The Forrest City times., 1894-03-16
THE MAGPIE'S NEST.
How John Found His Sweetheart
 Had Been True.

There stood in Berkshire, England, far out upon quiet country road, a lit tie inn. which the wooden sign swing ing 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 its 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 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 soldier for several years, fell in love with her, and hn, tc nd Rat did not prove unkind The innkeeping father was willing enough to secure his handy Betty for a permanent as. sistant, and amid the chattering of the magpies Betty and John eXchang 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 a 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- 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 tfem back repartee for repartee, and even gave them those bright glances which John the soldier thought should only be given to himself. So John grew jeal- ous, and. being moody sort of man, said nothing about it.
 It never entered Berty's mind that the very manner 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, chanced, 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 amiable to him to degree that might have made a less jeal- ous man angry. Then, indeed, John Leaf spoke out, and Betty discovered the secret of his ill temper. Her pride being fiattered thereby she forgave him, and retired on Saturday night with the firm intention of winning back Johns smiles on the morrow, her holiday, when she would go 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 first thing next morning.
 John Leaf, sulking in his room under the garret caves, had not thought of