time but without success.

That was a very busy day in the cottage; that evening was to be a
great school exhibition to which all the village was invited. Maggie,
who was a bright scholar, had to speak a piece, and Miss Hester had
made her a pretty white dress out of an old one of her own.

Maggie never felt so fine in her life as when, her hair smoothly
braided by Miss Hester, and tied with a bright ribbon from her old
stores, she had put on the white dress, and hung around her neck the
cherished locket.

For the first time in her life, she was dressed like other girls, and
it was with a very happy heart that she kissed Miss Hester and went to
the schoolhouse, regretting only that Miss Hester could not be
persuaded to go with her.

After the exercises of the evening were over, a social hour followed,
in which ice cream and cake were served, and every one walked around
the room to talk with their friends; and now came the surprise of the
evening--the most wonderful event in Maggie's life.

Among the familiar villagers, she had noticed a quiet, pleasant-faced
man who seemed to be a stranger,--at least she had never seen him
before. He had come with the family from the little hotel, and no
doubt at their invitation.

This gentleman was walking about, looking with interest at the people,
when he came face to face with Maggie. He stopped suddenly; his eyes
opened wide, and he seemed strangely moved--almost shocked.

Maggie was frightened, and tried to leave her place, but he stopped
her with a low, eager question.

"Little girl, where did you get that locket?"

Maggie supposed he thought she had stolen it, and a bright color rose
to her face, as she answered indignantly, "It was given to me to-day."

"By whom?" he cried; "tell me instantly!"

"By Miss Hester," Maggie replied, trying again to get away, for his
eager manner frightened her.

"Miss Hester!" he repeated, in a disappointed tone, then muttering to
himself, "It can't be! yet it is so like! let me see it!" with a
sudden movement.

"No!" cried Maggie, now almost crying with fright, and clutching her
treasure.

By this time some of the people around had noticed the scene, and the
hotel-keeper came up.

"What is it, Mr. Bartlett?"

The gentleman tried to calm himself, seeing that they had become the
centre of a curious crowd, and then replied:--

"Why, I find on this child the double of a locket I gave my sister
years ago, a sister who has disapp