The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-10-02
THE STORY OF A LOCKET.

When I left the seminary to 60
out into a world of work, I left be-
hind me many dear friends. AT
the end of a year, two Of them at
least, had not forgotten me. Clara
Delaney sent me sweetly worded
invitation to visit her for a month.
said she was having a charming
time, and wanted me to share it.
Rebbie Schwarz wrote that she
loved me dearly as ever, and if |
came to New York, she begged I
would spend few days with her.
1 decided to 60 to Rebbie's first, for
week, and then to Clara's.
Rebbie was evidently petted
daughter. Her room, where we
slept together, was furnished with
the utmost luxury, and I smiled at
the familiar sight of an open jewel
box, and trinkets scattered all over
the dressing-table. We talked half
the night, and, among other things,
I asked her about the three golden
balls, which hung in front Of the
house.
"Why, father is a pawnbroker, -
she said, innocently, and then told
me what pawnbroker was in her
own quaint style.
After a very pleasant visit Of a
week, it was time for me to 60 to
Clara Delancey's, and Rebbie and I
were talking it over Rebbie de-
clared that [ did not dress enough
for Clara's gay society, and, as of
old, offered to lend me anything
she had. But I refused.
That evening. Mr.. Schwarz
brought into the parlor an old ebo-
ny box that he had been promising
to show me, and unlocked it. 1t
contained a great many valuable
Jewels and ornaments, which had
been pawned to him years ago in
Germany, and never redeemed.
Some he had had for forty years.
I looked at them with interest. AS
l turned them over with my hand,
suddenly [ came upon locket. 1t
took my fancy at once; l could not
bear to put it down.
"That's just the odd sort Of thing
to suit you, Madge," criek Robbie.
"Put the chain around your neck,
and let me see how it looks. Just
your style %
Every link of the chain had some
fanciful bit of carving on it-a
hand here, profile there, moths
wing, an imp's face, fower-each
done in such small space as almost
to need a magnifying glass. Here,
you can look at it yourself as ]
talk. Mr.. Schwarz said the locket
and chain were brought him, some
thirty years before, in Frankfort,
by a sickly looking young English
man, who only asked five pounds
on them-hoping, he said, to re-
deem them within week. But
Mr.. Schwarz had never seen o.
heard from him again.
ooh, father" said Rebbie, "we'l
lend that to Madge to wear at tht
Delancey's!'' !'' At last she hat
found something I could not refuse
I would rather have had that locke
and chain than all the jewelry il
the world. And so, when I wen
from Rebbie's house the next day
the locket went with me.
"My dear Madge," said Clar'
Delaney, few evenings after, q
we were getting ourselves read,
for a soiree, chow very distinguished
looking you are in that black silk
and with your wonderful heirloom
of a locket!! p
I smiled to think how little foun
dation I had for distinction. Clar
herself, was looking exquisite
wearing mauve and her pearls.
"Madge,'' she whispered, whel
we had been at the soiree perhap
twenty minutes, ''you are making
conquest. Dudley Vershanl
looking at you with all his eyes
and it is 'mirabile visu, as our latil
books used,to say, for he scarcel
ever notices us butterflies !"\