The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-02-20


bic to shake hands with Margare
= Ann, when, being a clumsy old bach
elor, not used to women's fxings
my coat caught in a little wicker
work basket on long spider legs, anC
oyefset it. Out tumbled cotton
buttons and tape, and 1 stopped tc
| pick them mp, when among them
saw a key, q brass door key, with 8
nick in it and long piece of pink
ribbon tied to the handle. 1t was a
very little thing, but it made my
blood run cold.
| If that was the key that Lilly had
lost, what was it doing there? 1
didn't dare to look at my sister in
law. And 1 walked the floor all
might; but by the morning my mind
was made up.
At nine o'clock I met the boy and
girl at the store, and told them l
should be gone all day. In ten
minutes more I stole Lilly's KEY
from under the counter and went to
the house-to her little room. on
the third floor, and entered it like a
thief. 1t was very poor and very
bare, but very neat and clean and
there was a closet in it, with a few
dresses hanging upon pegs, and a
bonnet box upon a shelf Into this
closet l went, and there sat on an
old trunk and waited. l heard a
queer old clock ticking in the room.
l heard it count the hours-ten,
eleven, twelye-and l kept saying
to myself:
"If you are a wicked. suspicious
old fool, Richard Wood, Lord for
give you"
But waited still, and just as the
long black hands pointed at half |
past one, 1 heard such q knock as
my sister-in-law always gave at the
office door.
There was another knock-a pause,
and then 1 heard the key turn in the
lock and saw the door open and my |
sister-in-law come in. She looked |
about her, shut the door, re-locked |
it, and stole across the room. Then,
God forgive the woman, 1 suppose
she was mad with jealousy-she lift
ed up the mattress of the neat little
bed in the corner, and taking red
pocket book, she thrust it under,
pulling the quilt well down about
the bed afterward.
Il hardly think you'll marry Sam
Spencer after all, Miss Lilly" she
said aloud, with wicked toss of the
head. "Pve outwitted you"
"Not quite" said I, Margaret
Ann, there are two words to that
matter"
1 walked out of the closet and
stood with my back to the outer
door. She knew herself trapped,
but her wicked tongue had its way
still.
$50 you're in the habit of coming
here" she said. 'Niee young lady,
81 never came here before" said I,
'and you know it but have been
lere aH day waiting for you. saw
Lilly's key in your basket last night
and [ began to guess the truth.
Bring NE that pocket book
Margaret Ann did it. She was as
pale as death and almost as cold. 1
ooked at her and felt for her after
all.
"You're my brothers widow" 1
'sid, "and a poor foolish jealous
/ haven't told one Of my /
yet, and 1 never will, on
Iwo conditions"
"Name Them" said she. 1 cannot
lelp myself"
you'll retire from the business"
said.
"Glad to do it," said she.
"And you'll give that thousand
lollar bill to Lilly as . wedding
present" Ii
She looked at me and gave great
sulp,
"Nasty little cat, I won't" said she.
But she did, and only 1 ever knew
Yhy the widow Wood was so gener-
Dus to Lilly Rathbone on her wed
ling day, or why she started for /
europe on the very next steamer
hat sailed from New York and still
emains there.