Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-06-29

HS ~ door stood an oak
NGeS-dep1 tree century old,
49, among whose up
" pormost branches,
year in and year out, always hung. a
magpie's nest, to which the country
people believed that the same old mag
pies returned regularly.
Not very elegant entertainment was
offered ut tho Magpie's Nest for either
man or beast, but its patrons thought
the nle good, and then it was served
to them by the most charming, rosy
checked little barmaid, who wore n
cap with bright ribbons, and had a
waist that could have been spanned by
two hands-a well-behaved little maid
also, who resented too much freedom
by box on the ear, and who was
known by the rector of tho parish
church to have been the best girl in
his Sabbnth-school. SO, though she
WIS poor orphan, and had only her
little need of wages, Betty might have
married many IL stout young farmer.
However, she refused them all, and
kept on with her duties Mt the Mag
pies Nest until the son of her master,
coming homo from India, where he
had served rs soldier for several
years, fell i'll love with her, and offered
her his hand and heart. Betty did not
prove unkind. The innkeeping father
was willing enough to secure his handy
Betty for permanent assistant. And
amid the chattering of the magpies,
Betty and John exchanged their VOWS
under the nest hung oak tree one
bright afternoon, and John put upon
her finger thick silver ring, which
he had obtained abroad, perhaps by
purchase, perhaps by gift, perhaps ms
soldiers obtain many things in time
of war.
1t was not q costly gift-to our eyes
it would not be beautiful one-but
Betty valued it highly. She kept it
polished to perfection, and wore it
with grent pride on high days and
holidays; but though she loved John,
and looked forward to her wedding
day with Joy, she would not alter the
bright, coquettish manner which had
always belonged to her. She joked
with the farmers and flung them back
repartee for repartee, and oven gave
them those bright glances which John
the soldier thought should be only
given to himself So John grew jeai-
GUS, and being moody sort of man,
said nothing about it.
1t never entered Betty's mind that
the very manner which had once er4
chanted John should now offend Ia.
and she herself grew angry witleher
lover for his scowls and sulkiness
Therefore, when n young French
man from Marseilles, black-eyed,
hlack-haired and as polite in manners
ms Frenchmen usually are, CHANGED, in
the course of n business journey, to
stop ut the "Magpie's Nest" she felt
that he really would be fine example
for surly John Leaf, and was amiable
to him to Il degree that might have
made less jealous man angry. Then
indeed John Leaf spoke out, and Betty
discovered the secret of his ill tempr.
Her pride being fattered thereby, she
forgave him, and retired on Saturday
night with the firm intention of win
ming back Johns smiles on the NOR
row, her holiday, when she would go
to church i'll her best attire and charm
his heart from him over again, as he
walked by her side. What woman ever
had any design ON mans heart, ever
desired to win from him any favor or
any gift, that she did not bethink her
of all her tinery? Before Betty slept,
ghe took from her trunk her Scotch
plaid dress, her fringed shawl, her
blue-ribboned cap, her Sunday shoes
and her silver ring, and having given
the latter IN extra polish, laid them
where they would meet her eyes the
first thing next morning.
John Leaf, sulking in his room nm
der the garnet caves, had no thought
of this. Those slow natures do not
forget and forgive in hurry, any
more than they do anything else.
The morning sun, shining aslant
against the inns wall, aroused Betty
with his first rays. She rubbed her
eyes, opened them, put her little feet
out upon the floor, knelt down and
said her simple prayer and then flew
to the glass. 1t was only crooked
tHiuS Will ~ law III IL, anu Il rough
oaken frame, but it was sufficient ia
make her happy. She braided hel
hair, put on her cap. buttoned hel
dress, tied about her throat the gay
neck ribbon, laced her shoes geome.
trically and then looked for her ring.
1t was gone.
She knew the very spot upon the red
heart-shaped pincushion into which
she had thrust the needle over which
this silver ring had been hung. There
stuck the needle still. 1t was below
the window sill, on little table; il
could not have rolled ont; but it was
not in the room. She shook out heI
dress, her shawl, her bcd-clothes. She
swept the floor. 1t was gone. Thai
was the end of it.
Betty sat down and wept bitterly
All the country people Of that day were