Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-09-26

EtSss-.s. tree century BID,
among whose Mp-
y pcrmost branches,
year in and year out, always hung a
magpie's nest, to which the country
people believed that the same old Dag
pies returned regularly.
Not very elegant entertainment Vas
offered at the Magpie's Nest for ether
man or beast, but its patrons tholQht
the ale good, and then it was sewed
to them by the most charming, rlsS
checked little barmaid, who won la
cap with bright ribbons, and had IA
waist that could have been spannedlk
two hands-a well-behaved little mn
also, who resented too much freedsk
by box on the ear, and who s&
known by the rector of the paris
church to have been the best girl il
his Sabbath-school. So, though I'D
was poor orphan, and had only hsr
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 Mag
pies Nest until the son of her master
coming homo 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 unkind. The innkeeping father
was willing enough to secure his handy
Betty for apermanent assistant. And
amid the chattering of the magpies,
Betty and John exchanged 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, perhaps by
purchase, perhaps by gift, perhaps as
soldiers obtain many things in time
of war.
1t was not costly gift-tc 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
holidays; 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 and flung them back
repartee for repartee, and even gave
them those bright glances which John
the soldier thought should be only
given to himself. So John grew jeal-
Gus, and being 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 for his scowls and sulkiness.
Therefore, when young French
man from Marseilles, black-eyed,
black haired and as polite IN manners
as Frenchmen usually are, CHANGED, in
the course of a business journey, to
stop at the "Magpie's Nest" she felt
that he really would be fine example
for surly John Leaf, and was amiable
to him to degree that might have
made less jealous man angry. Then
indeed John Leaf spoke out, and Betty
discovered the secret of his ill tempr.
Her pride being fattered thereby, she
forgave him, and retired on Saturday
night with the firm intention of win
ming back Johns smiles on the NOR
row, 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 mons 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 Sunday shoes
and her silver ring, and having 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 un-
der the garnet caves, had no thought
Of this. Those slow natures do not |
forget and forgive in 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 little feet
out upon the floor, knelt down and
said her simple prayer and then flew
10 the glass. 1t was only crooked
hing with flaw in it, and a rough
oaken frame, but it was sufficient to
make her happy. She braided her
hair, put on her cap, buttoned her
lress, tied about her throat the gay
lecA ribbon, laced her shoes geome- |