The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-01-13
3-~-s-s--s-.s.& THE LOCKET
3.s---s.-.s.-.s---s.G

ihcudOle ONuell, Esu, IuerCud0l anu banker, was retiring from business. Let ters papers, bills and receipts had been looked over. thinned out and put away.
 It was summer, and the windows of the study were open. The house fronted upon s square and had q garden at the back. Through the window he could see the trees and hear the sound of l = ~hter and happy voices. His daughteV Georgina 4 was walking in the garden with two of T her young friends. He could see her f from where he sat. She was beautiful # girl, with her jet black hair and large, dark eyes. stately figure and rich bru- nette complexion, very like her mother, whom he had married for her beauty and her grace 20 years ago.
 Mr. Pownell sighed. This is a scandal ] ous world, as we all know. Mrs. Grundy 5 had diyed deep into Mir. Pownell's pri- vate history long ere this and had always averred that Mrs. Pownell, with all her beauty, was only coquette. who thought much more of exhibiting her charms in public than of making the home of her husband and pleasant place.
 Be this as it may, it is certain that Mrs. Pownell. still handsome-she was many years younger than her husband- sat at that moment in her drawing room, entertaining two handsome and courteous officers belonging tc one of the French vessels then lying in the bay, while Geor- gina and her young friends were laughing and gossiping with three more officers in the garden. It is also certain that, though Mir. Pownell was a polite and at tentive cavalier to his wife and daughter whenever they ~.quired his services, he would as soon we gone for sympathy in trouble or disgrace to the man in the moon or to the Egyptian sphinx as to ei- ther of these.
 He listened now to the light talk and laughter ripping up from below, with curious expression on his face. It was opera night and he was in full evening dress, for in the course of an hour he was to escort the ladies to their box. Mean while he was best in his study-they with their guests.
 Opera night! An organ out in the square suddenly struck up one of the very airs he was to hear that evening. He hummed it mechanically.
 And then the stop was changed and an old, old air rang out-an air that he had thought sweet and sad and full of the most plaintive melody once
 Once! It must have been a hundred years or more since he stood beside the pasture bars of the "old home farm" and heard a sweet young voice trill out the plaintive music.
 Those Hong time ago" days were over forever for him! For his fashionable wife and stately daughter they had never been. In his own life, harassed and anx ious as it had often been at times, was a store of experience such as they had nev- CT known.
 Io 4l =. IL, mans thoughts went wandering back to the old red farmhouse. He saw himself barefoot boy" driving the cows home, with little blue eyed child in a pink gingham frock and sunbonnet trotting by his side. He saw himself lad at school, and the pink gingham frock sat near him. He saw himself later still spruce clerk in country store. The pink gingham had changed to a lawn sprinked with forgetmcn0ts as blue as the wearer's eyes or his own, He glanced at the glass now. His own were dim with unshed tears.
 Pretty, gentle, quiet little Susie Gray. How swcctly those blue eyes looked up at him over the pasture bars by moon light that night. How plainly he could bear the soft. clear voice still-sweet but with dash of sadness in t all the time! How he had loved her then. with all the ardor of a boys first love. How meek y and modes;ly she had returned that mo ooistcrous alIeci0n. How pure she was how true,
 The organ ceased The man was nov ing away when a purse clanked on the pavement at bis feet He saw the hand that had thrown it to him close the blind, and the poor Italian went away elated.
 Susie, oh, if had hut been as true as you were If you were only my wife now-if my child was your daughter how different life might be!'' groaned the man ;lS he flung himself into seat. He touched spring ill the safe that stood open before him, and a secret drawer slid out
 It contained only two things-a wither- cd syringa blossom and a tress of chest nut hair. Poor as the treasures were, they were moro than house or lands to the lonely millionaire.
 Alas, his repentance came too late for atonement. as repentance almost always does in this weary world of ours. He had left the girl he loved-deserted her for the sake of his ambition. and when he would have returned to her she was lying in the village churchyard. and the age upon the stone above her head was "23." Like one in a dream the rich man sat, his face bent down upon the hair, which was wet with his falling tears.
 Presently came light tap at the door.
 Papa, we are nearly ready" said lady's voice. Mamma has rung for the carriage"
 There was slight pause.
 "Very well, dear" said Mir. Pownell, with an effort, in his usual tone:
 Ten minutes later he came out, locked the study door behind him and handed his wife and daughter to the carriage with his usual grave courtesy. He kept in the back of the box that evening and was very silent
 When six months later the rich man nied after short illness. those who pre- pared him for burial found resting upon his heart little locket containing wom- ms hair. They left it there. and it was buried with him. Mrs. Pownell knew nothing of it. I doubt if it would have troubled her much if she had been told.- Exchange.
 The Bad Feature of It.