The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-29
The Silver Token.

"There, Tina," -rl -..-s
Mr. Bruce Medway triumphantly
held up two semi-circles of silver in
the air, so that they might be sure tc
make sufficient impression on Ernes
tine Cady's blue eyes, and smiled with
the exultant satisfaction of one who
feels that he has accomplished his iiiis,
| sion. .y-..-......s...s .... .....--...-
He was a bright, earnest lo6king
young fellow, with gray brown eyes,
and a square, firm mouth--not hand
some but very man y; and rs he sat
there on the green woodland bank,
with the hair thrown back from his
broad forehead, and the sunshine mir
rored in his eyes, you felt instructive
ly that he was one who would make
his way in the world, no matter what
| obstacles might intervene. . -- a....
Ernestine Cady stood leaningagainst
the gnarled, mossy trunk of an i'm
mense chestnut tree, with her little
feet half buried in plumes of nodding
ferns "A rural picture in blue muslin
ard futteIing azure ribbons. She
was very pretty, with the delicate
freshness. of a fower-a flower that
winds and frosts had never touched
"Didn't tell you 1 should do it,
Tina ?'' .--s.s,... :...... .. .-.
Ernestire took up the little file that
lay on the bank, .-.5..- .r- 3 B.. .-
''Nothing is impossible" continued
Bruce, sentontiously, as he passed a
bit of blue ribbon through a hole in
the broken piece of silver. 'fWill 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 cataract of pale
golden curls. .a.si ...f
"And 1 shall wear the other next to
my heart. They are amulets, Tina
charms, if you choose so to frame it Z;
that silver piece carries my allegiance
with It. Tina, if ever any cloud core
between us-if ever we are separated
sBruee ~ 7o....r. .,-..f: B..
".Such things have happened, dear
est; but, nevertheless, in any event
this broken coin shall be token and
a summons to me, wherever 1 may be
|-whatever fate may have in sto G
Don't look SO grave, my little blue
bird. Is it so wrong to mingle bit
of romance in our everyday life
Where are your flowers? 1t is time
we were returning.
3 Through the green, shifting shadows
of the woods, with blood-red streams
of sunset light ripping along at their
feet and delicious odors of moss and
fern and hidden flowers rising up and
around, the two lovers walked home
ward. Bruce .Medway. never forgot
the brightness of that drowsy August
afternoon. r ..,,.-,- 49,. -...,, 5l..i.
"She will come, I am sure she will p
The dew lay like a rain of old dia:
monds on the grass shrubs as Bruce
walked up and down the little path
way by the hidden spring, watching
the round red shield of the rising Sun
hanging over the eastern horizon. And
then he looked at his watch
''The train will be due in nine min
u'es; sure Tina will not let me leave
her without. one reconciling word! If
we could but live the last week over
again Hush that must be her foot
step on the moss" -.
He stepped forward. with a glad
flushed face, and then the chill white
ness of despair blanched every feature
as the bright-eyed little squirrel, whose
tiny tread over the leaves and acorn
cups had deceived him, glided swiftly
across the belt of sunshine in the en-
erald shadow. Bruce Medway 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 bl9e purity of
air, and the last little faint sparkle of
hope in the lovers breast died out.
Tina had not come-she had forgot
ten 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 and pink verbena hanging
low in her golden coils of hair-very
picturesque as she reached up her
hand to break off a spray of spicy
honeysuckle. p
tT wonder if Mr.. Bruce Medway
has come to his senses yet ?' thought
she with a toss of the head. "I shan't
measure my actions by the rule and
plummet of his lordly viii can as
sure him. IF I want to fiirt with
Pierce Harbnry I shall do it." -'
$50 you're up, eh, Tina? And as