Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-16

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 1t
had evidently fallen. and was glad to
return 1t this morning"
"Then this Is not the one you woreT
Helen asked
ut Is not" the singer responded
coldly and vouchsafed no further in
formation.
For 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 sad little tune
that evening when the maid ushered
Mr.. Bryce into the room. Eagerly she
advanced to meet him. II am SO glad"
she said. that you did not wait to
bring the locket."
he seemed puzzled at her change Of
manner. But I have brought It," he
announced triumphantly and placed o
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-
tions before him. The man looked
dazed. "Mr. Malcolm recovered this
one by advertising. Now l would like
your explanation"
For a moment they looked at each
other. then Joined in laughter. Pres
emily he came aud stood before her.
II did not intend to make a confes-
sion." be 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-
emy, though she says she has not seen
you for years. Olivia is little bunch
of superstition and relies implicitly
upon her locket to carry her through
many difficulties. I bad dined at her
home the evening before that memo
rable day In the park and was telling
Olivia's father of an important lawsuit
which hoped to win the following
day. when Olivia clasped the little
charm upon my fob. assuring me that
It would bring success In my under.
taking. The verdict had. indeed. been
satisfactory. aud stopped on my way
hone that afternoon to tell Olivia and
return the locket You may imagine
my chagrin upon receiving your note
and upon the events which followed.
Yesterday told Olivia all about 1t,
and she unraveled the mystery which
has troubled US both.
1T seems that she had 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 to see you and Of the condition
imposed. 1t was then that she agreed
to sacrifice her locket and insisted that
I return 1t to you as your own"
The man smiled. Dear little Oliv-
Ia" be said. "Her days of flirting
and superstition are over. for she Is
soon to marry the rector of Trinity
church. I would have brought the
locket yesterday" he added. but she
wished the rector to wear 1t when he
went to gain her fathers consent"
"Ohp cried Helen. and her eyes
were dancing
His face was very grave rs he low
cred his voice. II am about to enter
upon suit" be said. (which will
mean all the world to me. May l
wear the locket charm?"
He slipped his watch into IN upper
coat pocket. and Helen stood to clasp
the locket. the dark head very near
the fair one. AS she finished her task
his arms closed about her. Once more
the charm had proved its power.