The Lincoln County herald., 1869-07-08

without one reconciiiug wordi IF W
could but live the last week over again
Hush that must be her footstep on the
moss" .,,.T ~. -. ..I.
He stopped forward with . glad
flushed face, and then the chill whiteness
Of despair sisnched every features, as the
bright.eyod little 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 nm instant with hi.
brow contracted aud his arms folded on
his breast. Was he bidding farewell te
the bright summer pastp
The shrek Of the coming train sounded
through the blue purity Of tho air, and
the last little faint sparkle Of hope in the
lovers's breast died out. .
Tina had not come--sho had forgotten
him ! Well, 20 let il bo. .ys.i T..gg.
T. Add what wes Tine Cady doing In ths
fresh morning brightness
She was very rosy and pretty in he,
trim calico dress, with pink ribbon Of
her throat, and pink verbena hanging
low in her golden coils Of hair-very
picturesquc'As she reached up her hand
to break of spray Of spicy honeysucklc
II wonder If Mr.. Bruce Midway has
come to his senses yet2" thought she
with . toss of tho head. II shan't meas
ure my action by the rule and plumme,
Of bis lordly will, ! can assure him. If
want 10 firt with Pierce Harhurry shall
do it,"
$50 you're up, Oh, Tina9 And as
fresh as rose, I declare"
Tina put her lips to kiss the bluff face
Of her father in an abstract sort of Way
She hardly saw him as.he stood there.
"Oh, BY the way, Tina, l forgot to give
you this note last night. Il was left by
the hotel porter. Really believe my
memory isn't quite as good as it used to
be-"
Tina caught the note from her father
hand and broke it open with fevcred
haste.
"The train leaves at seven I" She saw
the words as vividly as if they had been
ia characters Of jagged Ere, and as she
read them, the clock, half way up tho
wide, old fashioned staircase struck eight.
It was too late-too late
A sharp thrill Of agony at her heart
was stifled by passionate feeling of re
sentiment
II will let him Co." she said to her
self. II would not move fngor to keep
him."
But, when Bruce Medway's earnest,
appealing letter came day or two after.
wards, Erncstine folded it quietly within
blank envelope, without breaking the
seal, and sent it back.
Verify women arc strange enigmas
even to themselves Ernestine could
scarcely have told why she kept the
broken silver in-but she kept it.
\ \ = + \ x
Tho short threatening October day
was drawing to close the fiery belt
across tho western sky was flaming sui.
lenly athwart the skeleton woods, and
shedding q sort of aureole around Ernes
tine Cady's slender figure, as she hurried
through the yollow, rustling drifts of ial.
lon leaves, carrying the heavy basket on
her arm.
Just as pretty as the rosy Tina of two
years sinc,, but paler, gravcr and more
sedato. Trouble had besieged tho family
since thoir migration to tho grand do
mains Of the for West. Tina had learned
the serious part Of life's lesson, and she
had learned it we'll.
She lifted the latch of rudely con-
structed log house, and entered with as.
sumed checriulness on her face.
GLOW aro you now, father ?"
"Better, I think. Come to the Are,
Tina you must be cold"
"Not bit. Has mother come back
yet?"
mo its very strange she stays SO
long. Isuppose Mrs. Ebbets has grea,
deal tv say, though. l don't wondol
your mother is glad to get away from q
sick room for WHILE" -...
He spoke q little bitterly, and Tins
WINGED as she listened, knowing that her
mother had made an excuse Of somf
neighborly errand to dispose in tho near
0cS vus"6o Va suou POVs uSsic CuuC VI eotS
chains, pins and rings as yet remained te
their diminished estate. Was there any
thing wrong in this fraudP Tina almost
thought there was. t,...
1t was not pleasant to be poor.
"Shs will be home soon, father" said
Tina. "Only SEQ what . basket full oi
orauberries / have. gathered out in the
swampsl This will make the barrel full
and Mr.. Siguet has promised to send i
to New York with bis. Dcn't they look
like red jewels, father3 Aud tho money
will buy you new coat" l'
He smiled family. = ..,. .. ..
~ think it had better buy my little
girl new dress. Shall I help to pick
them over?" o.. asw
II had rather do it myself, and you
must try aud sleep awhile"
Half an hour later Tina came through
the room with scarlet shawl thrown over
her head, and wistful, scared look iu