The Columbus journal., 1894-03-14
THE MAGPIE'S NEST.

There stood in berkshire, Eng, far
out upon 4 quiet road. a little inn,
which the wooden sign swinging at the
door declared TO be known as The
Macpic's Nest"
1t had been thus named because OF
the number Of magpies In the neigh
borhood. And straight before the door
stood an oak tree q century old. among
whose uppermost branches, year in and
year out, always hung a maspie'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
mar 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 la a
waist that could have been spanned by
two hands-a we'll behaved little a
also, who resented too much freedom
by q box on the ear, n VINO was
known by the rector Of the parish
church to have been the best girl l
his Sabbath school. So, though Ii was
a poor orphan, and had only her little
need of wages, Betty might have mar.
ried many q stout young farmer. How
ever, she refused them all, and kept on
with her duties mt the Magpie's Nest
until the son of her master. coming
home from India. where he had served
as q soldier for several years, fell in
love with her and offered her his hand
and heart. Betty did not prove un-
kind. The innkeeping father was Will
ing enough to secure his nancy betty
for q permanent assistant. And amid
the chattering of the magpies Betty
and John exchanged their vows under
the nest-hung oak tree one bright a1ter-
noon, and John put upon e tnger
a thick silver ring, which he had OBJ
tanned abroad. perhaps by purchase,
perhaps by gift. perhaps as soldiers
obtain many things in time OF war.
1t was not a costly gift-to our eyes
il would not be n beautiful one-but
Betty valued it highly. She kept 1t pol
ished to perfection, and wore 1t with
great 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, coquet-
fish manner which had always be-
longed to her. She joked with the
farmers. flung them back repartee for
repartee. and even gave them those
bright glapces which John, the soldier.
thought should be only given to him
self. So John grew jealous. and being
q moody sort Of man, said nothing
about it.
If never entered Betty's mind that
the very n which had once en-
chanted John should now offend him.
and she herself grew angry with her
lover for his scowls and sulkiness.
Therefore, when a young Frenchman
from Marseilles, black-eyed. black
haired and as polite in his manners as
Frenchmen usually are, CHANGED, IN
the course of a business journey. to
stop at the Magpie's Nest, she felt tnat
he would really be a fine example Tor
s,,rly John Leaf, and was amiable to
him 10 a degree that might have made
a less jealous man angry. Then, III
deed, John Leaf spoke out, and Betty
discovered the secret of his i'll temper.
Her pride being 6attered thereby, she
forgive him, and retired on Saturday
night with the firm intention OF Win
min. back Johns smiles on the morrow.
her holiday, when she would go to
church in her best attire and charm his
heart from him over again as he walked
by her side. What woman eVer had
any design on a mans heart. ever de-
sired to win from him any favor or any
Gift. that she did not bethink her Of
all her finery! Before Betty slept she
took from her trunk her Scotch plaid
dress. her fringed shawl. her blue-rib-
boned can. her Sunday shoes and her
silver ring. and having given the latter
an extra polish. laid them where they
would meet her eyes he first thing
next morning.
John Leaf. sulking in his under
the garnet caves, had not thought OF
this. Those slow natures do not forget
and forgive in a hurry, any more tina
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 ont upon the floor. knelt down aud
said her simple prayer and then new
to the glass. 1t was only a ook
thing, with a flaw In it, and a rough
oaken frame. but it was sufficient to
make her happy. She braided her hair'
nut on her cap, buttOned her dress.
tied about her throat the gay neck
ribbon, laced her shoes .eOmetrically,
and then looked for her ring. 1t was
zone.
She knew the very spot upon til" "r'
b%eart-shaped pincushion into which she
had thrust the needle over which he