Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-12-03

1
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
under the garret caves, had no
thought of this. Those slow na
lures do not forget and forgive IN
a hurry any more than they do
anything else.
The morning sun, shining aslant
against the inn's walls, aroused
Betty with his first RAYS. She rub
bed her eyes, opened them, pu'
her little feet ont upon the floor,
kuelt down and said her simple
pra, er, aud then flew to the glass.
lit was only a crooked thing, with
a flaw in it, and a rough oaken
frame, but sufficient to make her
happy. She braided her hair, put
on her cap, buttonep her dress,
tied about her throat the gay neck
ribbon, laced her shoes geOmetrl'
caIly. and then looked for her ring.
1t was gone!
She kuew the very spot upon the
red heart.shaped pin cushion into
which she had thrust the needle
over which the silver ring had
hung, There stuck the needle still.
II was below the window sill, on a
little table; it could not have roll
ed out: but it was not in the room.
Sue shook out her dress, her shawl,
her bed clothes. She swept the
floor, IL was gone. That was the
end of it.
Betty sat down and wept bit.
terly. All the country people OF the
day were superstitiOus. The ring
had disappeared in a most myste-
rious way, for her door was boiled,
and her window high from the
ground, and she nrmly believed
that the loss portended some great
EVIL.
Meanwhile at the bar of the lnn
little scene was going on. Tue
Freachman had asked for glass
of ale, and John, who was always
tapster on Sunday mornings, had
drawn it for him, when, as their
hands met ia the act, he saw upon
the little finger of his customer a
thick silver ring, the very counter
part of that which he had given to
his Betty.
you've a pretty ring, monsieur,
he said, with "a sort of catching 0f
the breath. May 7 ask where yOu
got itp
'Ah. yes, certainly said the
Frencnman. 'One does not boast,
but very pretty girl gave me
that. Yes, and a kiss q So
John ,urued as pale as any tioIlc
t,ce could turn. BE made no an
+. but n.arched straight out OF
,ne room AID into B .tty's kitchen
| Sn- sroO near the door in her
holiday dress, with her white cot
Oh loves on. The magpies were
chaltering overhead, aud altar th'
church bells we're ringing.
| You arO going 10 church Will
ne Johnr she asked, softly, with
swile.
That depends,' said John Leaf.
Then he walked straight mp to
Ibar and looked full into her hon
est eyes,
You dou't look like cheat he
said; hut who knows a woman
T.Re of your gloves, Betty
She obey ed.
'Wh-re's your rngi' TO ask.
Betty burst into tears.
Ips lost, j ,hn,' she SAID. Il cal
4 find 1t nowhere
'You haven't looked on mons
leul's finger, them said John. 'Io
I poor fool, to give it to hin, anC
/ think | shouldn't know it,
Oh I'll swear | never did, sob
bed Betty. Il give your ring t
y an , Que elsep Why, john
But be pushed her from HIN wit
b. his rough hand, and would hes
no words from her, aud the ne1
= day he left the linn, and enliste
y once more, and was sent ava
q again to India. End Betty le
Q the Inn also, and took service wit
% a farmers wife close by an
r whatever the magpies cbattere
Ie about, it was no more OF the love
L making that they heard when Jot
n and Betty sat together beneat
afl the old oak-tree.
ID Five years went by. AT first Jot
received a letter from Euglan
Q. telling him that his father wi
ID dead and had left all bis litt