Year: 1872

having belonged to the family for at least
two centuries. She subsequently made a
love-match which was displeasing to her
relatives, and left home and country to
share the fortunes of her young husband
At last, when IL Germany, pressed by the
utmost necessity, for they had met with
many reverses, they were obliged to pawn
the locket, hoping by good luck to re-
deem it speedily. But the very next day
they received letters telling them of Mrs
Vereham' s fathers illness, and summoning
them to England that he might see them
once more and forgive them. They went
home Immediately, and were detained
there by his long and tedious illness, and
afterward by business and family COM
plications, so that itwas three years be-
fore they found their way to Frankfort
again, and then the paWnbroker was gone,
leaving no clue.


cit has always been the subject of in
tense regret to US" said Mr.. Vereham, at
the conclusion of his story. "And my
mother has described the locket to me a
thousand times, grieving to think how
she had let it slip out Of her possession.
The moment 1 saw you first, Miss Madge,
my eyes were riveted by your chain and
locket, and I determined at once to make
your acquaintance, and as soon as we
were on sufficient friendly terms to war
rant it, to ask you about this antique or
nament."


By this time I was selfpossessed and
proud. My little love dream was dashed
to the earth; but no one should dream it
had existed.


"The locket is undoubtedly yours" I
said briefly. cit was lent me by an old
schoolmate, daughter of a pawnbroker.
He is a German Jew, and his account Of
it comedies with yours. | will return it
to him tomorrow, and give you his ad-
dress, that you may reclaim it."


Mr.. Vereham was delighted beyond
measure, and thanked me earnestly, wear
ing such radiant face when we emerged
from the conservatory that Clara told me
afterward she was sure we were engaged.


''And to think, after all, it was the
locket and not your she exclaimed. 81
declare, Madge darling, I never want to
see the man againr


All, well! AS in the old fairy tale, the
bell had rung midnight, the festival was
over, and Cinderella must go back to
every day life [ returned home, and to
my teaching, feeling very grave and ex-
perienced after my winters dissipation,
and with my mind fully made up that
should never marry. But somehow the
work of teaching did not go on so lightly
as it used when had vague little sweet
romantic dreams of love that may cone
any day All that was past and lost now,
and | was sick of dreams. had letter
from Rebbie, telling me of the redemp-
ton of that curious old locket, and what
a splendid gentleman came for it, and
how wonderful it was that it should have
got back to it's owners. AS | put away
the letter, thought to myself, "That's
the last I shall ever hear of Mr.. We're
hamp'


But one evening when / came home
tired and spiritless, there he was awaiting
me. The moment / entered the room
his hands clasped mine, and his eyes
questioned most eagerly.


''Little Madge, little Madge," he said,
"what a fool have been! l thought it
was the locket that won all my thoughts
last winter, and instead of that it was
you! found it out when you had gone.
Life has been a blank to me ever since
Have lost my chance? Am | too late?"


All, the dreams, the dreams of love!
How they came trOoping back into my
heart, in their most perfect sweet fulfil
ment! And how ten times beautiful is the
happiness that comes out unharmed and
immortal from the fires that we thought
had consumed it.


And now have my love and my locket.
Hark! There is Dudley's step in the hall,
and / always go to meet my husband. l
leave you to examine the rich and dainty
fancifulness of the craving, the cherubs,
and the imps. But this is simply magni-
ficent antique. If you wish to see the
triumphs of the modern skill in gold and
gems, you must wait till tomorrow,
when Rebecca Schermerhorn, neeSchwarz,
is coming to make me visit.