Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-03
The Secret Of the White
Chest.

|
1t was just the house l wanted. In
size and situation it suited ne exactly,
as the phrase goes, literally down to
the ground. Facing the Park, and plac-
ed back from the high road, with moth
ing in front of it but the broad strip of
garden in which it stood and the open
stretch of turf and trees. it was the very
abode for London season. It's rent,
too, was extremely moderate it was in
sound repair, drainage without flaw !;
fixtures, furniture and decorations in
the best taste; the owner only desiring
to let occasionally because he went away
from town each spring. Why, then, did
] hesitate to take it? Why did every
body hesitate to take it /? For the last
seven years and more it had never been
let. All the house agents at that end
of the town had it in hand, one after
another. The terms had been reduced
each season that it came into the market
and still there was no finding tenant
for it. Everybody who went into the
house was charmed with it. The en-
trance being in the rear, all the best
rooms had delightful southern aspect !;
and going up from floor to floor on their
first visit of inspection, everybody grew
more delighted the higher they got. The
apartments increased in cheerfulness, if
not in size, the outlook from the windows
became more extensive and airy, while,
when one reached the top story, and as
cended by a narrow stairway on to the
loaded fiat roof, with high balustrade
running around it, the view was, as the
house agents expressed it, "very unique. p"
had heard the rumors about the house
often when | had been in town, and my
curiosity had always been piqued, so
that now, when l wanted just such a
house for the season, l determined to
60 and look at it for myself.
Finding all satisfactory, and just as
l expected from bottom to top, l was
stepping out on to the roof with Mr.
Crumble, the agent, and was saying to
him:
"Well, can't conceive why people
won't live here" when my eye fell upon
a curious object erected upon the leads
at the rear, and surrounded by a high
railing, 1t looked like huge skylight
or glass lantern, about ten feet long,
three high aud Ghrvo JIvaI. d.. :-.-n I
of forming a light for staircase or
room beneath, it seemed to have been
built for the purpose of covering another
curious object, which, occupying nearly
the whole of the space under the glass,
was plainly visible through it. This
was long white box, resembling a
seaman's chest more than anything, only
much larger. 1t rested upon four legs
or feet, which raised it about a foot
from the fat surface of the roof 1t
was painted creamy white and warm
ished, and apparently not being intend
ed to open, any more than its glass COW
ering, had no hinges or lock to its top
or lid.
What the deuce is that % said tc
Mr.. Crumble.
"Ah !" replied that functionary, with
an odd expression on his face, "that's
it, sir !"
whats it, pray ?'
"Why, the secret, sir"
1.-The secret? What is the secret
What do you mean %
"Well, sir, what is it, what's it mean
for, what's inside Of it?"
Don't you know %
"No, sir "
doesn't any one know ?"
81 suppose somebody does, sir, bu
we don't; we are forbidden to inquire o
to attempt to find out; if we knew W
) should be able to let the house, per
haps."
"How long has it been there %
ga long while, believe, sir-ten o
twelve years. Before my time.
Z "But who put it up ?"
"Well, Mr.. Gayling, we suppose, nc
body seems to know exactly when
: first appeared there"
t "But the servants" protested, "the
q must know
"Oh | have heard there were non
in the house at the time, they were a
dismissed just before it was put up. M
Gayling never keeps many servant
sometimes he has only one, sometime
none. Nobody lives in the house whe
he's away, but he always leaves tt
keys with us. He is always changin
his servants. Mr.. Gayling is; l ha,
always heard him say that he likes ne
brooms."
"What is he, or what was he ?''
" ga gentleman in the naval line,
Il believe, slr-they're rather rum 'un
8 I'm told"
h "Humph p said, ''very odd. B
s. do you mean to tell me that nobody W
- - live here because they don't know wha
;; in that box ?''