Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-25
The SILVER King.


There stood in Berkshire, far out
upon q quiet country road, little Inn
which the wood sign swinging at the
door declared to be known as Inc
Magpie'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, century old,
among whose uppermost branches,
year in and year out, always hung a
magpie's nest, to which the country
people believed that the same old
magpie returned regularly.
No very elegant entertainment was
offered at the "Magpie's Nest" for
either man or beast but its patrons
thought the fare good; and then it was
served to them by the most charming,
rosy-cheeked little maid, who wore a
cap with bright ribbons, and had a
waist that could have been spanned
by two hands-a well-behaved little
maid also. who was known by the
rector of the parish church to have
been the best girl in his Sunday
school.
So, though she was a poor orphan,
and had only her little need Of wages,
Betty might have married many
stout 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 unkind. The inn
keeping father was willing enough to
secure his handy Betty for perman-
ent assistant, and amid the chattering
Of the magpies Betty and John ex-
changed 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 the time of war.
1t was not a costly gift-to our eyes
It would not be beautiful one-but
Betty valued it highly. She kept 1t
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, 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 polite in his man
ners, as Frenchmen usually are,
CHANGED, in the course of 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 a degree
that might have made less jealous
man angry. Then, indeed, John Leaf
spoke out. and Betty discovered the
secret of his ill-temper.
Her pride being flattered thereby,
she forgave him, and retired on Sat-
urday night with the firm intention of
winning back Johns smiles on the
morrow, her holiday, when she would
20 to church in her best attire and
charm his heart from him over again,
as he walked by her side. What wom-
an ever had any design on a mans
heart, ever desired 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-ribboned cap, her Sun
day shoes, and her silver ring, and
having given the latter an extra pol
fish 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 a hurry any
more than they do anything else.
The morning sun, shining aslani
against the inns walls. 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 few
TO the glass. 1t was only a crooked
thing, with flaw in 1t, and rough
oaken frame. but sufficient to make
her happy. She braided her hair, pu
ON her cap. buttoned her dress, TIED
about her throat the gay neck-ribbon
laced her shoes geometrically, ant
then looked for her ring. II wal
gone!
She knew the very spot upon TIT
red heart-shaped pin-cushion int
which she had thrust the needle Owe
which the silver ring had been hung
There stuck the needle still. 1t wa
below the window-sill, on a littl,
table; IT could not have rolled out; Blu
Y was not in the room. She shook GU