Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-25
A BROKEN SIXPENCE.


The cry was SO full Of bitter anguish
that it touched even the light and cal
loused heart OF the man who heard it.
Never mind, lassie. he said, cheerily.
Whats 'good-by,' anyway? It's so
much better than farewell
'Ay, laddie. ay-tis so, You'll come
again-vou- II come again to Margurth, as
you've glen ne word, Alan?'
The question was so eager, and yet so
tenderly confident!
Come again to you and 0bang" he
asked, laughing Now, could stay
awayf There, they are calling from the
boat; must 90. 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 be waved his hand TO her in last
farewell, she did not know that he had
no more intention Of returning to her to
keep his plighted faith, than he had CT
putting on q last years faded garment,
thrown aside for a newer fancy.
She watched him till the binding tears
hid him from her sight. 4 cracked and
QUerulous voice greeted her as she en-
tered the little cottage,
80 'ee's aye game, the moo? An twould
ha' been IS weel had it been a month
a-Cane. Ye've flashed me sair Margurth.
vi your lovins and lea 5. Gae to your
wsrk. girl"
N2rgurth sighed Il was so hard to
be forced 70 her regular routine Of duties
while her heavy heart louGed for the
brooding silence Of the beach and cliffs
She had yet 10 learn that grief is soonest
overcome by firing labor.
''rd ne'er ha' seen him had ee game a
month ago, aunt, she said Estlessly.
In thinktn' 'twould Ia been IS well
had We no
What mean ye, aunt?' MargUrth cried,
Indignantly 4 haze Lis fairh-surelie We
Gamma nisdoot the broken sixpencel"
''Ay, can l. replied her aunt. grimly,
IAN him as veel till see him again
The days went heavily by Ut the cot
taCe. The aunt was more ailinE and com
planning than usual and Margurth's life
at best was q hard one
She had q soul above busting and dish
washing. things that occupied her aunt's
whole attention when she was able 10
drag herself about her work ''Ah. bonnie
laverock!' sighed Nargurth, catching the
sound q his merry lifting as il drop- Ell to
her through the blue air. Gould | but
wing vi you for day. how quick I'd find
him, an nestle doom into his lovin' heat"
But these IOngings she kept close locked
In her bosom, and the winter passed in
loneliness, but tinged with nope 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 runor had
been busy also. On every hand she met
with coldncss ana suspicious CIances
where she had been accustomed TO warm
coriiality from her Scotch ue;ghbOrs. She
was vaguely troubled. but forgot al
about II IL her bitter disappointment at
finding 10 lester as vet from Alan.
She was walking slowly, with bent
head, and was half way through tina
town. when suddenly young girl turned
the corner ahead OF her and was hurryirg
swiftly away.
Alice she called. joyfuLIy. Surely
her dear friend. her playmate # so many
bygoae years. would be glad to give her
welcome.
The girl hesitated, then turned slowly
anu waited.
Il thocht ye didna see me" sid Mar
guIth, smiling, IN gae vi ye to tbs
nither. B0o-I Lae a word frae aunt.
To her surprise, The girl did not move
to accompany her
What is't. them she exclaimed i'm
patiently, what ais the folk"
4 daur-a NGrgurtL. said Alice, sadly.
"Mither forbid that ! should speak WI
We. even. Gamma b.Ie 70 talk"
Alice saw two friends coming and tried
to hasten away, but MargurtA caught her
dress and so held Eer.
''Ye shall n gae, she cried, Till We
bae telle1 me az
Guide company, It's we're keapin' Mis-
tress Alice!" cried the two girls who had
just come up. 'Wheer's your tine lover,
Margurth.' they sneered-
IT'S NY lover we're speiriu' after; It's
for hin ye treat LIE sael Because hae
gran, GUIDE mon to wed We gle NE shame!
It's that ye are jealous o NY GUIDE luck.
cried NGrgurth, with blazing eyes
Ma "a, spittre," cried one; " us not
your lover we care abou' lis that he haze
gotten an game, as tie sayin' rms. He'll
no cone again ia marry.
Alice had shrunk back at this last
speech, but low she looked inquiriugly az
Marsurth and waited for her answer. As
Tor Ma~Curth she seemed Ike one stricken
to stone. Than she tore her broken six
pence from her bosom, where il had rest
ed for 30 many months, and held IL out TO
them.
Dye see that she cried, her breast
heavin5 with anSer and pain: an daUr
sc g1e against the broken s4xpeace? In
81 honeeter l&ssie than you the day, re
bold faced things
For an instant the girls were silenced.
for 70 them the ceremony Of breaking d
Eixpence when phGLtinE d trocL was
much more binding than our engagement
ring, so easily changed from ona hand TO
another; and IN fact IS only exceeded in
solennity BY the marriage ceremony IT.
self
But the girls soon recovered them
EelveS- Il would not DO 10 be cheated in
that way o. so eutert2iEill- q Bit Of scan
cal
SaZQences are uony." said one 81 lsst,
an boT ken We but ye hrak i YOURSELF
lbs yeSr as,o the fair night sin lie left
Sc; II your speech b true, he'll Gene
again before the yea- Is coc-so well wait
vi s patience I'll fa.r night. an then
wen see
They ran away laughing, earring Alice
with them though SIC looked back and
evidently would have spoken But Mar
g2rth had turned away, and was walking
sadly Es2ewGrl- 81 tbs was what il Il
meant. and unless Alan was there before
fair night-Sbe slCcGered 10 think what
her life would be after that. until he
should come, with Pointing Gnee-s ard
cruel snee-s following her wherever she
went And il he should never co--ei
Her heart stood still with sudden fear.
You'll ccr1e TO ne, Alan, tesy;e.
des-ie!- SIZE half sobhed under her
breath So intense wss the pleading