Nevada County picayune., 1891-09-10

vehemently went on Lydia. "Pvt killed Uncle Joshua's prize colt That is, l didn't exactly do it my self; but was riding pretty Jane around the meadow, just for prac' tice, and forgot and left the bars down, and the colt got out on the railroad track, and the train came along, and-oh 1 never can look Un- cle Joshua in the face again, unless 1 have that hundred dollars to pay him,
 II shall be able to earn plenty for myself before long mamma" she added breathlessly, "for can ride better than the woman in pink tarla- tan and spangles who jumped through the hoops at the circus. When the old gypsy told my fortune last year, at the county fair, she said horse shoe would bring me luck some day ; and l knew, of course, what she meant. So I've been practicing rid ing ever since, whenever l could get away from Aunt Beck and Uncle Joshua, and"---
 Mrs. Dappleton Ames is in the drawing room, ma 'am," said the white capped maid, appearing with an oxidized silver card receiver in her hand.
 And Mrs, Blythe checked her daugter's condolences at once.
 "Lydia," " cried she, "Tm surpris- ed at youl A great girl like you scuiiling and romping around the country, Go back to Shady Plains by the very next train, and try to behave more like a lady. Why, you must be fourteen at least!
 "Seventeen, mamma" confessed the culprt. But aren't you going to give me the hundred dollars :"
 "l have not got hundred cents '" impaticntly cried Mrs. Blythe. And if had, I wouldn't give it to you, you naughty, ill-behaved, romping- Yes, Matilda, tell Mrs. Dappleton Ames that l shall be down directly, and bring some tea and buns for for Miss Blythe before the next train goes.
 But when Mrs, Dappleton Ames had finished her call, and Mrs. Blythe came back, the bird had flown. Lydia, deeply wounded and resentful, had promptly returned to Shady Plains.
 That old gypsy must have been humbug, after all," thought the despairing girl. "Oh, what shall l say to Uncle Joshua? Why was mamma so cold and cruel to me; Oh, dear; l am very, very unhappy" :"
 'Shady Plains !" shouted the con dnctor
 And as Lydia crept sorrowfully out of the train something bright, like a fallen drop of dew, scintlllatcd on the floor at her feet. She stoou, d to pick it up. It a diamond pin in the shape of a horseshoe.
 Squire Carhart's company must have dropped it." said Lydia to her self. "Oh, how it sparkles! If it were only mine. For I'm sure it must be worth more than q hundred dollars"
 She glanced furtivcly at tall, broad shouldered young fellow who had been seated in the train few seats beyond her.
 "IIe never looked around, " thought Lydia. l am glad of it, foI he must have known that l had been crying. But must give this back to him.
 With light, swift step she has tened to overtake Squire Carhart's city guest,
 "Pleasc is this yours?" said she, holding up the gittering half circle II found it on the car floor close tG where you were sitting,
 He started and raised his hat.
 "It is Mir, Wotton's niece, isn'l it?" said he-'Miss Lydia? Yes il is mine, and I'm a thousand times obliged to you. l must have fasten- ed it in very carelessly, And l value it very highly, too; it's gift from my father.
 "Is it worth great deal oi money" asked Lydia, lifting heI sea blue eyes to hls face.
 "About a hundred dollars, sup pose.
 ''I wish it was mine," said Lydis with a long sigh, as if she were think ! .- l.,l