Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-11-25
Tie Silver King.

There stood in Berkshire, far out
rron quiet country road, little Inn,
u'h;cb the wood sign swinging at the
door declared to be known as The
Magpies Nest. !"
u had been thus named because Of
Tho number Of magpies in the neigh
horbood. And straight before the
door stood an oak-tree, a century old,
among whose uppermost branches,
voar in and year out, always hung
maonips nest, to which the country
neople believed that the same old
magpe returned regularly.
No very elegant entertainment was
offered at the "Magpie's Nest for
either man or beast; but it's patrons
thought the fare good; and then it was
served to them by the most charming,
rosv-cheekcd little maid, who wore a
ran with bright ribbons, and had a
waist that could have been spanned
bv 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 costly gift-to our eyes
1t 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, coquettsh 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 a young French
man from Marseilles, black-eyed,
olack-haired and polite in his man
nerS, as Frenchmen usually are,
ehahced, in the course of business
journey, to stop at the "Magpie's
nest she felt that he really would be
llne example for surly John Leaf,
ana was amiable to him to a degree
mat might have made a less jealous
nlan angry. Then. indeed, John Leaf
SpoKe out, and Betty discovered the
seCret Of his i11-temDer
her pride being flattered thereby,
Sne torgave him, and retired on Sat-
uluay night with the firm intention of
winning back Johns smiles on the
"'rFow' her holiday, when she would
81 10 church in her best attire and
N"aFm his heart from him over again,
as NE walked by her side. What wom-
=" ever had any design on a mans
wait ever desired to win from him
ail iavor or any gift, that she did not
Se'alnK her of all her finery? Before
pe''y Slept she took from her trunk
.er scotch plaid dress, her fringed
s"'"l, her blue-ribboned cap, her Sun
r"' SHOES, and her silver ring, and
Ia'i ing gwen the latter an extra pol
t." lalo them where they would meet
% eyes the first thing next morning.
'onh Leaf, sulking in his room I'M
WI .ne garnet caves, had no thought
, 'niS. Those slow natures do not
.oIset and forgive IN a hurry any
'Dore IMAM they do anything else.
o -ne morning sun, shining aslant
r,a, the inns walls. aroused Betty
''N MS first rays. She rubbed her
o we opened them. put her little feet
w. a' upon the floor, knelt down and
w. Su hef simple prayer, and then flew
'ue glass. II was only o crooked