The Forrest City times., 1894-03-16


 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. It was only a crooked thing, with flaw in it, 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 geometricaiiy, and then looked for her ring. It 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. It was below the window sill, on little table; it could not have rolled out; but it was not in the room. She shook out her dress, her shawl, her bedclothes She swept the floor. It was gone. That was the end of it.
 Betty sat down and wept bitterly. All the country people of that day were supeistitious. 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, as their hands almost met in the act, he saw upon the little finger of his customer thick silver ring, the very counterpart of that which he had given to his Betty.
 You've pretty ring, monseer," he said. with sort of catching of the breath. May ask where you got it?'
 ''Ah, but, certainly" said the French man. "One does not boast, but pret- ty girl gave me that Yes, and kiss also''
 John turned as pale as his horid face could turn. He ma ie no answer, but marched straight out of the tap-room and into Betty's kitchen.
 She stood near the door in her holi- day dress, with her white cotton gloves on. The magpies were chattering over head, and afar the church bells were ringing.
 You are going to church with me. John?" she asked, softly and with a smile.
 That depends" said John Leaf.
 Then he walked straight up to her and looked full into her honest eyes
 T :lxo .l~ l. said; but who knows woman? Take off your gloves, Betty"
 She obevcd.
 "Where's your ring" he asked.
 Betty burst into tears.
 Its lost, John,' she said. 1T can find it nowhere"
 You haven't looked on monseer's finger, then" said John. You poor fool. to give it to him and think shouldn't know it."
 "Oh, I'll swear l never did" sobbed Betty. II give your ring to anyone else! Why. John-''
 But he pushed her from him with his rough hand, and would hear no word from her; and the next day he left the inn and enlisted once more, and was sent away again to India. And Betty left the inn also and took service with farmers wife hard by; and whatever the magpies chattered about, it was no more of the love making that they heard when John and Betty sat to- gether beneath the old oak tree
 Five years went by. At last John re- ceived a letter from England. telling him that his father was dead, and had left all his little possessions to his only son.
 John Leafs fighting days were over, in any case, and he was on the invalid list for life He had fought as desper- ate men do had been commended and promoted. and had some medals and ribbons to show and boast of as com pensations for a wooden leg. So he went home again and settled down as proprietor of the ''Magpie's Nest" and was sort of hero among his neighbors. but he was very lonely. Men do not quite forget in five years. He could still see Betty's buxom form fitting about the kitchen in imagination, and when the magpies chattered in their nests, he could fancy that he sat with her still under the oak branches. Then he grew wroth with the magpies. who seemed to mock him. and ordered his little serving boy to tear the nests down.
 Tn vain the lad pleaded for the birds. In vain he declared that, even if the new nests went, the old one in the top most branches should be left flor luck"
 If the old magpies that built that find it gone, they'll peck some ones eyes out in the night time" said the