Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-03-15
THE MAGPIE'S NEST.
How John Found His Sweetheart
Had Been True.

AAeTo 6LOOO IN berkshire, England,
far out upon a quiet country road, a lit
tile inn which the wooden sign swing
ing at the door declared to be known as
'"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 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 waist
that could have been spanned by two
hands, well-behaved little maid also,
who resented too much freedom by q
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 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 soldier for
several years, fell in love with her, and
offered her his hand and heart. Betty
did not prove untind. 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.
It was not 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 great pride on high days and hol-
days; 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 trem back
repartee tor repartee, and even gave
them those bright chances which John
the soldier thought should only be
given to himself. So John grew ieal-
Gus, and, being a moody sort of man,
said nothing about it.
1t never entered Betty's mind that
the very manner which had once en-
chanted John should now offend him,
and she herself grew angry with her
lover Tor his scowls and sulkiness.
Therefore, when young Frenchman
from Marseilles, black. eyed, black
haired and as polite in his manners as
Frenchmen usually are, CHANGED, in the
course of business journey, to stop at
the Magpie's Nest" she felt that he
would be really fine example for surly
John Leaf, and was anna BILE to him to a
degree that might have made less jeal-
Gus man angry. Then, indeed, John
Leaf spoke out, and Betty discovered
the secret of his i'll temper. Her pride
being fattered thereby she forgave him,
end retired on Saturday night with the
firm intention of winning back Johns
smiles on the morrow, her holiday, when
she would 60 to church in her best at
tire 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 fnery! Before
Betty slept she took from her trunk
her Scotch plaid dress, her fringed
shawl, her blue-ribboned cap, her Sun
day shoes and her silver ring, and hav-
Ing given the latter an extra polish,
laid them where they would meet her
eyes the hrst thing next morning.
John Leaf, sulsing in his room under
the garrett caves, had not thought of
this. Those slow natures do not for
get and forgive in hurry, any more
than they do anyth ing else.
The morning sun, shining aslant
against the inns wall, aroused Betty
with his first rays. She rubbed her
syes, opened them, put her fat little
;eet out upon the floor, knelt down and
said her simple prayer and then flew to
the glass. 1t was only crooked thing,
with q flaw In II, and rough oaken
frame, but it was sufficient to make her
happy. 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.
She knew the very spot upon the red
heart-shaped pin-cushion into which
she had thrust the needle over which
the silver ring had been hung There
stuck the needle still. 1t was below
the window sill, on little table; it
sould not have rolled out; but it was
not in the room. She shook out her
dress, her shawl, her bedclothes. She
swept the floor. 1t was gone. That
was the end Of it.
Betty sat down and wept bitterly.
ALL the country people Of that day were
supe,stitious. The ring had disap.
peared in most mysterious way, for
.,er door was bolted and her window
high from the ground, and she firmly
believed that the loss portended some
great evil:
Mean while at the bar of the inn q
dCtle scene was going on. Inc f'rench-
man had asked for glass Of ale and
John, who was always tapster on Sun
lay mornings. had drawn it for him,
when, as their hands almost met in the
lct. he saw upon the little finger of his
customer thick silver ring, the very
counterpart OF that which he had given
10 his Betty.
you've pretty ring, monseer." he
laid. with sort Of catching Of the
breath. '.May I ask where you got it?"
..Ah, but, certainly" said the French
nan. zone does not boast, but pref
" girl gave me that. Yes, and kiss
also. =
John turned as pale as his ford face
.ould turn. He made no answer, but !.
marched straight out Of the tap-room
md into Betty's kitchen.
She stood near the door in her hole
lay dress, with her white cotton gloves