The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1869-01-14
The Iron Vault,

smith by trade, My calling is a strange
one, and possesses certain fascination,
rendering it one Of the most agreeable
pursuits. Many who follow it see nothing
in it bat labor-think of nothing but its
return in gold and silver. To me it has
other charms than the money itprOduces.
l am called upon almost daily, to open
dours and peer into long neglected apart
aeats; to spring the stubborn locks Of
s.fss, and gloat upon the treasures piled
within; to quietly enter the apartments OF
ladies with more beauty than discretion,
and pick the locks of drawers containing
peace-destroying missives, that the dans
gerOus evidence of wandering affection
may not reach the eye of husband or
father possessing the mystic key; to force
the fasteaings of cash-bOxes and deposito-
res of records. telling of Wen made sud
denly rich, of corporations plundered, Of
orphans robbed, of hopes crushed, of fam
lilies ruined. Is there no charm in this
no food for speculation No scope for
the range of pleasant fancyl 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 l have a story to tell-not exactly
IA story implies the completion as we'll as
the beginning of a narrative, and mine is
scarcely more than the introduction. Let
him who deals in fancy write the rest. In
the spring of 1861 think it was in
April opeped little shop on Kearney
street, and aooR worked myself into fair
business Late one nveniug, a lady, close
ly yelled, entered my shop, and pulling
, from bcNeath her cloak small japunned
box requested me to open it. The lock
was curously constructed, and l was all
Of an hour fitting it with key. The lady
seemed nervous at the delay, and at length
requested me to close the door. l was :
little surprised ut the suggestion, but o.
course complied. Shutting the door and
returning to my work, tho lady Withdrew
her veil disclosing as sweet face as cal
we'll be imagined. There was rest
lessness in the eye and pallor in tn
- cheek, however, which plainly told Of
heart i'll at ease, and in moment ever
e4otiQp for her had given place to tina
n of pity.
e "Perhaps yau are not very we'll, MADAM
IS and the night air is too chillyl" said
IS rather inguisltiyely. l felt rebuke
III her reply:
"In requesting you to close to do'r'
is had no other object than to escape the a
r tention of persnIs passing"
r did not reply, but thoughtfully cOntiI
lie ued my work. She resumed:
i'd "That little box contains valuable p;
I'd pers-private papers-and l have lost Il
kew, or it has been stolen.- l should NJ
" wish to have you remember that ave-
at came here on SUCH an errand," she col
ry tinued with so he hesitation, and givir
ir me look which it was no difficult ma
te ter to understand.
"Certainly, madam, if you desire i
as if cannot forget your face, will at lea
Ill attempt to lose the recollection Of av'
OF seeing it here"
The lady bowed rather coldly at VIII
e. considered fine compliment, and | pr
~ eeeded with my work, satisfied that su
in denly discovered partiality for me had not
ing to do with the visit. Having succee
a ed, after much fling and fitting, iH tur
'ss ing the lock, | was seized with curio'
ty to get glimpse at the precious co
Wy tents of the box, and suddenly raisil
le- the lid discovered bundle of letters al
daguerreotyps, as ! slowly passed t
in box to its owner. She seized it huTriedl
and placing the letters and picture in h
W. pocket locked the box, and drawing t
oi, veil over her face pointed to the door.
ite opened it, and as she passed into
street, she merely whispered-"Reme
aR ber" We met again, and | have be
Of Of thus particular in describing her visit
the shop, to render probable a subseque
m recognition.
md About 2 o'clock in the morning, in t
e'' latter part of the May following, | '
lily awakened by gentle tap upon the "
OF dow Of the little room buck of the shop
ana which I lodged. Thinking of burglar:
,as sprapg out of my bed, and in mom
en- was at the window, with heavy hamr
md in my hand, which | usually kept at I
n