The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-16
A BROKEN SIXPENCE.

"Never mind. lassie, he said, cheerlly
What's 'good-by,' anyway It's 81
much better than farewell"
GAY, ladde, ay--'tis so. You'll come
again-youll come again to Margurth, al
you've glen me word. Alan"
The question was 90 eager, and yet 50
tenderly confdent
Come again TO you and 0bang' he
asked, laughing Now, could ] stay
away? There they are calling from the
boat; | must go Good-by, Margurth
be true to the broken sixpence. "
"True TO her troth plight. she thought
1.-THE angels in heaven could not be truer.
And as he waved his hand to her in last
farewell, she did not know that he had
no more intention of returning to her 70
keep his plighted faith, than he had OF
putting on last years faded garment,
thrown aside for a newer fancy.
She watched him till the binding tears
hid him from her sight. A cracked and
querulous voice greeted her as she en-
teredvhe little cottage
80 'ee's aye game the moor An twould
ha' been as weeI had it been month
a.gane. Ye've flashed me sair, Margurth,
wi your lOvins and eavins. Gae to your
wark, girl.
Margurth sighed It was so hard to
be-forced TO her regular routine Of duties
while her heavy heart lOnged for the
brooding silence of the beach aud cliffs
She had yet TO leaTn that grief As soonest
overcome by firing labor.
I'D ne'er ha seen him had 'ee game a
month ago, aunt, " she said, listlessly.
"I'm thinkin twould la been as well
had ye no.
What mean We, aunt?" Margurth cried,
Indignantly. II hae his faith-surelie ye
Gamma misdoot the broken sixpence"
GAY, can ]" replied her aunt, grimly,
"an' him as weel till | see him again.
The days went heavily 10y at the cot
tsge. The aunt was more ailing and com
planning than usual, and Margurth's life
at best va hard one.
She had a soul above busting and dish
washing, things that occupied her aunts
whole attention when she was able TO
drag herself about her work. "Ah bonnie
laverockl9 sighed Margurth, catching the
sound of his merry lifting as il dropped TO
her through the blue air Gould but
wing wi you for a day, how quick I'd find
him, an nestle doom into his iovin' heart"
But these longings she kept close locked
In her bosom, and the winter passed in
loneliness, but tinged with hope for the
coming spring.
When the snow had melted enough for
her TO reach the village again, to make
her simple purchases she found that dur
ing the SHOWS and storms evil rumor had
been busy also. On every hand She met
with GOODNESS and suspicious glances
where she had been accustomed TO warm
cordiality from her Scotch neighbors. She
was vaguely troubled, but forgot all
about it in her bitter disappointment at
finding no letter as yet from Alan.
She was walking slowly. with bent
head, and was half way through the
town, when suddenly young girl turned
the corner ahead Of her and was hurrying
swiftly away.
"Alicel' she called. joyfully. Surely
her dear friend. her playmate Of so many
bygone years, would be glad to give her
welcome
The girl hesitated, then turned slowly
and waited.
Il thocht We didna see me. said Mar
gurth, smiling. IN gae wi yc 10 the
mither, noo-l haze a word frae aunt.
To her surprise, the girl did not move
to accompany her.
What ist. them she exclaimed i'm
patiently, what ais the fQlki'
Il daurua, Mwgurth, said Alice, sadly.
'Mither forbid that | should speak WI
ye, even. canna bide TO talk
Alice saw two friends coming and tried
to hasten away. but Margurth caught her
dress and 50 held her.
I'VE shall ma gaze, she cried, "tnl We
h. elled me a'W
Jude company, It's ye're keepin Mis-.
iress Mcew cried the two girls who had
Just como up. "Wheer's your fine lover,
they snoered.
''1is my lover yc're speirin after; It's
for him ye treat me sael Because hac
gran. guide mon to wed We gle Inc shamel
IT'S that We are jealous 0 my guide luck,
cried Margurth. with blazing eyes.
"Na ma, spitfre," cried one; " tbs not
your lover we care abou', It's that he hae
gotten an game, as the sayin rims. He'll
no come again to marry"
Alice had shrunk back at this last
but now she looked inquiringly at
and waited for her answer. As
for Nargurth she seemed like one stricken
to stone. Then she tore Ter broken six
pence from her bosom, where it had rest
Oh for so many months, and held il out 10
them
"Dye see that" she cried, her breast
heaving with anger and psin; 'an' daur
We gae against the broken saXpencel I'm
an honester lassie than you the day, ye
bold faced things"
For an instant the girls were silenced,
for TO them the ceremony Of breaking q
sixpence when plightiDg a hath was
much more bin0ing than our engagement
ring. 50 easily changed from one hand to
and in fact is only exceeded IN
solemnity by the marriage ceremony IT.
self.
But the girls soon recovered them
selves. II would not do TO be cheated i'll
that way OF SO entertaining bit of scan
DIAL.
"Saxpences are mony," said one at last
can how ken we but We brak it yourself
IT'S year ago the fair night sin he left
ye; If your speech be true, he'll come
again before the year is oot--so wo'll wait
wi a patience till fair night, an then
we'll seel'
They ran away laughing, carrying Alice
with them, though she looked back and
evidently would have spoken. But Mar
gurth had turned away, and was walking
sadly homcward. So this was what 1t all
INFANT n.,l nnlo.a Alnr, ,.as tLarn hofnra