The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-12-31
THE SECRET OF A LOCKET.


Eighteen years ago there weren't
many young men here in Forum, and
a courtshlp was an eVent-mine had
hardly counted because George and /
had kept company ever since l could
remember. He used to take me to
school on my sled in the winter and
in the summer we'd go nutting-then
when we got older he'd take me to
prayer-meeting and singing school, SO
when his father took him in with HIM
WASN'T even surprised to have him
say;
kitty, haven't we waited about
long enough-let's get married Christ
mas night when all the green's are in
the church and then every year we'll
keep our anniversary with all the
world"
We we're so close to each other,
somehow, that lust said yes without
waiting to make excuses and find out
objections that I knew where nothing
as girls often do, just to be coaxed-
Twas glad to belong to him, body and
soul, and I've gone on being gladden.
every year till now.
But that has nothing to do with
the wedding that's coming of this
Christmas! He asked me one after.
noon in the Indian summer when we
al! had a ~picnic-'we girls as Mrs.
Whitney says, Laura Daiptre, her
cousin Louis, a young naval officer
who was staying at the judges till re
should get his orders; old DR.. Mere.
dith's new partner, young DR.. Horton,
and some Of the children hat we'd
brought along to run errands and
wash dishes. As Lsaid before, there
were so few men that we would have
been real put out if they-the twonew
ones-had spent all their spare time
at any n house, as they did at the
Johnsons', if it hadn't been that ev-
erybody loved Rose, except Julia. 1t
was queer about Julia, for she had al
ways had the best of everything at
her aunt's. Give it to Julia. mamma
Rose would say, Il have you nnd she
has me, too, | hope Mrs. John
son always answered, but she gave
first choice to Julia, too.
John Horton was awfully in love
with Rose, he. showed in every look
and word-but we were not so sure
about Louis, first it was Rose. / have
seen him lcok at her with all his soul
In his eyes, and then it was Ju-
la; nobody could have blamed
him-not knowing her as we did
II 1T had been Julia, for she was the
handsomest girl ! ever saw in my life.
Her uncle used to call her "iref1y,"
and it suited her. That day it was
Rose, and Julia was as black as thnn-
der. She tried to Hirt with John, but
1t was no use-then she sulked. /
didn { see so much OF the men after
tnat--the girls were in and out all the
time-because was making my things.
We hadn't SO many ready-m$de things
then and a bride had chance to take
. good many stitches with needles
threaded with love, as well as thread.
IN getting ready One night, just
lou days before Christmas, we were
Gil over at the Johnsons', when the
Judge came over with a telegram for
Louis-his ship was to sail at Q
. ne must 60 tomorrow. We were
al dreadfully sorry to lose him, and
3 much shocked as if we hadn't been
expecting it for weeks.
In hehubbub ofvoices Iguess ! was
tine only one that noticed how quiet
Doth Rose and Julia were, but when
We were going / was the last out and
Louis managed to leave his cap and
come back for 1t. In the hall, in the
aark, ne ran against Rose and | heard
MN say very softly: ssMiss Rose" (she
vas the one then. as / had always
enought) ''are you sorry to have me
gof She didn't say q word, but
presently ! heard her sobbing as if her
neart would break and then Louis
whispering: "Oh Rosie, my little dar-
ing, then you do love me-" Then
snere came calls for Louis" and he
kissed her again and again, ~loosening
me little hands from his coat and
Whispering: Tomorrow, darling, to-
morrow
Inc next morning Rose was to go
WITH me to do my last shopping and
iound her white as a candle, but she
sion't say Q word. went to Myers