The Portland daily press., 1869-05-01
selected story.
THE SILVER TOKEN.
Now h Made Two sisIy YOung People
Happy.

Happy.
There, Tina"
Mr.. Bruce Midway triumphantly held up
Two semi-clrcles oil silver in the air, so that
they might be sure to make a sufficient i'm
preston on ElnestiDe Cady's blue eyes, and
smiled with the exultant satisfaction OF one
who feels that he has accomplished his mis-
sion.
He was bright, earnest-looking young fel-
low, with gray-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
forehead and the sunshine mirrOred IN his
eyes, you felt instinctively that he was one
who would make his way in the worll, no
matter what obstacles might intervene.
Ernestine Cady stood leaning against the
gnarled, mossy trunk of an immense cnest-
nut tree, with her little feet hall buried IN
plumes of nodding ferns-a rural picture III
hlue muslin and auttering azure ribbons.
She was very pretty, with the delicate fresh
mess If a fower-a flower that winds and
frosts have never toucneo.
Didn't tell you should 90 1t, I1naT
Ernestine took up the little file that Law on
the bank.
Nothing is impossible continued Bruce.
sententiously, as he passed bit of blue rib
yon through hole in the broken piece of sill
yer. will you let me tie it round your neck,
TmaT
what for?'
But she stopped her pretty head as she
spoke, and let him tie the knot beneath a
cataract of pale gold curls.
And | shall wear the other next to my
heart. They are amulets, Tina-charms, if
you choose so to frame it; that silver piece
carries my allegiance with it. Tina, if ever
amy cloud comes between us-if ever we are
separated-'
sBrucep
Such things have happened, dearest; but
nevertheless, in any event, this broken coin
shall be a token and a summons to me,
wherever / may be-whatever fate may have
in store. Don't look SO grave, my little blue
bird. Is it so very wrong to mingle bit of
romance in our everyday lite? Where are
your flowers it 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 delicious
od0rs OF moss and fern and hidden flowers
risiffg up around, the Two lovers walked
homeward. Bruce Midway never forgot the
brightness of that drewsy August afternoon.
she will come am sure she will.'
The dew lay like rain of diamonds on the
grass and shrubs, 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 hOrison. And
then he looked at his watch.
The train will be due In nine minutes sure
Tina will not let me leave her without one
reconclling wordl If we could but live the
last week over again! Hush that must be
her footstep on the moss
lie stepped forward with a glad, flushed
face, and then the chill whiteness of despair,
blanched every feature, as the bright ey ed lit
tie squirrel whose tiny tread over the leaves
and acorn cups had deceived him, glided
swiftly across the belt of sunshine into the
emerald shadow. Bruce Midway stood an
instant with his brow contracted and his
arms folded on his breast. Was he bidding
farewell to the bright summer that was past?
The Shrek OF the coming train sounded
through the blue purity OF the air, and the
last little faint sparkle of hope in the lovers
breast died out.
Tina had not come-she had forgotten him +!
Well, SO let it be.
And what was Tina Cady doing in the
fresh morning brightness?
She was very rosy and pretty in her trim
calico dress, with pink ribbons at her throat I;
and pink verbena hanging low in her gold
en- coils of hair-very picturesque as she
reached up her hand to break off a spray OF
spicy honeysuckle.
i wonder II Mr.. Bruce Midway has come
to his senses yet% thought she, with toss
OF the head. i shan't measure my actions
by the rule and plummet OF his lordy will,
can assure him. Ii l want to. firt with
Pierce Hafbury shall do it,
so you're u2, eh, Tina? And as fresh as
rose, declared
Tina put up her lips to kiss the bluff face
of her father in an distracted sort of way
She hardly saw him as he stood there.
oh, by the way. Tina, forgot to give you
this note last night. 1t was lett by the hotel
porter. Really, | believe my memory isn't
quite as good as it used TO be.
Tina caught the note from her fathers
hand, and broke it open with feve1ed haste
The tram leaves at seven 7 She saw the
words as wildly as If they had been written
them the clo,k, half-wa up the wide, ol.-
fashioned staircase, struck eight.
1t was too late-too latei
The sharp thrill OF agony at her heart was
succeeded by passionate feeling OF resent
meut.
Let him co. she said to herself, while the
red pennons fiuttered on her cheek. 4 would
not lit finger to keep him.
So, when Bruce Medway's earnest, appeal
ing letter came day or two afterwards, Err
nestine folded it quietly within blank en-
velope, without breaking the seal, and sent it
back
Verify, women are strange enigmas, even
to themselvesl Ernestine herself could
scarcely have told why she kept the broken
silver coin-but she kept 1T.
The short, threatening October day was
drawing to close; the fiery belt across the
western sky was flaming sullenly athwart the
western " oods, and shedding sort OF aure-
ole around Ernestine Cady's slender figure as
she hurried 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, but paler, graver and more Sc
date. Trouble had beseged the family since
their migration to the grand domains of the
tar West. Tina had learned the serious part
of lifc's lesson, and she had learned it WELL
She lifted the latch of rudely constructed
log house, and entered with assumed cheer
fulness on her face.
How are you now, father?'
Better, | think Come to the fire, Tina:
you must be cod.'
Not bit. Has mother come back yet?'
No; it's very strange she stays so long. l
suppose Mrs. Ebbetts has great deal to say.
though. don't wonder your mother is glad
to get away from a sick room for while.'
He spoke little bitterly, and Tiny WINGED
as she hastened, knowing that her mother
had made an excuse of some neighborly er-
A0uu W utSpOcc Ill OuG ucdT6SL Village OI SUCH
poor little odds and ends OF gold chains, pins,
and rings as yet remained to their diminished
estate. Was there anything wrong in tn
pious fraud? Tina almost felt as if there was.
1t was not pleasant to be poor.
she will be home soon, father said Tina.
- Only see what basket full OF cranberlies |
have gathered out in the swamps! This will
make the barrel full, and Mr.. Signet has
promised Ito send it to New York with his.
Don't they look like red jewels. father? And
the money will buy you new coat
He smiled family.
/ think it had better buy my little girl
new dress. Shall / help to pick them over?
/ had rather do it myself, and you must
try and sleep awhile
Half an hour later Tina came through the
room with scarlet shawl thrown over head,
and wisttul, scared lCok 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 collar, / suppose said Mr..
Cady to himself, as he lay watching the crim-
son glare of the October sdnsst; while Tina,
putting aside the low tangled bushes, and
searching bits OF rank, swampy grass, was re-
peatlng to herself, in quick nervous words =
How could / lose it? Oh, how could l be
so carelessP
But the search was all in vain, and the chill
twilight sent her home, dispirited and unsuc-
cessiul. And Ernestine Cady cried herself to
sleep that night, just because she had lost the