The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-23

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woodwork; marvellous locks, which nc
one but its owner understood, and nc
one else dared meddle with it. 1t was q
very old friend, the great armoire; play
ing with the children of the house in my
own childhood, 1 knew it, inside and
outside, by heart A mystery and a
wonder then-an interest LATERAL
ways thing to admire and wonder al
even now.
1t had three doors. The centre one
about fodr feet wide, and certainly six
inches thick, shut in another, which
again enclosed, with space of about
eight inches of waste. room, set of six
drawers, of different sizes, and a sort OF
cupboard above them. We used to stand
as little children between the drawers
and the inner door, and wonder, suppos-
ing we were shut in, whether we could
breathe long in that narrow enclosure,
or be heard by any one without, suppos-
ing-awful thought we were forgot
ten, or the outer door were shut. re-
member thinking of it in bed at night,
as nervous children will think of such
things, till was cold with horror. Both
these two doors shut with catch which
was not lock but we children were
forbidden ever to open or shut them,
except when Mr.. Lester was present.
1t was doubtful if any one else knew
how to open them, for no one ever tried.
The two side-doors opened with curious
keys, which stood in the locks, chained
to the armoire. They were valuables in
themselves. The great key of the centre
door, worth hundred pounds or more,
was considered too sacred for common
eyes, and lay in d velvet lined case in
Mr.. Testers own keeping-brought out
only occasionally to show to those who
could appreciate such things.
1t stood there in the summer twilight,
looming darkly in the quiet room, dark
er than the rest of the house, as back
rooms in London often are chilly, it
seemed to me, in my thin white dress,
coming from the hall full ofsunset light.
Turning to leave the room, 1 saw man
lying prone on his face upon the sofa
so still, and so straight and so strange
in his attitude. that could only stare
for minute, and wonder whether he
was asleep or dead. His hands were
over his ears, grasping his hair as if in
pain and noticed the soles of his boots
turned quite up, as one notices trihes in
the midst of alarm or. bewilderment.
The nails in his boots showed he was
not dressed for dinner. His hat was
lying on the floor on its side. His face
| could not see; but I knew it was
Jack March, and touched his arm in
wonder.
"Jack, are you awake? Are you
asleep? What is it?" 1 asked, with
growing alarm. Was to find some
thing strange in every room I entered
in this house? Jack" I said again.
He turned, and saw his wild, haggard
face, that looked at me with vague eyes
that seemed not to see; and then he
put his head down with a moan, and
covered his ears once more, as if to shut
out sight and sound. The room felt
darker and chillier for this silent figure !;
and the gaunt old armoire seemed big
ger and more oppressive. ! ran out of
the room in a sort of panic. Up stairs
the drawing-room door stood open. The
glow of the sunset was over the room,
bright with flowers and pictures and
the open windows showed the balconies
lined with red cloth, and ready for the
guests next day. Silence here, and ST.
lent figures, two of them, one crouched
upon the floor, with arms outstretched
upon sofa 4; the other lying half across
an ottoman-the brides mother and
sister. As l came in and spoke, now
fairly bewildered and frightened, Mrs.
Lester rose up with despairing wall
-" Saleen, Saleen !" She stood shaking
and crying out my name.
Dear Mrs. Lester" 1 said, taking
the woman's cold hands, "come and sit
down, and tell me what has happened
Kate!" 1 called to the girl on the floor,
come and give me that cushion" She
came mechanically, and helped Ler
mother to the armchair. Now, tell
me, if you can" But Mrs. Testers
head had fallen back upon the cushion,
and she had tainted. The girl reused
herself.
"No WONDER" she said she has eaten
nothing all day; and then all this. It's
too awful, Saleen. l shall go mad if 1
think; and papa has never come back !"
Where is your father!"
81 don't know. We sent down to the
club and to the house; they can't find
him. And we've searched his room, and
it's not there. It's nowhere. And Jack
is nearly wild; and we daren't break it
open."
at! What, child? Can't you say
what you are talking aboutY shall go
mad next. What can't you find? And
what ails you all 7"
"Saleen, it's Mary. Mary is in there
and the key is gone, and papa is away;
and she's dying there-suffocating;" and
the girl flung herself on the floor with
wild sobs and tears. Mrs. Lester lay
forgotten in her swoon; Kate rolled in
misery on the carpet. fled
down stairs. The servants were as basy
as ever. l knew it all now.
"Good God p l said to the butler,
who was carrying in tray of glass,
/" are you going on with all this useless
folly, and that girl dying in the next
room Is no one going to try to save
her 7"
Davis stood still, and look at nae pity
ingly; he shook his head sadly, and went
on.
Irushed into the street policeman
was standing near the carts. "Come
here" said. "You"-to another man
Ego and get blacksmith. Run for
your life )! Tell him to bring tools to
open locks and unscrew every thing.
Run. And you get hatchet; get any
thing; come and break open the great
cabinet" 1 gasped to the servants, who
came out to see what it all meant
"Don't lose moment. Great heaven
the time that has been lost already"
They obeyed me, dispensing hither and