Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-18

Ihere never was such wonderful locket, Dltldence
Wyatt was certain OF that And that it should be hers
her very own-was yet wonderful She
would frequently hold the treasure in her hands, feel
its pearlncrused surface and then pinch herself to
make she not asleep and dreaming, SO un-
beievable did it all But first you must know how
Ditidence Wyatt came by the beautiful seed-pearl
locket. Let us begin at the beginning
The tiny, drowsy village of Lebanon, Connecticut,
awoke in the year 1870 to tlnd itself the center of
startling activities 1t was here that Governor Trumbull
kept his supply station for the American army, in his
rambling, one-sory, hip-roofed store. Soldiers were
constantly coming and going and nearly prominent
officer of the Revolution found himself in busy little
Lebanon at some period of the war
But by far the strangest, gayest year in 1880,
when the French Duke de Lauzun one of Lafayette S
into winter quarters All over the village green they
erected their barracks and their bugle-cals echoed
morning and night on the keen frosty air The Duke
and his officers found lodgment IN the homes OF the
village people.
Those were strange exciting daysl Difhdence Wyatt
felt her heart bound and her cheeks tnge at roll
of the drums and she was never weary of watching
these Frenchmen drilling the green, directed by their
handsome young commander. Late one afternoon she
returning from long ramble across the hills skip
ping and sliding the frozen snow, her cheeks pink
with the exercise and the bounding health of her thr-
years. Her way lay through a narrow lane, a
short cut between two highroads.
Suddenly rounding turn. she came with start OF
surprise upon a beautiful horse fallen its side one
leg hanging useless and broken Pinned under the
animals side lay whom Diftdence instantly recog
nized the Duke de Lauzun. His head was stained
with blood and his leg was caught under the horses
heavy body. She took in the situation at glance The
had evidently been taking this crosscut to the
main road, his horse had slipped fallen, and pinned
him nexricably under its side. AT the same time the
fall had caused him severe wound on the head. He
halfunconscious, and no one had passed that way
since the accident
Difidence whipped off her little blue canret cloak
rolled up and placed gently under the Dukes head
then she ran as swiftly as her young feet would carry
her. her home which happened be the nearest
Duke lay in good Mistress Wyatts best spare bedroom,
his head swathed to the eyes in bandages, sleeping the
r1aa ,1,e+ Itc hnI haar1
broken, as was at first thought but merely sprained,
and his head had received only a scalp wound.
For three days he remained under the careful nursing
Of Mistress Wyatt and Dfdence assisting her mother,
tended him prettiy During that time firm friendship
was established between the bright French nobeman
and the little Puritan girl and all regretted when the
time came for him to take his leave, the fourth
day. He left the house mpng slightly, and Diidence
waved him a gay farewell from the porch But next
evening he returned to call his friends, bringing
with him a faded velvet case.
a. wish, with your permission, to present this to
Wyatt "as slight token Of my thanIfuness TO her"
Opening the case, he displayed to their wondering eyes
a magnificent golden locket, completely ncrusted both
back and front by perfect seed-pearls. On the front
the initial 3D." in little, finely cut diamonds 1t
hung slender golden chain that fastened with
a small pearl-ncrusted clasp
1T belonged to an aunt of mine, he went on to tell
them. she wore it many time at the court Of
LOUIS AV and gave it It to ne among some other trink-
Denise hut it shall now stand for that Of our little
mademoselle."
'"Ah but cannot allow nv dauot+er 10 accent such
sumptuous gift!" expostuated good Mistress WYATT
at is too much! It is not fitting! She did nothing
but what she should have done. I fear il will en-
COURAGE vanity"
ooh Madame Il is hit bio'--a triae" exclaimed
the Duke much disappointed "Do allow ce orosent
it It will give much n'easrrel Difiderce
prudeTtIv held her peace, as dntiul lte New Enc
land dauohter sunoosed 10 do, br her whole soul
was in her ewes she oazed srnNlicatinqlv at her
mother And between the ironlorino pances Of her
dauot md tho eloquent nleadno Of the Gallant noble
man. Notreee WYATT sorelv nern'eved forced TO
WELD The frnket casoed around the neck of the
the locket