The Bossier banner., 1894-04-19
THE MAGPIE'S NEST.
How John Found His Sweetheart
Had Been True.

There stood in Berkshire, England,
far out upon quiet country road, lit
lie inn, which the wooden sign swing
,ng at the door declared to be known as
1.-THE Magpie's Nest"
It had been thus named because of
the number of magpies in the neigh
borhood. And straight before the door
stood an oak tree a century old, among
whose uppermost branches, year in and
year out, always hung magpie's nest,
to which the country people believed
that the same old magpies returned
regularly.
No very elegant entertainment was
offered at the Magpie's Nest for either
man or beast, but it's patrons thought
the ale good, and then it was served to
them by the most charming, rosy
checked little barmaid, who wore 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 a
box on the ear, and who was known by
the rector of the parish to have been
the best girl in his Sabbath school. So,
though she was poor orphan. and had
only her little need of wages, Betty
might have married many a stout
young farmer. However, she refused
them all, and kept on with her duties
at the Magpie's Nest until the son of
her master, coming home from India,
where he had served as a soldier for
several years, fell in 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 as
sistant, and, amid the chattering of the
magpies, Betty and John exchang ged
their vows under the nest-hung oak
tree one bright afternoon, and John
put upon her finger q thick silver ring,
which he had obtained abroad, per-
haps by purchase. perhaps by gift,
perhaps as soldiers obtain many things
In time of war.
twas not a costly gift-to our eyes
it would not be a beautiful one-but
Betty valued it highly. She kept it
polished to perfection, and wore it
with great pride on high days and hol-
idays; 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, flung ttem back
lepartee Tor repartee, and even gave
.aem those bright glances which John
sne soldier thought should only be
given to himself. So John grew ieal-
GUS, and. being a moody sort of man,
sald nothing about it.
IL never entered Betty's mind that
Tue very manner which had once en-
chanted John should now offend him.
ana she herself grew angry with her
'over Ior his scowls and sulkiness.
therefore, when young Frenchman
nom Marseilles, black. eyed, black
naifed and as polite in his manners as
ifenchmen usually are, chanced, in the
course .,.e OF business journey, to stop at
she Magpie's Nest" she felt that he
Svaio be really fine example for surly
Sonn Leaf, and was amiable to him to a
uegree that might have made a less ieal-
rus man angry. Then, indeed, John
ueai spoke out, and Betty discovered
y. sns secret of his i'll temper Her pride
.ea stuB nattered thereby, she forgave him,
eAu retired on Saturday night with the
urn intention of winning back Johns
~ 0uaes on the morrow, her holiday. when
.;N ae would go to church in her best at
49,. e anu charm his heart from him over
asaia as ne walked by her side. What
haaa Slnan ever had any design on a mans
~ ever desired to win from him
any !avor Or any gift, that she did not
Ra..n ...nk R her of all her finery. Before
bas siept she took from her trunk
sbau scotch plaid dress, her fringed
dar - her olue-ribboned cap, her Sun
;ns snoes and her silver ring. and hay-
i given the latter an extra nolisb
sra. s .nen where they would meet her
II, w hFst thing next morning.
tba nn Leaf, sulking in his room under
sh;. sarret 1T caves, had not thought of
-. @ Those slow natures do not for
thar thai aaa .s forgive in a hurry, any more
III ~ 'ney DO anything else.
aga;ns. rhing sun, shining aslant
with s. =. sne inns wall, aroused BETTY
evss nis hrst rays. She rubbed her
feet on, peneo them, put her fat little
said H. upon the floor, knelt down and
the slsa H.. SIMPLE prayer and then few to
with "a IL was only crooked thing,
frams tI aaw In it, and a rough oaken
hannv 'S. :. II was sufficient to make her
her csn s she braided her hair, put on
her tbra -, outtoned her dress, tied about
her as ssaN the gay neck ribbon, laced
looked sos geometrically. and then
''s s0s aer ring, 1t was gone.