Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-09-27

face, 1ower-each done in such small
space as almost to need a magnifyipg.
glass. Here, you can look at it for your
self as | talk. Mr.. Schwarz said the locket
and chain were brought him, some thirty
years before, in Frankfort, by a sickly-
looking young Englishman, who only
asked five pounds on them-hoping, he
said, to redeem them within week. But
Mr.. Schwarz had never seen or heard from
him again.
ooh, father,' said Rebbie, "well lend
that to Madge to wear at the Delancey's!
AT last she had found something I could
not refuse. / would rather have had the
locket and chain than all the jewelry in
the world. There could be no danger in
wearing it-a thing that had been pawned
thirty years ago in Germany; no one
would ever dream how | had obtained it.
And so when [ went from Rebbie's house
the next day the locket went with me.
"My dear Madge," said Clara Delan-
cey, few evenings after, as we were get
ting ourselves ready for soiree, chow
very distinguished looking you are in that
loom of locket.
| smiled to think how little foundation
I had for distinction. Clara herself was
looking exquisitly, wearing mauve and
her pearls.
"Madge," she whispered, when we had
been at the soiree perhaps twenty minutes,
''you are making a conquest. Dudley
Vereham is looking at you with all his
eyes, and it is 'mirabile visu,' as our
Latin books used to say, for he scarcely
ever notices us butterflies ~
A few moments after Dudley Vereham
was brought to us by our hostess, and in
troduced. Clara escaped for prone
made with one of her favOrites, and was
left alone with him. He was a grave,
handsome young man, with rather ab-
stracted air, which he seemed to try to
overcome as he entered into conversation
with me; and in few moments | found
myself talking to him with the greatest
ease and pleasure This was something
enjoyable, for most of the young gentle
men whom had met in society hitherto
had only answered Eyes" "''no," and Gin
deed" when had anything to say, and
when they made any remarks, I could
only answer Eyes, "no," and "indeed," :"
myself We never could seem to strike
the same chords. But Mr.. Vereham, l
made up my mind at once, was decidedly
agreeable. He had travelled a great deal,
and once on that topic, there was no end
| II.
places [ wanted to hear about, which
had seen only in imagination, and would
tell him how [ had pictured them to my
self, and then he would give me the true
picture, sometimes with such comical
contrast that I think we were both very
much entertained. We promenaded, ate
ices together, and at last he asked per-
mission to call on me.
"Why, Madge, he never called at this
house but once in his life," exclaimed
Clara, when told her that night, and
that was brief party CALL 1t is a de-
cided case of love at first sight, my dearp
| Was it? [ almost wanted to think so
myself as / fell asleep, dreaming of Mr..
Vereham. He called a short time after,
was even more agreeable than at the
soiree, and when he left, invited me to
go sleigh-riding with him the next day.
"He'll propose, next thing you know"
said Clara, sagely. "These grave bache-
lors always do it very suddenly. have
known it to happen more than once my
self"
"Would you wear the locket?" I asked,
as I was getting ready for the ride.
! "Well, [ don't know" replied Clara,
thoughtfully. eyes! it will look so hand
some against your black velvet jacket, and
GICy WCdI GuOIu Ou 6uO oG1CCG q S1Cdu oOe1A
this winter"
We had grand sleigh-ride, the strong
black horses carrying us like the wind
again and again around the principal drives
of the park. All the world was out, and
it was brilliant scene, intensified every
few moments by some of the fast horses
breaking into a race. was in the high
est possible spirits, and, when we turned
homeward, felt as if it was the closing OF
the triumphal march.
'I beg your pardon, but that is very
rare and curious locket that you wear, $"
said Mr.. Vereham, as he assisted me out
of the sleigh.
eyes" [ answered, confusedly; and,
gathering up my furs, hurried through
thanks and leave-taking, and ran into the
house. had such a dread of any one
questioning me about the locket, and find
ing out that had borrowed it of a pawn
broker.
The next two or three times that | met
Mr.. Vereham | did not wear it. | was
really beginning to think a good deal of
him in romantic sort of way, and Clara's
raillery only added to it. 1t seemed to
me that l never had seen, never should
see, any one that could like so we'll as L
did Dudley Vereham.
There came, presently, cards for party
which was to be the party of the season.
Clara was getting up for herself some
wonderfully lovely cloud-like drapery,
with pearls and turqouises I was to
wear my blue silk, the only real party
dress I had, and the locket. Clara did my
hair and that was half the battle.
"Now you are a perfect violet" she
said, when I was ready. 'Here. use some
of this violet powder, child, and let me
pour some eau de violet on your handker-
chief There is charming great con-
servatory at Mrs, Hart's, and perhaps MIR.
Vereham will ask you to walk there with
him. We girls have counted up at least
ten proposals that have been made in that
conservatory this winter"
| | must confess that my heart beat tu-
multuously when, in the course of that
never-to- -be-forgotten evening, Mr.. We're
ham, as Clara had predicted, invited me
to walk with him in the conservatory. l
took his arm all in f1utter, half terror,
half happiness, and in few moments we
stood among the camelias and cactuses.
He talked about the plants at first, show
| ing me some that he had seen blossoming
in their own native climes. [ answered
rather at random, am afraid, for the bur-
| den of my thought was, ooh, what will
| father and mother say?"
Standing at last beside an orange-tree,
! there was a moments silence. Mr.. We're
ham appeared somewhat embarrassed.
MAY ask" he said, hesitatingly-"1
have been wishing a long time to ask
would you tell me, Miss Madge, the his
tory of your unique locket?"
l suppose I looked surprised, for he
hastened to add, ''Let me tell you my
story first, and then you will pardon my
curiosity"
And while I stood there silent, sum-