Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-06-02

happened to walk through the park.
/ Upon each Of the occasions she mere
ly inclined her head in greeting and
passed on. One morning the florist
had delivered box with the card of
Mr.. Bryce attached. and as Helen re-
moved the tissue wrappings from the
bouquet Of blue eyed forgetmenots
she wished heartily that Lolita had
hever made her parting gift
This same morning, while she was
on a shopping tour. the young rector
Of Trinity church came and sat in the
cross seat beside her She was ad-
miring his clean cut features when he
produced his watch and gaZed at ii
refectively. Helen sat upright with
a start. A small square locket lay in
his palm. and its forgetmenot setting
seemed TO be winking at her. She
drew her hand across her eyes. It's
my Imagination" she told herself re-
signedly; probably do not see these
charms at all"
The rector studied the locket atten-
lively. Presently he found the spring.
the case few open. and Helen read:
From Lolita. Success Attend You"
IL ought to tell him about it now"
she thought. "for in a few minutes 1t
will not be in his possession" But
she sat silent as he left the car. soon
TO be lost from view in one of the
large office buildings
Her mother met her at the door
when she returned late in the after
noon. "A gentleman is waiting TO see
you, my dear" she said
Helens heart beat rapidly. She was
prepared TO welcome Mr. Bryce and TO
forgive him for ignoring her cond-
tons, but the expectant look left her
eyes as she entered the room, for it
was the singer who bowed low before
her.
81 am more than pleased" he said.
ito be able TO restore your lost proper
ty."
( She looked skeptical. There must
be some mistake she was beginning.
Mr.. Malcolm smiled. Twill you kind
ly examine the locket?' be asked. lit
is, indeed, the very one that you lost.
and the mystery was easily solved. /
inserted an advertisement In the pa
pers and also had card placed in the
public library. A young girl had found
your locket among the books. where it
had evidently fallen. and was glad TO
return it this morning"
"Then this is not the one you wore?"
Helen asked.
1T is not" the singer responded
|
formation.
J For a few moments she exerted her
self TO be entertaining and thanked
him gratefully for his trouble when
he left, but in her heart was great
disappointment He can never come
now" she sighed. and her thoughts
were of the blond young man.
She was playing a sad little tune
that evening when the maid ushered
Mr.. Bryce into the room. Eagerly she
advanced TO meet him. Il am so glad"
she said. that you did not wait to
bring the locket."
He seemed puzzled at her change OF
manner But have brought it, he
announced triumphantIy and placed
small box in her hand
Helen sank into the nearest chair
and regarded him with suspicion. Then
she laughed The city must be full
of them" she said. placing the two
lockets with their duplicate inscrip-
tons before him. The man looked
dazed. Mr. Malcolm recovered this
one by advertising Now / would like
your explanation"
For a moment they looked at each
other, then joined in laughter Pres
emily he came and stood before her.
81 did not intend to make a confess
sion" he said You will have some
thing to forgive When your friend
Lolita left the country she also left
two lockets. The counterpart of yours
was given TO my cousin. Olivia Trent.
You may remember her at the acad-
envy, though she says she has not seen
you for years Olivia is Il little bunch
of superstition and relies implicitly
upon her locket TO carry her through
many difficulties bud dined AT her
home the evening before that memo
rabe day in the park and was telling
Olivias father OF an iUpprtdnt lawsuit
which | hoped 10 win the following
day, when Olivia clasprd the little
charm upon my fob. assuring me that
1t would bring success ia my under
taking The verdict had indeed. been
satisfactory. and | stepped ON my way
home that afternoon to Tell Olivia and
return the locket tea may imagine
my chagrin upon receiving your note
and upon the events which followed
Yesterday told Olivia all about II,
and she unraveied the mystery which
has troubled us both
lit seems that she mad accompanied
Maurice Malcolm TO the reception that
evening and had urged him to wear
the charm to insure the success OF
his song. also told her"-he looked
down into Helen's eyes-''of my great
desire 10 see you and Of the condition