Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-27

There never was such wonderful iockot. Dfdenae
wyatt was certain OF that And that 1t should be hers
would frequently hold the treasure in her hands feel
Its peaTl-incrusted surface, and then pinch herself
bcIievabIe did it all seem But first YOU must lnoy how
DiHdence Wyatt by the beautiful seed-pearI
loeket Let US begin at the beginning.
awoke IN the year I776 70 md itself the center OF
kept his supply station for the American army his
rambling, oue-stOry hip-roofed store Soldiers
officer Of the Revolution found himself in busy little
Lebanon al some period OF the war.
when the French Duze dc LauzIn, one OF Lafayete's
commanders. brought his troops to the old go
erected their barracks and their buglecals echoed
morning. ard night on the keen frosty air The Duke
village people
Those were strange. exciting days. Difidencc Wyatt
of tho drums, and she weary OF watching
these Frcnchrlen drilling the green directed by their
was returning from long ranbe the hills, skip
ping and sliding over the frozen STOW. her cheeks pink
:een years. Her way lay through a narrow lane,
short between two hghroads.
surprise upon beautiful horse fallen on its side one
leg hanging useless and broken. Pinned under the
animals side lay whom Dfidcace instantly rccog-
nized as the Duke de Lauzun. His head stained
with blood ard MS leg was caught under the horses
had evidently been taking this cross-cGt the
main road, his horse had slipped. fallen, and pinned
tail had caused him severe wound the head He
was half unconscious, ard had passed that way
sJ:cc the accident
Dfidcncc whipped Of her little blue carnlet cloak,
rolled up and placed gently under the Dukes head
then she swiftly her young feet would
her to her home which happened to be the nearest
obtain further assistance In less than hour the
Duke lay in good Mistress Wyatts best spare bedroom
his head swathed to the eyes i4 bandages sleeping the
sleep of sheer exhaustion His ankle had not been
broken, n first thought, but merely spralned
ard his head had received only scalp wound.
For thrce days he remained under the carefui nursing
of Mistress Wyatt and Ddcnce assisting her mother,
tended him Drc,. During that time firm friendship
established between the bright French nobleman
and the little Puritan girl and all regretted when the
time came for him to take his leave. on the fourth
waved him 4 gay farewell from the porch But next
evening he returned call his friends bringing
with him faded velvet case.
Il wish, with your permission present this
MadeTOiselle Diifdence," he explained to Mistress
Wyatt. "as slight token of my thanIfulness to her"
Opening the case he displayed TO their wondering
magnificent golden occe completely iucrrstcd both
back and front By perfect seedpearls On the front
the initial %" in little finely cut diamonds Il
hung slender golden chain that fastened with
a small pearl incrusted clasp
ut belonged to aunt OF mine he went to tell
them She wore it many time At the court of
Louis Nv and gave it ts among other trinE
cts, when she died The initial Tor her name.
'"Ah but cannot allow my daughter to accent such
a surnpuous gift cxpo'trlated good Mistress Wyatt
courage vani.y!
ooh Madame It IS but bi;oa.--a trfcr exclaimed
Z! It will give me so much pleasure!" Dfidence
prudcNty hcd~her peace dutiful little New Eng
-r3s in her she gazcd suonlc7 tinqy at her
iaothe- Ard between t- inlplornq chances of her
e' Tie thinker v27 clasned aro1,rI the neck of the
5s'iee'cf cri,d--2n1 that is how Difadence by
Tie :ocket