The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-03-15
THE MAGPIE'S NEST.
How John Found His Sweetheart
Had Been True.

There stood in Berkshire, England
far out upon a quiet country road, a lit.
tie inn, which the wooden sign swing.
ing at the door declared to be known as
''The Magpies Nest"
1t had been thus named because Ct
the number of magpies in the neigh.
borhood. And straight before the door
stood an oak tree 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 its patrons thought
the ale good, and then it was served to
them by the most charming, rosy
checked little barmaid, who wore a cap
with bright ribbons, and had waist
that could have been SPAWNED 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 exchan ged
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, per-
haps by purchase, perhaps by gift,
perhaps as soldiers obtain many things
in time of war.
1t was not 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 jolled
with the farmers, flung item back
repartee for rcpartee, and even gave
them those bright glances which John
the. soldier thought should only be
given to himself So John grew ieal-
Gus, and. being q moody sort of man,
said nothing about it.
1t never entered Betty's mind that
the very manner which had once en-
chantcd John should now offend him,
and she herself grew angry with her
lover for his scowls and sullliness
Therefore, when young Frenchman
from Marscilles, black eyed, black
haired and as polite in his manners as
Frenchmen usually are, CHANGED, in the
curse Of business journey, to stop at
the Magpies Nest" she felt that he
could be really fine example for surly
Eeaf;-and was amiable' to him to
zee that might have made less jeal-
IS man angry. Then, indeed, John
af spoke out, and Betty discovered
secret of his i'll temper. Her pride
1g flattered thereby she forgave him,
retired on Saturday night with the
a intention of winning back Johns
lies on the morrow, her holiday, when
would go to church in her best at
and charm his heart from him over
in as he walked by her side. What
l:sn ever had any design on a mans
t, ever desired to win from him
favor or any gift, that she did not
ink her of all her finery! Before
slept she took from her trunk
Scotch plaid dress, her fringed
u, her blue-ribboned cap, her Sun
hoes and her silver ring, and hav-
yiven the latter an extra polish,
them where they would meet her
The first thing next morning.
Leaf, sulking in his room under
lrret caves, had not thought of
Those slow natures do not for
iget and, forgive in a 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 fat little
feet out upon the floor, knelt down and
said her simple prayer and then flew to
the glass. 1t was only crooked thing,
with flaw in it, and a rough oallen
frame but it was sufficient to make her
haSpy. She braided her hair, put on
her cap, buttoned her dress. tied about
her throat the gay neck ribbon, laced
her shoes geometrically, and then
looked for her ring. 1t was gone.
Betty sat down and wept bitterly.
All the country people of that day were
supelstitious. The ring had disap.
.peared in most mysterious way, for
her door was bolted and her window
high from the ground, and she firmly
believed that the loss portended some
great evil.
Meanwhile at the bar of the inn
little scene was going on. The French
man had asked for glass of ale and
John, who was always tapster on Sun
day mornings, had drawn it for him,
when, rs their hands almost met in the
act, he saw upon the little finger of his
missioner thick silver ring, the very
ounterpart of that which he had given
to his Betty.
you've pretty ring, monseer," he