Connecticut western news., 1881-12-07


 to her-perhaps I would send it on Christmas Day, with few lines of poetry I prided myself, rather, on the 'sines" could write for such occasions and so show that, though had given her up to her new friend, bore no malice.
 That idea pleased me. persuaded myself that I should be heaping coals of fire on her head, and I took great delight, as have observed that people usually do, in the thought of making them as hot as possible.
 ''I am going to buy Grace present, I remarked to my mother in an off, hand way, with, I rather think, some vague idea that she would admire my largeness of mind. She has asked me once or twice during the last few weeks what was the matter between Grace and me and I said "Nothing, except that Grace had not time enough for both her cousin and myself.
 When announced my intention to make Grace a present, it was received,
 I must confess, with a disappointing equanimity. "Oh." my mother said,
 carelessly, and went on with her sewing.
 Once resolved upon buying that gift,
 it filled all my thoughts. It should be
 something that Grace could not help
 liking, and it should be pretty. no mat
 ter how the other gifts fared.
 There was one thing that knew
 Grace had long wanted-a silver locket
 with picture of myself. Gould I give
 her my picture, now that I had chosen
 to take the ground that she no longer
 cared for me?"
 I might, at least, get the locket.
 went to the village jewellers and I
 found among his stock two little silver
 lockets. They were the same in price
 five dollars each. They were of bright,
 white coin silver, for it said ''pure coin" in little letters inside their coyers
 Each had a place for picture. On the outside of one was forget-me-not
 beautifully engraved. On the other
 was carnation pink, Grace's favorite flower.
 I liked the sentiment of the forget me-not; but after all, Grace was so fond
 of pinks. I could not make up my
 mind, and went away to think of il over night.
 The next morning I hurried back, hardly certain yet which wanted. ] F asked if might see the two little lock.
 cts again.
 3 cone was sold last night" the clerk answered, "but here is the othersp and !: he took out of the showcase the locket with the carnation.
 2 So the matter had been settled fol l me. I handed out my twenty-doll y gold piece; for, after all, this was ths t first Christmas present that had pur : chased; received my change and the lit !. tie silver locket, and went home. - It was Saturday and there was nt :, school. I busted myself with embroid
 cry patterns, and tried to plan what 8 could make, and what could buy witt 'f the rest of my money; but all the tim' :, I was really trying to settle the ques k tion in my own mind whether shoul. d have my daguerrotype-for it was il y the old days of daguerrotypes-put int
 Grace's locket. ], I said to myself, 'Perhaps she doe 1T not love me enough, now, to want it. ). But in my heart I knew that she love- ,, me as much as ever, and that it wa !. only my wicked pride which hated t. Q admit that was wholly in the wrong it was sitting in the room where m. y mother was sewing - poor, patien
 mother, with so many weary stitche n to take always--and my aunt was read 9r ing. Suddenly my aunt looked up. B. "Here is something want to rea l. to you, sister: think it so we'll said. t, And then she read:
 d There was an old custom in Egyp It of carrying dead body round on it
 way to burial, and stopping before tn n doors of all who had been it's enemie a that there might be 8 reconciliation be o fore the last long parting. What if b, e 8 common consent all human indiffer y ences had to expire with each old year g and 8 new page begin with the new
 Would we not be careful, having fel |, OAO SOI0u0SS O1 0SGr6u&01O0ubs GO k00l the new year fair P"
 The words struck me with 8 strang A force and meaning. What if shoul h wait too long before let Grace kno, not only that loved her, but that " believed in her love? Would any sac <, riice of such poor thing as my prid be too much to make to atone to poo ,t Grace for all the pain I must hay = cost her?
 ,r You will think my simplest cours ,. would have been to go to her at once
 and tell her all that felt. But hay
 told you that was an imaginativ ,o child. There was something in me tha = delighted in scenes and crises--in doin things in 8 story-book kind of way. Il ,t would soon be Christmas eve, and Grac would be expecting nothing from me " How charming it would be to go to he
 with the locket, and surprise her wit I. that and my visit at the same time. ,r That afternoon got my daguerrotyp # taken, and put into the locket. Tn V man who took it gave, with his sol d brushes, little rose to my cheeks, jus ,o tint of blue to my eyes, and httl
 golden warmth to my hair. ,r secretly thought it a pretty picture ,o and don't think from that time ii 70 Christmas eve there was one wakin n hour in which I did not plan aires "a what I should say to Grace, and ho, r r she would look, and what touchin ,d and beautiful scene it would be alto ,a gether.