Litchfield enquirer., 1855-02-22

of Margaret Evandale. An old friend of the family was consulted on the occasion. lie saw no reason to doubt, he said, the Captains responsibility, and still less to question the independence of his circum- stances, and the consequence of these opin- ions was the favorable reception of Stanley's suit.
 A day was fixed for the celebration of the wedding. Three days previously the bride groom presented the bride elect with mass i've gold locket, set round with briiiiants, ard of singnlarly exquisite workmanship; one side containing his own portrait done in miniature on small ivory plate, the other containing lock of his own and of Marga- ret Envandale's hair, neatly interwoven into small diamond-shaped plai;s. Proud of the love token. Margaret has toned to show it to her friend Mary Walters who was to be her bridesmaid Mary was tall, gentle. pensive-looking young W oman of about eight or nine and twenty. Her countenance was beautiful, though pale and sad, and she always wore deep mourning. She had done so for the last eigh. or ten years-ever since 1t became certain that the Minerra must have been lost, and that her commander and his unfortunate crew must all have perished along witt, her. Mary had been betrothed to Captain Evandale, Mar garet's brother, and they were to bave been married on his return from the fatal voyage which he had been destined never to com plete.
 On the locket being put into Mary Wal ters' hand, she started, grew pale as corpse, and, sinking into chair, asked her friend, in faint and almost inaudible voice. if sh Q knew where Captain Stanley had fallen in with it. Margaret Evandale, in great sur prise at her friends emotion, replied that she did not; but supposed he must have bought it.
 "No, no, Margaret, he could not at least. 1 think he could not," said Mary Walters. 's He who owned it would not have parted with i: for money-no, not for all the worlds wealth and how it should have been rescu- ed from the depths of the ocean, cannot conceive"
 Mary. dear, what do you mean ]" inqui- red Margaret fearfuly, thinking her friend had lost her reason.
 "Ill tell you what l mean, Margaret" said Mary Walters, with that semblance of composure often induced by intense feeling 1: tha, locket was my last gift to your broth- CT. gave it to him on the day he left this 10 proceed on his last fatal voyage. Iknew it well, although the original portrai. has been removed and another put in its place. It was brought from India by my father, who bought it from soldier who had been at the taking of ofSeringapatam, where he had doubt less obtained it in the way of plunder. It is of India manu fac.ure. and if further proof were wanting to establish its identity, l shall find it here" And opening the locket with a facility that showed perfect familiarity with its mechanism, she raised the portrait it contained with the point of her scissors, and pointing to small circle filled up with intricate lines, which were engraved in the centre of the thin plate of gold that divided the locket into its two compartments, said |" Here il is. These apparently unmeaning lines form the initials of your brothers name and mine-R. F. (Robert Evandale,) and NJ. w. (Mary Walters). They were en- graved by friend of mine, and made pur- posely intricate, that they might not he too readily made out. Blu, can trace them ex- actly." And to Margaret Evandale's unut- terable surprise, she did so with the point of needle, bringing regularity out of appa- rent confusion, and making the letters ap- pear quite distinct.
 Mary Walters now entreated her friend 10 inquire of Captain Stanley without mo- men,'s delay where he had purchased the locket, and desiring at the same time, leave to retai" possession of it until some account of it was obtained.
 On being asked regarding the trinket, c~r.ain Sranloy o~ineed guod drat or sur prise, and not little disccmposure. It was indeed. some seconds before he could make any answer at all. At length he said, with an ofi.hand air of indifference, which it was evident he did not in reality feel:-
 "Why, what's all this about locket! Do they suppose stole it. eh bought it from Jew in London, and that's all can tell about it. Bought it and paid for it. A good round sum, too. l needn't say how much; and wont But, let's see it, Mar vere,," he said, for it was with her this con- versation took place, "and will lind you another that shall Dc no subject of imperti- nen, inquiry and remark"
 Miss Evanaale now informed him that her friend Mary Walters had entrea.ed 10 be allowed to keep the locket ill she had made the inquiries which he had just answered, uuk HIOH1tStu thdt ssiS ts " him in the afternoon. -....
 May. curse it; get it back instantly. Margaret" exclaimed Captain Stanley i,n- patiently, and in state of perturbation and excitement, which Miss Evandale was greatly at loss to understand. Run for 1t, like good girl. Come. now, do, and I'll give you something ten times hand somer."
 It was not this promise, but a desire to oblige Captain Stanley, that induced Miss Evandale instun,ly to throw on her bonnet and shawl and hasten back to Mary Wal ters, to request the locket from her. Two hours had not elapsed since the latter had obtained possession of it; yet she cane too late. The locket had already passed into other hands--into hands that would not release heir hold of it till more satis- factory explanations were given regarding it than those Captain Stanley had yet vouchsafed.
 Mary Walters had mentioned the extra: