The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-09-26
MlistelIanenns.
THE LOST KEY.
By AMY RANDOLPH.

ty hair.
''I Is that porte-monnaie lost again?"
"Now, Philip" said the little woman,
with a world of pretty penitence in the
heightened monosyllable, don't scold
Upon my word, it's the first time I've
mislaid it this whole morning.
1t is too provoking, Cora" said the
iron hearted husband, pushing back the
books on the table before him with
movement denoting intense irritation
"Will you never break yourself of this
careless habit, my love ?''
Cora was silent, looking down like a
naughty child who had been chidden.
"You don't know what an annoyance
these needless habits are to methodical
man like myself, DEAR" he added, in a
gentler tone, as the coral lips began to
tremble and the eye to suffuse. &C Do try
to be more thoughtful, for my sake !!
Here is your lost treasure" he added,
quietly drawing tiny case of pearl and
gold from his pocket. 81 found it lying
on the stairs, and thought it most ex
cellent opportunity for giving my care
less little wife lesson!'
Cora clapped her little hands at the
sight of the restored treasure, and danced
out of the room in girlish glee.
GA perfect child" murmured the hus-
band, looking after her with smile and
and sigh blending unconsciously into
one another. "Well, if l don't make
haste, shall be too late for the engage
ment down in Cedar street. Let me see
the notes are in my secretaire, I be-
lieye. Nothing like locking up things
and keeping the keys yourself. If Cora
only followed my example,
Mr.. Walter paused abruptly, seeking
iu his various pockets, with nervous
haste, for something which seemed not to
be forthcoming.
every strange muttered he. biting
his lip. ''I always put it in that vest
pocket. Possibly may have laid it on
the table among the papers!''
The aforesaid papers lustled hither and
thither like animated snowhakes as Mr..
Walter hurriedly sought among their
confused masses, but it was all in vain.
81 can't have lost it, he exclaimed,
in dire perplexity. 'And every one of
those notes is locked up in the secretaire,
with no earthly chance Of getting at it
But l am certain the key can't be lost
| never loose nything! 1t wont do to
wait many more minutes--I'll just put on
a clean shirt and run down town. Hang
that key!''
| Mr.. Walter fastened into his room to
complete the details of his toilet, ere he
loft the house, but his trials were not We,
destined to terminate. He was metho
dical man, therefore his bureau was care.
fully locked; he always kept things ir
} one place, therefore the keys were snugly
reposing in one corner of the inaccessible
! secretaire.
He rushed frantically back to the libra
ry hoping family that the key might b.
on the mantle-piece, where he had no
yet searched. Not was not there, but
but a tremendous inkstand was, the con
tents whereof, by one unlucky sweep o
the elbow, descended in an ebon cata
. ract over his shirt bosom, upon whicl
alone he had depended
"Well, here is a catastrophe!" he mur
INJURED, gloomily, staunching the ink
flow with his pocket handkerchief. How
ever, can button my coat over for tn
present. Let me see-there is that mo
e ney promised to pay Smithson to-day
: and
t He stopped short, a cold dew of dis
: may breaking out on his forehead-th
k money drawer was fixture of tn
g wretched secretaire!
: Penniless, shirtless, and paper-les
= what more desperate state of affairs coul
IS his worst enemy desire for him Their
/ was lower deep yet, however-woul
J. he not be character-less, likewise if hi
1t wife should by any inopportune chanc
e discover that he, the model of rule an
= order, had lost his key. So thought M
Walter as he strobe off down town to
day of perplexities and notifications.
ID elf ever [ tease Cora again, abo,
j. losing things" he muttered inwardly, 1
Sc he entered the tea room on returnir
= home, 81 hope to be drowned with
ty hundred weight of keys about my necl
S. It's a judgment upon me-
of He unbuttoned his coat as he spok
!; forgetful of the ink-stamps of the NOR
I'd ing. Cora uttered a faint scream, al
'u shrank back, exclaiming
e, "My dear Philip, what is the matt
with your shirt bosom to night?'