New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-12

Though \ on should tremble and fall,
God cares for sparrows and ell
Rock, little nest like song
All the sweet days feet along
Winter win presently come,
Making yOn vacant and dumb!
A DEADLOCK AND ITS KEY.
"a note for you, ma am. No answer"
was resting in my own room, after nd
ing-it was six o'clock; too early to dres
for dinner, too late to dress twice after tax
ing off my habit-sleeping over book, and
comfortable in my white dressing.gown.
was bored by the interruption. The mott
Was NO more than this:
"DEAR Salem: must stay where am
and you must 60 by yourself to the Les
tersEyou won't mind. saw Jack, and b.
said there was no party, a. 1t would b(
troubleso ONE with the wedding tomorrow
and the dining.r room is given up to thu
breakfast. I've sent back the brOughman
Thine, FRED"
Fred il my brother, end was invited, like
myself, to dine quietly with these Testers
whose pretty daughter Was to be married
next day to Q friend of Ours-specially
Fred's and mine-Sir John March, com
monty called "Jack."
what keeps Freds" was my passing
thought; then read little longer, dressed
and drove to P0rtman square. A turned
the corner, / saw visible preparations and
signs of the morrow's wedding at the Les.
ters' door. A cart with flowers was un-
loading; 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 homo
in the house, opened the diningr0om door,
to see what progress was being made with
the tables. Several maid-servants and some
of the confectioner's men were arranging
the ornaments and flowers; the cake, with
its conventional erection, stood conspicuous.
Ny friends maid was putting moss into the
flower baskets, and decorating the high
dishes containing the more durable part Of
the feast. ..Wel1, Barker" / was beginning
when caught the w0man's eye. She was
doing her work with strange gravity. and
her face was full Of horror and pain. When
she saw me, she let fall the flowers in her
hand.
20, ma'am! o, Miss Sarah! you've
s4Of course, I've come" 1 answered.
"What is the matter 7"
You haven't seen them, ma'am, have
sSeen who' The ladies! No; came
straight in here to look ct the tables. Is
there anything wrong! ! suppose we're
nice it all looksv'
Mice! o, ma'am, it's mockery, its
awful! To see it all and to 60 on - i-as
ito, Lord !" and the woman eat down and
rocked hersef to and fro, with the tears
running down her face.
was thoroughly alarmed now. Barker,
is there anything wrongs L. any one i'll or
dead! Don't frighten me like this. I'll 60
and see them if you won't speak out" and
went to the door. l 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 groom on the
same floor. There all looked much az
usual. The pride of the house and of my
friends rather valuable collection of an
tiquities stood facing the door-a huge
cabinet, with massive clamped doors and
richly cut brass work-ciscIe as Only genuine |
brass work of old times can be; curiously |
inlaid wood work; marvellous locks, which |
no one but its owner understood and no |
one else dared NEEDLE with. 1t was very !
old friend, the great armoir: playing with |
hood, knew it, inside and outside, by |
heart. A mystery and wonder then-an |
interest later-always thing to admire |
and wonder at even now.
1t had three doors. The centre one, about !
four feet wide, and certainly six inches
thick, shut in another, which again enclosed,
with space Of about eight inches of waste
room. a set of six drawers Of different sizes,
and sort of cupboard above them. We
used to stand as little children between the
drawers and tue inner door, and wonder,
suppOslng We were shut in whether We could
breathe long in that narrow enclosure, or
be heard by any one without, supposing-
awful thought Two were forgotten, or the
outer door were shut. / remember thinking
If it in bed at night, as nervous children
will think OF such things, till l was cold
Nth horror Both these two doors shut !
With catch which was not a lock; but we
children were forbidden ever to open or
hut them, except when Mr.. Lester was
1t was doubtful if anyone else
Knew how to open them, for NO one ever
ried. The two sidedoors opened with Gu
ious keys, which stood in the locks, chained
o the armOir. They were veluables in them
elves. The great key Of the centre door,
worth hundred pounds or more, was con- ,
AZ in velvet-lined case in Mr.. Testers .
'wn keeping, brought out only occasionally
o show to those who could appreciate such ,
hings.
1t stood there ia the summer twill yht !
ooming darkly in the quiet room, darker +
nan the rest OF the house, as back rooms in /
london often are chilly, it seemed to me.
q my thin white dress, coming from the =
all full of sunset light. Turning to leave
be room, l saw a man lying prone On Lis $
ace upon a sofa; 80 still, and 60 straight. :
nd 80 strange IN his attitude, that conld +
My stare for minute, and wonder whether
. was asleep or dead. His hands were I
yer his ears, grasping his hair. as if in \
AIN; and l noticed the sOles of his boots e
lrned quite up, as one notes trifles in the n
lldst OF alarm or bewilderment The nails h
! MS boots showed he was not dressed for G
inner. HIS haU was lying on the floor on
slQe. his race could not see: but I h
new 1t was JACK March, and touched his d
I'M in wonder. !.
Jack, are you awake2 Are you asleens :,
That IL itP' asked with growing alarm !,
yas to find something strange i5 ever =
'om entered in this housed "Jackr;T :.
i'd again. He turned, and saw his wild 4
lggard face, that looked at me with yapue
res that seemed not to see; and then he
1t his head down with moan, and COW :"
ed his ears once more, as il to shut out :.
yht and sound. The room felt darker and
illier for this silent figure; and the gaunt q,
arm0ir seemed bigger and more oppres- 4.
7e. ran out of the room in sort of
mic. Up stairf the drawing.rOOm door
nod open. The glow of the sunset was e.
er the room, bright with flowers and PIC
res, and the open windows showed the G,
lconies lined with red cloth, and ready v
; the guests next day. Silence here, and Il
emit figures, two of them-one crOuched
on the floor, with arms 0utstretched upon et
'ofa; another lying half across m otto b,
Ln-Eh0 hridNa snOthar and eiefAp A | h.