The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-05-21
THE LOST KEY.


THE LOST KEY.
"My dear Philip, have you seen my
pOrtemonnate.?'
Mr. Walters brow contracted slightly
at the words, and he drew away the hand
which had been carcssing his wife $
pretty hair.
"ls that portcmonnaie lost again?'
"Now, Philip said the little woman,
with world Of pretty pcnitence in the
heightened monosy ylable, "don't scold.-
Upon my word, its the first time I've
mislaid it this whole morning."
at is too provoking, Jane" said the
husband, pushing back the books on the
table before him with movement denot
ing intense irritation. "Will you merer
break yourself of this careless habit, my
lovc?'
Jane was silent, looking down like a
very naughty child who had been child
den.
"You don't know what an annoyance
these hccdlcss habits are to mcthodical
man like myself, dear" he added, in a
gcn'er tone, as the coral lip began to
trenble and the eye to sutluse. "Do try
to be more thoughtful, for mK 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
Jane clapped her hands at the sight of
the restored treasure, and danced out of
the room in girlish glcc.
"a perfect child,' murmured the
husband, looking after ler with smile
and sigh blending unconsciously into
one another "Wcll if l don't make
haste, shall be too late for that engage
ment in the city. Let me see-the notes
are in my iron safe. | believe. Nothing
like locking up things and keeping the
keys yourself: If Jane only followed my
cxample--'
Mr. Walter paused abruptly, seeking
in his various pockets, with nervous haste,
for something which seemed not to be
forthcoming.
Every strange" muttercd he, biting
his lip. al always put it in that waist
coat pocket. Possibly l may have laid
it on the table among those papers,
The aforesaid papers rustled hither
and thithcr, like animated snow fakes,
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 p:rplexity. "And every one of
those notes is locked up in the safo, witk
no earthly chance Of ever getting at it,
But [ am certain the key can't be lost
| never lose anything. 1t won't do to
wait many more miuutes-Fll just put
on clean shirt and run down town.
Hang that confounded key!"
Mr.. Walter hastened up to his dress
ing room to complete the details of his
toilet, ere he left the house: but his tri-
ais were not yet destined to terminate
He was mcthodical man, therefore his
wardrobe was carefully locked; he always
kept things in one place, therefore the
keys were snug'y reposing in one corner
of the inaccessible iron safe
lie rushed frantically back to the H.
brary, hoping family that the key might
be on the mantcl piece, where he had not
yet searched. No, it was not there; but
trcachcrous inkstand ,cas, the contents
whereof, BY one unlucky sweep Of the ell.
bow, descended in an ebon cataract over
his shirt front-the shirt front upon
which alone he had depended!
"Well, here is catastrophe!' he MUIR
INJURED, gloomily, stanching the inky flow
with his pocket handkerchief. GLOW
ever, I can button my coat over for the
present. Let me sec-there is that mon
ey I promised to pay Smithson to day,
and-'
lie stopped short; cold dew Of dismay
breaking out on his forehcad-the mon
cy drawer was a fixture Of the iron safe!
Penniless and shirtless, what more
desperate state of affairs could his worst
enemy desire for him? There was a
lower deep yet, however-would he not
be characterless, likewise, if his wife
should, by any opportune chance, dis.
cover that he, the model of rule and or.
der, had lost his key. SO thought Mr.