Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-01-26
EnusI
THE LOST KEY.


sse monnaie :"
Mr.. Walkers brow contracted slightly Al
the words, and he drew away the hand which
had been cafessing his wife's pretty hair2'
''Is that portemonnaie lost again z"
NOV, Philip" said the little woman with
. word of pretty penitence in the heightened
nonosyllable. ''DOn't scOld. Upon my WOrdI
it's the frst time I've mislaid it this whole,
morning. "r 'ss
''It is too provoking, Jane, said the hus-
band, pushing back the books ON the table
before him with movement denoting irriths
tiOn. .tWil You never break yourself of this
bad habit, my loyeW
Jane was silent, looking down like very
naughty child who had been chiSden.
'tYou don't know what An annoyance these
needless habits are TO q methodicAl man like
myself, dear" he added, in gentle tone, az
the coral lip began to tremble and the eye to
suffuse. "DO try to be more thoughtful for
my sake Here is your lost treasure" h6
added, quietly drawing q tiny case of pearl
and gold from his pocket. al found it lying
on the stairs, aud thought it q most excellent
opportunity for giving my careless little wife
lesson !"
Jane clapped her hands at the sight of tho
restored treasure, and danced ont of the room
in girlish glee.
"a perfect child" murnered tho husband,
looking AFTER her with n smile and sigh
blending unoonsciously into one another.
"Well, if don't make haste, shall be too
late for that engagement in the city. Let me
see-the notes are in the iron safe, / believe.
Nothing like looking up things aud keeping
the keys yourself. If Jane only followed
my example,"
Mr.. Walker paused abruptly, seeking in
hia yArinu6 yncEata NTH parynua hnoka Eos
something which seemed not to be forth
coming.
"Very strange" muttered he, biting his
lip. 81 always put It in that waistcOAt pocket.
Possibly l may have laid it upon the table
among those papers,"
The aforesaid papers fustled hitbef and
thither, like animated snoW>aakes; as MIR.
Walker hutriedly sought among their cons
fused masses, but it was all in vain.
al can't have lost IT," he exclaimed, III
dire preplexity. "And every one of those
notes is locked up in the safe, with no earthly
chance Of ever getting at it. But am oer>
tain the key can't be LOST never lose any
thing 1t won't do to wait many moro min
utes-lll just put on clean shirt and run
down town. Hang that confotnded keyw
Mr.. Walker hastened up to his dressing
room to complete the details of his toilet Gro
he left the house but his trials worc not yet
destined to terminate. He was q methOdical
man, therefore his wardrobe was carefully
locked; he always kept things in ono place,
therefore the keys were snugly reposing in ono
corner of the inaccessible iron safe.
lie rushed frantically back to the library
hoping family that tho key might be on tho
mantle piece, where he had not yet searched.
No, it was not there but treacherous ink
stand was, the contents whereof, by one nm.
lucky sweep Of the elbow, decended in an
ebOn cataract over his shirt>front upon which
alone he had dependedl
"Well, here is a catastrophe !" he mur-
mered, gloomily, staunchipg the inky How with
his handkerchief. "However, can button
my coat over for the present. Let me see
there is that money promised to pay Smith
He stopped short ). a cold dow of dismsy
breaking out on his forehead-tho money
drawer was part Of the iron safe
Penniless aud shirtless, what more des-
perate state Of affairs could his worst enemy
desire of him? There was lower deep yet,
however-would he not be characterless like.
wise, if his wife should by any inopportuD6
chance, discover that he, the model Of Tul0
and order, had lost his key! So thought Mr..
Walker, as he went off to day Of perplex-
tiles and notifications in the city.
sIf ever tease jennie again about losing
suything," he muttered inwardly, as he
entered the room on returning home, "I hope
to be drowned with hundred weight Of keys
about my neck Its certainly Judgment
sent upon me I"
He unbuttoned his coat as he spoke, forget.
full of the ink-stains of the morning. Jane
uttered faint scream and shrank back, ex-
claiming
My dear Philip, what is the matter With
your shirt2
"The matter OhP said he, colOriug and
laughing, 81 remember now-I split little
ink over it this morning. It don't signify
much"
''DO let me get you another dear"
"No, no, said ne, eagerly OBTAINING her it
isn't worth while. Do sit down and be easy,
my love p
But Jane started away to carry her baby
upeto the nursery. just as she reached the
door, something jinglsd softly 10 the pockeS
of her little silk sPron-she stopped in tho
passage.
"0h, by the way. Philip, here is the key
to your iron safe. found il on the dining
room table this nfterDoon-apd; she added,
with an arch sparkle in her tOguish eyes,
thought it would be an excellent opportunity
for giving my husband q lesson J"
She laid the key in his hand and ran out Of
the room, as he recoiied involhntsriIy from
the sound of his own psdantic words. As he
contemplated the cleaning wards Of the littls
steel mischief maker in mingled delight and
modification, the echo of James merry laugh
ter on the stairs reached his ear like chime
of silver bells.
He laughed, too-be couldn't help it.
Mrs. Jane Walker was discreet Iittis
female. She never alluded 10 the subject Of
keys again, aud her husband was never after