Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-04-17
4}(iisttllajncolls,
THE IRON VAULT.

lam locksmith by trade. My calling is
q strange one, and possesses a certain SORT o'
fascination, rendering it one OF the mostagree-
able of pursuits. Many who follow 1T see
nothing in It but labor; think OF nothing but
its returns in gold and silver. TO me II mas
ntber charms than the money it produces |
am called upon, almost daily. to open doors
and peer into long neglected apartments to
spring the stubborn locks of safes, and gloat
upon the treasure piled within; TO quietly en-
tor the apartments of ladies with more beauty
than discretion, and pick the locks Of drawers
containing peace-destroying missises, that the
DANGEROUS evidences of wandering affection
NAV not reach the eye Of husband, or father,
in possession Of the missing key; to lorce the
tastcuings Of cash-boxes and repositories OF
records, telling of men made suddenly rich, OF
corporations plundered, of orphans robbea' OF
homes crushed, OF families ruined. there no
charm in all this ? no food for speculation!
no scope for the range Of pleasant fancy!
Then who would not be locksmith, though
his face is bcgrimmed with the SCOT OF the
forge, aud his hands are stained with rust
But have story to tell-not exactly a
story, eithcr-tor story implies the compile,
ton as we'll as the beginning OF q mar
rativc-anl mine is scarcely more than
the INTRODUCTION TO one. Let him who deals
in things OF fancy, write the rest In the spting
of lsj;;.-I think it was in April opened q
little shop on k.arney.ssreet, and soon worked
myself into y Elr business. Late one evcn'
inc, . lads, closely raicd entered my shop
and pulling from beneath cloak SIN II
apannel box, requested me to open 1t. lhe
lock was curiously constructed, and was al
Of an hour in lifting it with a KEY. The lady
seemed nervous at the delay. and =: lcrgtt! re
oua,el me to close the door. WAS q Ettlt
surprised $t the suggestion, but OF cours'
complied. Shutting the door aud returning
10 ms work, tke lady withdrew her vail dis
closinr as sweet :: face as can well bc mag
incd. There was Il rcst!cssncSs IN Tie eye an'
nalioc in the check, however, which p!"lni.
told of = heart i'll at case, and in momen
c,crv EN- ,,ion Ior her had given place to tia
Of pity.
.:perhaps YOU are not well. madam, ant
III. uirh. mir is too chilly 2" sail rather IN
qaisiiivey.
felt rclukc in hcr reply: " In requesting
vou to clos. the DIOR, had no Other ohJec
than to escape The attention of passers.
ail not reply, bu, thoughtfully continue
nv work She resumed {" Tia. ii.tle bo
contains valuable papers-privatc papers
and have lost the key, or it has Eccn stolel
should no, wish to have you remember tina
ever came here on such an crrand,' sue Cor
tinu.d, with some hesitation, and giving IN
= look which it Was no difficult matter to ut
derS,and.
aCertaiuy, madam, if you desire IT. If
can not forget your face, will at least a
tempt to lose the recollection of ever seem
it here
The lady bowed rather coll'y at whatI cor
s;dcred fine compliment, and ! prcccede
w;th my work. satisfied that sa'tien disco
nrel partially for me hal nothing TO do vii
tho visit. Having succeeded, after mach ii
mo and fitting, in turning the lock, l was sci
ID with curiosity to get a glimpse at tt