Tina ~
She put back her hair with both hands, anC
lonked at him as if she fancied herself undel
the delusion Of some spell.
You summoned me, and have come
Tina. my love, shall the old times return TO o.
once more Shall we be all the world to eacl
other once again ?'
1t was full nine o'clock by the silver-studdeC
time-piece of the stars before Bruce Medway
rose to take his departure.
But tell me one thing, Bruce said Ernes
tine. laving her hand lightly on his, as they
stood protracting their loyer-hke adleux on th'
door stone in the frigid moonlight, what dc
Won mean when you said had summoned you 2
He drew a little box from his breast-pocket
and smiling held up bit Of silver.
"And wear its mate close 10 my heart
Tina
"Bifuce-surely that is not my half of th'
coin ?"
1t ,cas your half, Tina
And where did YOU find il 2"
cone Of these days | will tell you, lr--no
, in a very romantic juxtapositi0n, however
You remember what said to you when W
divided the silver piece between u.s."
As if Tina had forgotten one word or 'ylla
, BE Of those old davs