Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-11-02
A DEADLOCK, AND ITS KEY.


"a note for yOu, ma'am. No answer
was resting in my own room, after
riding-it was six o'clock, too early to
dress for dinner, too late to dress twice
after taking oil my habit--sleeping over a
book, and comfortable in my white dress
ing-gown. was bored by the Interrupt
ton. The note was no more than this:
"DEAR SALEEN--I must stay where |
am and yOu must 90 by yourself to the
Lesters'-you wont mind. | saw Jack,
and he said there was no party, as it would
be troublesome with the wedding to-mor-
row, and the dining-room is given up to
the breakfast. I've sent back the brough
am. Thine, FRED"
Fred is my brother, and was invited, ike
myself to dine quietly with these Testers,
whose pretty daughter was to be married
next day to friend of specially
Freds and minc-Sr John Marsh, COM
monty called "JaCk."
"What keeps Frcd?" was my passing
thought; then / read little longer, dress.
ed, and drove TO Portman square. AZ |
turned the corner, | saw visible prepara-
tions and signs of the morrow'S wedding at
the Lcsters' door. A cart with flowers
was unloading; an awning was being put
up over the balcony and hall-door; men
in white aprons came and went. AS the
brougham drew up, could see through
the open door the hustle and stir within.
At home in the house, opened the din
mg-rOom door, to see what progress was
being made with the tables. Several maid
servants and some of the confectioncr's
men were arranging the ornaments and
flowers; the cake with its conventional
erection stood conspicuous. My friends
maid was putting moss into the flower bas-
kcts, and decorating the high dishes con-
tanning the more durable part of the feast
"Wc1l Barker" was beginning, when |
caught the woman'S eyes. She was doing
her work with strange gravity, and hel
face was full of horror and pain. When
she saw me, she let fall the flowers in hel
hand.
go ma'am 20 Miss Sarah you've Gomez
"Of course, I've come" | answered
"What is the matter?
"You hav'nt seen them, ma'am, have
you?"
"Seen who ?-the ladies ? No. / came
straight in here to look at the tables. |;
there anything wrong} suppose we're
to dine in the library for to-day : How
nice it all looks"
mice! o ma'am, IT'S mockery, it.,
awful To see it all, and to go on as if
as if o Lord !" and the woman sal
down, and rocked herself to and fro, with
the tears running down her face
was thoroughly alarmed now. Bar.
ker, is there anything wrong? Is any ont
i'll, or dead? Don't frighten me like this
I'll 90 and see them, if you won't SPEAK
out J" and | went to the door. just saw
that Barker had descended to the floor
and that her head was on the chair, which
she clutched, sobbing aloud
met the butler and another man cross
ing the hail. both with scared solemn faces
and went on to the morning room OF
the same floor. There, all looked much al
usual. The pride Of the house and of my
friends rather valuable collection Of an
ti1uities stood facing the door-a hug
cabinet with massive clamped doors, ant
richly cut braSsWOrk elsie as only genuin,
brasswork of old time can be; cmiousl1
inlaid woodwork marvellous locks whicl
no one but its owner understood, and n,
one else dared NEEDLE with. 1t was yer,
old friend, the great a,moiTe; playing will
the children of the house in my own child
hood, | knew 1t, inside and outside b,
heart. A mystery and wonder then
an interest later-always thing to nd
mire and wonder at even now.
1t had three doors. The centre on
about four feet wide, and certainly 81:
inches thick, shut in another, which agai
enclosed, with aspace of about eight niche
of waste room, a set Of six drawers of dit
ferent sizes, and sort of cupboard abov
them. We used to stand as little chill
dren between the drawers and the inne
door, and wonder, supposing we were shu
in whether we could breath long in thu
marrow enclosure, or be heard by any on
without, srHposing-awiul thought w
were forgotten, or the outer door wel
shut. remember thinking of it in be-
at night, as nervous children will think G.
such things, till | was cold with horror
Both these two doors shut with a cate
which was not lock; but we childre
were forbidden ever to open OF shut then
except when Mr. Lester was present.
was doubtful if any one else knew how {
open them, for no one ever tried. Th
two side doors opened with curious kew
which stood in the locks, chained to tn
armore. They were valuables in then
selves. The great key Of the centre doc
worth hundred pounds or more, was cor
sidercd too sacred for common eyes, an
lay in velvet-lined case in Mr.. Lester
own keeping-brought out only occasion
ally to show to those who could appreciat
such things.
1t stood there in the summer twilight
looming darby in the quiet room, dark,
than the rest of the house, as back room
in London often are. Chilly it seemed I
me, in my thin white dress, coming frol
the hall full of sunset light. Turning I
leave the room, saw man lying prone d
his face upon the sofa; so still, and +
straight, and so strange in his attitud
that | could only stare for minute au
wonder whether he was asleep, or dea
His hands were over his ears, grasping b
hair, as if in pain and I noticed the sol'
of his boots turned quite up, as one notice
triies in the midst Of alarm or bewilde
ment The nails in bis boots showed tb'
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