In it was a very pretty little gold locket hung on a narrow blue ribbon . Theodora held it tenderly in her fingers , and looked out over the moonlit prairie with a very sober face . Could she give up her dear locket -- the locket Donald had given her just before he started for the Klondike ? She had never thought she could do such a thing . It was almost the only thing she had to remind her of Donald -- handsome , merry , impulsive , warmhearted Donald , who had gone away four years ago with a smile on his bonny face and splendid hope in his heart . `` Here 's a locket for you , Gift o ' God , '' he had said gaily -- he had such a dear loving habit of calling her by the beautiful meaning of her name . A lump came into Theodora 's throat as she remembered it . `` I could n't afford a chain too , but when I come back I 'll bring you a rope of Klondike nuggets for it . '' Then he had gone away . For two years letters had come from him regularly . Then he wrote that he had joined a prospecting party to a remote wilderness . After that was silence , deepening into anguish of suspense that finally ended in hopelessness . A rumour came that Donald Prentice was dead . None had returned from the expedition he had joined . Theodora had long ago given up all hope of ever seeing Donald again . Hence her locket was doubly dear to her . But Aunt Elizabeth had always been so good and loving and kind to her . Could she not make the sacrifice for her sake ? Yes , she could and would . Theodora flung up her head with a gesture that meant decision .
She took out of the locket the bits of hair -- her mother 's and Donald 's -- which it contained -LRB- perhaps a tear or two fell XXXXX she did so -RRB- and then hastily donned her warmest cap and wraps .
After For as before by from in into of that