Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-05-14
THE GOLDEN CROSS.

''You can hardly consider it a gift
Maggie, because | shall split it in two
and keep half for myself" ed ?
4 George Wayland looked straigh
into Maggie CAROLS brown eyes as HI
spoke, and saw the sudden glow O
love in them, as they met for secon,
his ardent gaze, and then hid unde
their blue yelled, silken fringed lids.
| 81 shall prize it highly, George. ant
the more from that fact that you wea
one half while ! wear the other"
"But will you wear it always, unde1
all circumstances $3.50
"Always, under all circumstance,
she repeated lnerrily.
1 He neatly severed the narrow, thi1
cross, and fastened one section to his
watch. chain, and the other to the piece
of narrow velvet Maggie had bought
and that he tied for her around he,
white throat. ss
81 like it better than ring, George,
she said, shyly, 'because every one
knows who is engaged, by just looking
at their left hand"
Gas if 1 wouldn't like every soul in
Meadowside to know l had won you
my shy, brown eyed darling. I am only
too proud and too happy"
| Maggie interrupted him, playfully-
"Despite the visible jealousy of a
certain lady, who considers me bold
| riyal!"
"Despite even Cora Adrian's foolish
Jealousy while 1 feel several inches
taller than poor Ned Morrison, whom
1 did cut out numerically, didn't II"
A little shadow passed over Maggies
face, and instinctive,y she chung closer
to her lovers arm.
"oh, George 1 am actually afraid
of Ned, lately. Only last night he
said Id be sorry yet that I refused him.
He's SO morose and sullen since
since"
She blushed a little, and George
magnanimously helped her through.
"Since | asked and was not refused
by those sweet lips. Never mind Ned,
Maggie. Naturally he feels jealous.
would, myself, under reversed cir
cumstances.. But all this has nothing
to do with our promise to wear the
little gold cross while we are separat
ed for these three months that are SC
close at hand. But, Maggie, my little
girl, if ever the time should come
mind. have no idea that it will
but if it should come, that you want te
be released from me, all you've to do is
to send your halt of the cross to me. l,
will be the mute token of my misery.
But Maggie smiled up in his face
cheerfully. --
ut all the misery you anticipate
comes by means of this little messen
ger, and she laid her hand gently or
the glittering trinket, crest assured yor
will have little of it. But Sir Knight
suppose you get weary of Inv. colors
What then?"
He folded her tightly in his arms and
kissed her. e+..-
"As, if l could ever change!'
So the two, in that blissful, painfu
parting that seemed ages to them, re.
newed their. VOWS. The old, old story,
yet ever new.
The cheerful rays of the astral lamp
on the round crimsoned- covered table
beamed over Maggie CAROLS white
fingers, and flashed like spark of Ii
quld silver On her thimble and polished
needle, as her hands few gracefully
over her work.
/ She had cleared away the tea dishes
and her;parents had gone to friends
Little Bessie lay sleeping on the lounge
with the light shaded from her eyes
and Maggie, with garment she was
making for one Of her bridal outfits, hae
settled happily, costly down to her even
ing's work, thinking with every stitcl
she set Of Geo. Wayland, by this timt
away out in Omaha, where he would
gain good many hundred dollars i,
putting the machinery in a new mill
money that would start him nicely il
house keeping. .
Naggie's pleasant reverie was dissi
pated by an impatient rap on the set
ting room door. followed, before sh,
could unfasten her work from her knee
and 60 to the door and open it, by Ne,
Morrison. +.
'Don't get up, Maggie, I can find
/ chair tor myself. I've been here oftel
enough to make myselfat home, hav'n
Il tor all | don't appear to be particu
'ly wanted.