The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-20
THE
Silver Locket.
THE
BY IDA {. ROGERS.

AS Lie 1GIlyDOdL was AOI SlOHOOu
Knowlton very easily found seat.
He took the evening paper from his
pocket and was just preparing to
read it when his foot struck against
something on the floor. Picking up
the object he gazed at it incredu-
lously. It was a heavy silver locket
of quaint design. One side was
smooth, but turning it over in his
hand he saw the inscription R. X, to
d. F. Yes, those initials were his
and Dolores, and it was without the
shadow of doubt the locket he had
given to her three years ago, at
Christmas. How we'll he remembered
that happy evening. He had only
found the opportunity to whisper
that another gift would follow very
soon if she were willing. The sig
nificant way he had looked at one of
the small hands hao brought the rich
color to her cheek; and her blue eyes
had dropped under his gaze. He had
gone home very happy, telling him
self that her confusion could only
mean one thing, that she cared for
him. But how mistaken he had been.
Two days afterward he had Sc
lected a beautiful ring that he was
sure would delight Dolores and was
planning to take it to her that even
ing; but during the day he had re-
ceived business letter which made
it imperative that he should leave
town at once for a month or more.
He had no time to go to her, so there
was nothing left for him to do but
to write. He explained how he was
obliged to go away and before he had
finished he told her of his love and
that upon his return he was coming
with the gift that he had promised
her, If he found awaiting him a let
ter from her, telling him to come.
He had just finished addressing the
envelope when Oscar Kent, one Of
his most intimate friends, dropped in
for few moments. He was on his
way to call on the Fletchers, he said.
Dolores lived with an uncle. When
he had left, Knowlton asked him if
he would take the note he had writ
ten to her. He had sent it by Kent
for the reason that he wanted her to
know as soon as possible that he had
been called away.
An hour later Knowlton left town,
very much disappointed that he could
not see Dolores and give her the
ring. but wholly confident that she
cared for him and that all the happi-
ness he longed for would be his upon
his return. But when he had come
home he had found no letter from
Dolores awaiting him. Surprised
and panied he had gone to her home,
but only to find no one there. The
family had moved in his absence and
no one could give him any informa-
ton as to their probable whereabouts.
He had then gone to Oscar Kent, but
he could not tell him where they
were. Kent had then said that, as a
friend, he felt that he should tell him
that he did not believe Dolores cared
for him. Her uncle had limited that
last evening he had called upon them,
that she was interested in someone
else. And so Knowlton had at last
decided that she had, indeed, not
cared, and that she had probably
gone away to marry the other man.
But how could the locket have
come here, he wondered. 1t seemed
very likely that she was now living,
or stopping somewhere not far away.
Perhaps she was not married, and
may be she had cared aslittle after
all. If she had not, why had she
been wearing the locket? Unless
hope died suddenly-she had given
it to some one else and that person
had lost it. Well, he would find out
very soon, anyway, he reflected. He
would advertise.
When he left the boat at Hart
vile he was so absorbed in hk
thoughts that he did not notice the
slender figure coming down to the
dock, until a startled exclamation
reached his ears. Looking up quick
ly, he saw Dolores.
He had never been so glad to see
anyone in his wRS4e life. He wen
swiftly toward her. with both hands
outstretched.
Dolores was somewhat confused