Connecticut western news., 1871-10-27
A DEADLOCK, AND ITS KEY.


 riding-it was six o'clock, too early to dress for dinner. too late to dress twice after taking off my habit-sleeping over a book, and comfortable in my white dress ing-gown. was bored by the interrup- tion. The note was no more than this:
 "DEAR SALEEN-I must stay where I am; and you must go 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- TOW, and the dining-room is given up to the breakfast. l've sent back the brough- am. Thine, FRED"
 Fred is my brother, and was invited, Ike myseR, to dine quietly with these Lesters, whose pretty daughter was to be married next day to a friend of ours-especially Fred's and mine-Sir John Marsh, com monly called "Jack." -...
 "What keeps Fred 2" was my passing thought; then read lttle longer, dress ed, and drove to Portman square. A, turned the corner, saw visible prepara- tions and signs of the morrow's wedding at the Lesters' 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 broueham drew up, could see through the open door the hustle and stir within At home in the house, opened the din- ing-roOm door, to sec what progress was b. ing 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. My friends maid was putting moss into the flower bas- kets, and decorating the high dishes con- taining the mere durable part of the feast. "Well Barker" was beginning. when I caught the woman's eyes. 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.
 50 ma'am o Miss Sarah you've come.'
 "Ot course, I've come,n | answered "What IS the matter2
 You hav'nt seen them, ma'am, have you7" ..
 "Seen who 1.-the ladies :? No. came straight in here to look at the tables. Is there anything wrong2 I suppose we're to dine in the library for to-day How nice it all looks D
 "Nice! o ma'am, it's a mockery, it's awful To see it all, and to go on as if as if- o Lord 2" and the women sat down, and rocked herself to and fro, with the tears running down her face.
 was thoroughly alarmed now. Bar ker, is there anything wrong2 Ia any one i'll, or dead2 Don't frighten me like this I'll 90 and see them, if you won't speak out ;" and went to the door, I just saw that Barker had descended to the floor, and that her head was on the chair, which she clutched, sobbing aloud.
 l met the butler and another man cross ing the hall, both with scared solemn faces and went on to the morning room or the same floor. There, all looked much as usual The pride of the house aad of my friends rather valuable collection of an cabinet with massive clamped doors, and richly cut brasswork eisLe as only genuine brasswork of old time can be; cautiously inlaid woodwork marvellous locks which no one but it's owner understood, and nc one else dared meddle with. It was very old friend, the great Grmoire; playing witf the children of the house in my own child. hood, knew 1t, inside and outside by heart. A mystery and wonder then an interest later-always thing to ad' mire and wonder at even now.
 1t had three doors. The centre oni about four feet wide, and certainly si1 inches thick, shut in another, which agair enclosed, with aspaee of about eight inchcI of waste room, set of six drawers of diff ferent sizes, and a sort of cupboard abov, them. We used to stand as little il dren between the drawers and the inne door, and wonder, supposing we were shu in. whether we could breath long in tha narrow enclosure, or be heard by any on without, supposing-awful thought w were forgotten, or the outer door wer shut. I remember thinking of it in bet at night, a. nervous children will think q such things, till I was cold with horror Both these two dpors shut with catc which was not lock but we childrel were forbidden ever to open or shut them except when Mir. Lester was present. l was doubtful if any one else knew how t. open them, for no one ever tried. Tn two side doors opened with curious keys which stood in the locks, chained to tn aImoire. They were valuables in them selves. The great key of the centre door worth hundred pounds or more, was con sIocrcd too sacred for common eyes, an; lay in a velvet-lined case in Mir Lesters own keep epng-brought out only occasion ally to show to those who could appleciat such things. ''-.-. .
 It stood there in the summer twiligh looming darkly in the quiet room, darke than the rest of the house, as back room in London often are. Chilly it seemed { me, in my thin. white dress, coming frol the hall tuli of sunset light. Turning leave the room, saw a man lying prone C 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