The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-04
THE LOST KEY.

Mr.. Walters brow contracted. slightly
at the words, and he drew away the hand
which had been caressing his wife's pref
ty hair. :. '.us - -,
"aIs that! porte e-monnaie lost again.
"Now Philip" said the little woman,
with word of pretty penitence in the
heightened monosyllable, "don't scold
Upon nv nv word, it's the first time I've
mislaid it-tbis whole morning.
"It is too provoking, Jane" said the
husband, 'pnsking back the books; on the
table before him swithSa movement demo
ting intense irritation. HWilf you never
break yourself of this careless habit, my
love7" t.. 49,
Jane was silent, looking down like a
naughty cLild who had been chidden.
"You don't know. what an annoyance
these needless habits are to methodlcal
man like myself, DEAR" he added, in q
gentler tone, as the coral lip began to
ttremble and the eye to suffuse. "Do try
to be more thoughtful, for my sake
Here is your lost treasure" he added,
quietly drawing tiny case of pearl and
gold from his pocket. ~ found it lying
on the stairs, and thought it most ex-
cellent opportunity for giving my careless
little wife5a lesson"
Jane clapped her hands at the sight OF
the restored treasure, and danced out OF
the room in girlish glee. =,
"A perfect child" murmured the hus.
band, looking after her with a smile and
a sigh blending unconsciously into one
another. "Well, if I don't make haste |
shall be too late for that engagement in
the city. Let me see-the notes are in
my iron safe, believe. Nothing like
locking up things and keeping the keys
Yourself. If Jane only followed my ex-
ample"
Mr.. Walter pau.:td abruptly. seeking
in his various pockets, with nervous haste,
;2s something which seemed npt to BE-
forthcoming.
,.Verv strange" esnuttered he, biting
IS lip. 81 always put 1t in that waist:
.nat pocket. Possibly / may have laid it
m the table am,ngst th,se papers"
TIE aforesaid papers russied hltller
and thither, like animated snow Hakes, as
Mr.. Walter 'lurriediy sought amongst
their confused masses, but it was all in
vain.
''I can't have lostitw he exclaimed, in
dire perplexity. "And every one of those
notes are locked up in the safe, with no
earthly chance of ever getting at them
But I am certain the key can't be lost! l
never lose anything! It won't do to wait
many minutes; I'll just putzon q clean
shirt and run down town. Hang the
keyp' 80.
Mr.. Walter fastened up to his dressing
room to complete the details of his toilet,
ere he left the house; but his trials were
not vet destined ,te~terminate. He was
methodical man, therefore his wardrobe
was. carefully locked; he always kept
things in one place, therefore the keys
were snugly reposing in one corner OF
the inaccessible iron safe.
He rushed .frantically back to the IL
brary, hoping family that the key might
be on the mantlepiece, where he had not
vet searched. No, it was not there; but
a treacherous ink-stand was, the contents
whereof, by one unlucky sweep of the
elbow, descended in an ebon cataract
over his shirt front-the shirt-front upon
which alone he had depended
"Well, here is catastrophe" he MUIR
INJURED, gloomily stanehing the ink flow
with his pocket handkerchief. Glow
ever. can button my coat over for the
present. Let me see-there is that money
I promised to pay Smithson to-day, and
now"
He stopped short; cold dew of dis
NAV breaking on his forehead the
money-drawer was fixture OF the
wretchedisoh safe! !.
Penniless and shirtless, what more des-
perate state of affairs could his worst en-
emy desire for him? There was lower
deep. yet, ,however-would he mot be
chSfaeteriess, likewise, ifshis wife should,
bysany inopportune chance, discover that
he, the model of rule and order, had lost
his key! So thought Mt: Walter, as he
went off to a day of perplexities and
notifications in the city.
"If ever tease Jane again about los
ing things" he muttered inwardiy, as he
entered the room on returning home, 81
hope to be drowned with a hundred.
weight of keys about my .neckI lss
Certainly a Judgment upon mep
He unbuttened his coat as he spoke
forgetful of the ink-stains of the morning
Jane uttered faint scream, and shrans
back, exclaiming, "My dear Philip, what
is the matter with your shirt? ?"
"The matter! Oh p-said he, colorine
and laughing. II remember now
split little ink over it this morning II
don't signify much"
"Do letsme get you out another, my
dear !"
"No, no." said he, eagerly OBTAINING
her; lit isn't at all worth while. Do si
down, MY love, and be easy"
But Jane started away to carry hel
baby up to the nursery. Just as sht
reached the door, something jingled soft
ly in the pocket Of her little silk apron
she stopped in the passage. -5'..''
"Oh by the way, Philip, here is thu
key to your iron safe. found it on thu
dining-room table this afternoon; and,
she added, with an arch sparkle in hel
roguish eyes, ~ thought it would be, al
excellent opportunity for giving my hus
band lessoi?" s2.s- nHf3
She laid the key in his hand, and rar
out of the room, as he recoiled inyolun
tarily from the sound of his own pedani'
words. AS he contemplated the CLEAN
ing words of the little steel mischie
maker in mingled delight and mortifica
ton, the echo of James merry laughte
on the stairs reached his ear like chime
of silver bells.
He laughed too-he couldn't help it
Mrs. Jane Walter was discreet little
female. She never alluded to the subjec
of the keys again, and her husband wa
never after known to reproach her to-
carelessness.
- - The human heart is like pickle ja1
you will get nothing out of it if yot
shake it in hurry.
Diphtheria is sort of garroting
disease. 1t takes a fellow by the throa
and chokes doctors bill out of him.