Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-31
THE Iron VAULT.

| 1 live in San Francisco, and an
a locksmith by trade. Ny callin!
is a strange one, and possesses
certain fascination rendering it on
Iof the most agreeable of pursuits
Many who follow it see nothin;
but its returns in gold and silver
Tome it has other charms than th'
money it produces. | am called
upon, almost daily, to open doors
and peer into long neglected apart
ments; to spring the stubborn
locks of safes, and gloat upor
the treasure piled within; to qui
city enter the apartments Of ladie:
with more beauty than discretion
to pick the locks of drawers con
tanning peace destroying missives
that the dangerous evidences of
wandering affection may not reach
the eve of a husband, or father in
possession of the missing key; tc
force the fastening of cash boxes
and repositories of records, telling
of men made suddenly rich,
of corporations plundered, of or.
phans robbed, of hopes crushed.
of families ruined. is there nc
charm in all this?-no food for
speculation-no scope for the
range of pleasant fancy? Then,
who would not be a locksmith,
though his face is begrimed with
the SCOT of the forge, and his hands
are stained with rust?
But | have a story to tell-not
exactly a story, either-for a sto-
ry implies the completion as well
as the beginning of a narrative
and mine is scarcely more than the
introduction to one. Let him
who deals in things of fancy, write
the rest. In the spring of 1856
Il think it was April opened
alittle shop Kearney street, and
soon worked myself into affair busi-
ness. Late one evening lady,
closely yelled, entered my shop,
and pulling from beneath a cloak
a small japanned box, requested
me to open it. The lock was GU
riously constructed, and | was all
of an hour fitting it with a key
The lady seemed nervous at the
delay, and at length requested me
to close the door. [ was a little
surprised at the suggestion, but
of course complied. Shutting the
door, and returning to my work,
the lady withdrew her veil, disclo-
sing as sweet face as can well
be imagined. There was rest
lesshess in the eye and a pallor in
the cheek, however, which plainly
told of a heart i'll at ease, and in a
moment every emotion for her
had given place to that of pity.
"Perhaps you are not well, mad
am, and the night air is too chill
ly?" said l, rather inquisitively.
Ifelt a rebuke in her reply: "In
requesting you to close the door, |
had no other object than to escape
the attention of persons.
| did not reply, but thoughtful
ly continued my work. She re-
sumed: "That little box contains
valuable papers-private papers
and | have lost the key, or it
has been stolen. / should not
wish to have you remember that
l ever came here on such an er-
randi she continued, with some
hesitation, and giving me look
which it was no difficult matter to
understand.
"Certainly, madam, if you de-
sire it. If | cannot forget your face
1 will at least attempt to lose the
recollection of ever seeing it here" "
The lady bowed rather coldly
at what I considered a fine COM
pliment, and / proceeded with my
work, satisfied that sudden dis
covered partiality for me had moth
ing to do with the visit. Having
succeeded, after much filing and
fitting, in turning the lock, | was
seized with a curiosity to get a
glimpse at the precious contents
of the box, and suddenly raising
the lid, discovered a bundle of let
ters, and a daguerreotype, as l
slowly passed the box to its owner.
She seized it hurriedly, and pla-
cling the letters and picture in her
pocket, locked the box, and draw
ing the veil over her face, pointed
to the door. Iopened it, and as she