Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-02-15
THE LOCKED BRACELET Is:
Or, After Many Years.

was quite a big gITI Of twelve when
we came TO Milton to 1--we. Papa had
left the village young man and re-
turned old and broken down, but pos
sessed OF large fortune.
There was any number OF servants
in the house, and / had my governess,
Miss Cotton, but ! felt very lonely
without a companion Of my own age.
One day while out walking in search
Of interest, l fell in coming down a
hill and sprainei my ankle. as L lay
there grOaning suddenly heard voice
say, Have you hurt yourself, dearr"
An old woman was standing over
me. | shuddered at the sight of her
face, which was scanned with liyid
scars and puckered with horrible lines.
Her kindly voice reassured me as she
helped me into tiny little cottage
near by and sent for doctor.
What IS your manner" she asked, as
she bathed the sprain. "I must let your
mann ma know where you are"
l told her II was Myrtle Cresson,
and that my mother was dead. She
seemed interested to know all about
my family, and i told her freely. SO
began my friendship with Miss Smith,
who proved, in spite OF her terrible
lace. the dearest woman in the world.
One day L heard her story, She had
fallen in love at eighteen with young
man IN her own village. Being ambi-
tious, he went TO London to 1nd a sit
uation and often wrote home to his be-
trotbed.
one night the cottage where she lived
took hre, and in attempting to save her
step-father, who was an Invalid, her
face was terribly burnt. She wrote to
her lover releasing him, and, before she
had time to receive an answer, was on
her way to her grandmother's where
she lived twenty years.
And your loverP" / asked.
~ have seen him since. He married
and became rich man.
l went home saddened. Not only did
l feel all the romance OF youth stirred
by the pitiful story, but l knew that
my dear old friend was gradually fall
ling In health, and would probably soon
be called away from earth.
She was not confined TO the house,
but she had some pulmonary disease
and every change of atmosphere took
something from her strength.
1t was in October that the quiet,
happy routine of my life was broken.
Ny dear father, who had never dropped
his active habits, was thrown from hls
horse and dangerously injured Day
after day he lay upon his bed suffering
| intensely and ! would not leave him.
1t was in one of the long night
watches, when he was free from pain,
but wakeful, that l noticed in some
restless movement narrow band OF
| gold upon his arm, about half way be-
| tween the wrist aud the elbow.
''Why, papa said, "what pretty
bracelet You ought to have given 1t to
me years ago"
He smiled as he said, sit will not
| come Otf, dear. You must bury IL with
me-"
l shuddered at the idea suggested.
but he spoke again presently: sit is
forty-fve years, Myrtle, since this
bracelet and its companion were
locked and the key thrown into the
river. 1t was put upon my arm by
your namesake, my little Myrtle, with
vows OF eternal cOnstancy. / had
bought the two for gift of betrothal,
and when mine was clasped and locked
/ took the tiny key TO fasten the one
clasped upon Myrtle's arm. My dear
little Lowell How sweet her face was as
she looked up at me, promising to wear
my gift till death.''
| biu SHc Olc, papa
"No, darling. Circumstances sep
arated us and never saw her after
that day. l lived a lonely life for her
sake for many long years, but | loved
your mother and she knew the story of
the bracelet when she married me. Yet.
| after she died tried once again 10 find
| Myrtle Carpenter, but in vain. She
must be old, perhaps she has been dead
for years. l know nothing OF her,"
| examined the bracelet with all a
| girls interest. 1t was a band OF gold,
chased in a pretty design, with the
word ''constaucy" upon scroll sur
rounded by leaves and flowers. The
| tiny key hole was delicately chased, and
held the clasp firmly.
1t WAS the eighth day of such watch:
Ing, when every hope was gone, and
when we only looked for the end,
when Miss Smith came INTO the room
just before the night watch.
Il have been here every day" she
said in a low voice, but 1 would not
have called you down stairs. Tonight
you must let me share your watch"
''I Ou-you know"---I said.
~ know, dear, that probably before
morning there will be a released spirit.
and the peaceful end of all suffering for
your dear father. The doctor tells me
there will be no more pain"
"Will he be conscious? Oh" cried
he has not known me for a weekI''
VIII he speak to me tonight"
darling, We cannot tell. But you
must rest now, and let me watch"
"I cannot rest," l said, land you
ought to be nursed yourself"
For looking into her face | was
shocked to see how dreadfully she had
changed IN the trying time that had
been shut up in my fathers ROOM"
Tomorrow I will rest," she SAID
gently. But you will need your
strength. II you will lie down here
upon the sofa, promise to call you Il
your father wakens or moveS.''
You promiser"
Yes, dear, If there Is any change ,
SO, conscious OF how unfit L was Il
bear added SORROW, 1 lay down and
slept sOundly in sheer exhaustion.
When | wakened it was dawn, and
the gray light was creeping into the
room.
Frightened at my long sleep, hast
ened to the bedside.
Ny father was dead, and upon hi
lips rested the sweetest smile had eve
seen there. Close beside him, her heaG
little thrown back upon an eas,
chair, was my dear old friend sleeping
that last long sleep that knows nC
waking, while thrown across my faith
er's breast was her arm, barred to th'
elbow, and cleaning upon il the com
panion to his locked bracelet.
\ Valiant Lover: or, The SsDob'