Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-21
THE Lost KEY.

Edgar Arnton had made highly inl I,
l'oriant discovery, anu one that troubled
him. He was surgeon, aud OD given
TO examining hearts For full hour,
in the gathering summer twilight of the
Park avenue, he had applied his stern.
est faculties to the testing. in another
sense, OF his own. The decision to witch,
very unwilliugly. he came was that his
dim suspicious of the past three months
we're We'll founded He was in love
The thrill which had gone through him
us be clasped Kate Gerrow's hand on
leaving her uncle's gates that very even
ing pointed in that direction. The ex-
pansion of soul and the exhilaratiOn of
mind which he continually experienced
in her presence, the longing that often
seized him 10 his moments of prOfessiOn-
al disgust and WEAKNESS to feast his
eyes. if only for an instant, on Kate's
bonDy face, all drove home the unwel-
come conviction.
In the course of bis final turn along
the broad path between the whispering
poplars Edgar formed resolution
Entering Brixby he encountered The
very friend he bad desired 10 consult
Mr.. Trent was u solicitor, many years
the young medical mans senior, aud
his only confidant in all the country-
side.
"If you are disengaged for ten min
utes or so. Mr. Trent," said Edgar, Il
should like to havea talk with you about
Mr. Gerrow's niece"
II am perfectly at your service. You
are smitten by q great appreciation of
Miss GerrOw's charms l have seen 1t
cunning long time"
Edgar smiled little sardonically In
the dimness.
tits a lawyers business to re far
sighted" he said. II have found it out
now-the fact of which you speak-and
am afraid only just III time"
A haishness was in his tone which
surprised the listener
Il do not understand you," said Mr..
Trent.
why. mean that, had the disease
gone further, l might have been unable
to overcome it, as mean to do now"
"Y"u astonish me more and more
Miss GerrOw is heSutitul of good birth,
and we'll educated She is an heiress
into the bargain; and. If she cares for
you. and your uncle coDsents, what pos
sibie obstacle eau intervene?''
"You have said," returned Edgar,
The lawye bit bis lips to keep from a
loud explosion OF misplaced merriment.
1.-THE very thing that whether she
were pretty or plain, would make her
quite an attraction to most suitOrs
II am aware of it But am not like
the majority. am poor, my prospects
are barren enough; all the world would
say l was Observation-Disclosures
for money if it came to marriage She
might learn to think so, too, and that
could not hear. l have seen plenty of
this slready-in my own family"
The concentrated pathOs of the last
sentence and the involuntary Sigh
which concluded it, touched the solicit
tor. HIS meditated words of banteriny
weie not uttered.
"What shall you do then Pr he
ask ed.
'Shun the danger, fight the tempta-
tiOn, work harder cannot run awav
u. in other circumstances 1 might be
T. tmpted to do; my living lies in B,ixby
But You can help me considerably in
the struggle. if You will"
Il! How?"
"Wheh you see me running any risk
Of teie-a-tete with Miss Gerrow and
you car possibly Interfere, do So"
"And make you hate me for it. will
never promise"
Il shall not hate you'll shall be very
grateful. must meet her frequently.
ut the houses of mutual friends. You
will often be able to make me your
debtor in the way say"
The route the pair had taken brought
them at this point within the GORDON of
again.
With few more words of less special
Interest they parted for the night As
Edgar's tall, athletic figure disappeared
among the ningl,Dg shadows Of tree
and o'tage. the lawyer turned and gaz.d
for moment.
Poor fellow there has been misery
In his lot in earlier years, I know" be
mutiered to himself; land be is by no
mesns sure of his own power to with-
stand in this matter. or he would not
appeal to any friend"
CHAPTER H.