The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-03
VOL. ".

more Oppressive. ran out ot the room u
sort Of panic, Upstairs. the drawing
room door stood open. The glare Of th,
sunset was over the room bright with
flowers aud pictureS; aud the open win
dows showed the balcOalcs lined with cloti
and ready for the guests next dry. Silence
here, and silent figures, two Of them-OnI
ero0ched upon the floor, with arms out
stretched upon n sofa another living hal
across upon an Ottoman--thc brides mo
thcr and sister, As | came in and spoke
now fairly bewildeIed aud frightened
Mr Lester rnSe up with a despairlns
wall.
" Saleen, Salceu " she stood shaking ant
crying out my name.
Dear Mrs. Lester,n said, taking The
woman'S cold hands, "oome and sit down
aud tell me what has happened, kate!
called 90 the Girl ON the floor. "eome and
give me that cushion She came me
chanically, and helped her mother 10 the
armchair, Now tell me if YOU can
But Mrs Testers bead had fallen back
upon the cushion. and she had tainted.
The girl reused herself
"No WONDER she said "she has eaten
nothing all day; sud then all this. It's
too awful, Saleen. | shall go mad If
think; and papa has never come back.
"Wbere is your father
T" | don't know. We sent down 90 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 il open"
at! What, ehiIdl Can't you say
what You are talking about
shall go mad next. Wkat can't you find
Aud what ailS You all 2
\ d" Sacen, it's Mary. Mary is In there
and the Key is gone, and papa is away;
and she's dying there-Suiiocating and
the girl ;iung herself ON the floor with
wild sobs and tears Mrs. Lester Law for
gotten in her SwcOn Kate rolled in una
vaiiing misery ON the carpet. fled down
stairs. The servants were as busy as ever.
| knew il all now.
GOOD God.n said TO the butler, who
was carrying in a tray Of glass, " are You
going on with all this useless folly, and
that girl dying IN the next room. Is no
one going 90 try 10 save her.
Davis stood still and looked nc me pity
ing; he shock his head sadly and went on.
! / rushed into the street a policeman
was standing near the carts. Come
/ here | said. You to another man
" 20 and get a blacksmith. Run for your
I life Tell them to bring tools 20 open
locks and unScrew everything. Run -
And you get a hatchet; get anything !;
come and break open the great cabinet. -
/ gaspcd 10 the servants, who came out 10
see what il all meant; Don't lose a mo-
ment Great Heaven the time has been
4 lost Already" They obeyed me, dispcrs-
ING hither and thithcr. 1t seemed hours
Z before the men came back with tools
Try the hinges first. Are there screws ="
Z There was that chance and they worked
at them, removing several heavy, curious
nails and screws. but seeming no nearer
the object; the door was fast and firm;
"Oh, break il down y | screamed at last 1.
a break il with the hatchet. What does
any thing matter, but her lfe-her life
''lier life said some strange voice
close to me, and there stood Jack March
swaying like a drunken man, with scared
eyes and wild hair. Was his reason gone
or going.
Don't!a he shouted TO a workman
who was lifting the hatchet TO break in
the deor. Not up there. Her head
And then he stopped his ear TO the key
hole. listened intently a minute, raised
his hand, as il 20 demand silence, and the
intelligence fading out Of his face, be rose
with discordant laugh, and walked away.
- Bah he said "her life against Testers
cabinet-her life against key We did
not even look round TO sec where he went
stumbling through the ball, where he fell
IN fit upon the floor.
Fearing to ipJure that imprisoned figure
living or dead, who could tell-we left
the door, and proceeded 20 break into the
middle compartment from the wings. The
grand old workmanship resisted; there
seemed no weak point, no creyice, no posi-
bility OF breaking into the huge thing
without fear Of harm 10 that which il held
locked and fast, within few inches Of our
light and air and living life, done 10 death
by Bit Of clever machinery, the work OF
a dead hand. I would not think Of beau
iiful Mary Lester as she might be. must
be, il another hour went by. All this
time no questions were asked. | never
knew till afterwards how il had all happen
ed how her father, only an hour or so
earlier exhibiting his wonderful cabinet TO
a connoisseur in such matters, had gone up
stairs with his friend 10 show the key be
prlzed 30 much, leaving the cabinet door
open. intending TO return-how Mary and
the children, a younger brother and sister,
had come in-and how the unusual sight
of the open door had attracted them-how
she looked in, ard told the little ones she
had not stood inside it $50 ~ since she was
as little as they were; and laughing tried
to stand in the old place. 81 am not too
big even now, am II" she said; and the
children ran TO see, and pushing the doors
against her, the spring caught, and shut
her in with death and sutfocation; while
they went shouting to the Others that sis
ter Mary was in there shut up" and they
could not let her out.
No, they could not let her out Mr..
Lester and his friend had gone Of with the
KEY TO show IL 20 some one who had doubt
cd its date-so il appeared from one Of the
boys who now came in: he had heard
them talking on the stairs as they went
out.
il; he has never seen it," said the boy
sobbing. Il heard him. know he said
Jarvis"
"That will be Colonel Jarvis, in Charles
street, ma'an," said Davis. Maybe, if
we sent there
There were voices outside, and Barker
looked in with white face Of horror.
ats master coming in" she said, in a
sort Of whisper.
We all stood back. Who would tell
him7 Who was TO say, 4" Your girl rs be-
hind that immoyabFe door7'
But the boy, frightened enough at his
father at other times, went up to him,
trying TO speak quietly" The key, sir
Quick, for Gods sake !"
"Keyl What-what's all this Good
God! sir'-seiZing a servant by the collar,
and finging him to one side, like cat
do you know what you're doing, med
ding with that cabinet7 Why, it's worth
thousands! Gcd bless rne! what docs all
this mean ~ He was purple with anger
" Don't stand staring. Sarah Heriot," he
thundered, "you are not fool; be good
enough to explain this-this-"
Iwent up to him sick with horror " The
kew is wanted" managed to say. "Therc
IS some one inside-dying."
"Some one-dying-in there2 Who?
What2 Who Is it, girl 7" He shook me
by the shoulder till WINGED with pain.
Y"Oh, the key, the key Never mind
anything else, sir Only open it quick,
and Lose no more time"