Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-01
second story fron!room. Tie tapped
loudly.
THE locksmlth, madame

The door opened, l entered, the black
man went down stairs, and L was lett
with sudden nervousness to ina out
nv business il this silent place.
A tall, dark woman, richly dressed
with wild, dark eyes, was walking up
and down the room, as ifangry, or as
looked closer at her, as il excited by
terrible fear of anxiety. She turned on
me sharply
Have you ever seen me before she
demanded, rather abruptly, passing by
q table.
Then my slow mind placed her at
once.
Yes. ma'am, at hotel, some two
years ago. 1 answered in astonishment'
you were sent for then to open
box?'
Yes ma'am, and couldn't
You are sent for now to do the same
thing, she cried out fercely, and you
must do 1t. can trust no other smith
with the mystery-yOu look trustwor-
thy
A second time [ was receiving a COM
plinent for nay good plain tace' and
(give credit where it's due) to my moth
er,s honest, straightforward, training
picked up the box, remembering it
then very well, also the long hour L
worked at flung keys to its singular
lock without success, while the dark
woman walked the floor, then as aow'
with savage haste.
mechanically drew cut my keys
and they fell with crash to the floor
for the first one l looked at was inc
strange key l had gotten from the
Young girl, and IN a moment l Kne"
that It belonged 10 this square metal
pox. And | knew iurthed, by instinct
that great wrong had been done through
this strange key and its mystery. ana
that it had fallen to my lot to detect
it.
heard the tide coming in, now full
and fast /: I bent down 10 pick up the
KEYS. and like flash the young girFs
words came into my mind.
'Ah. if we only had The locks those
KEYS once fitted how quickly would oar
cares fade away Y!
And held there in my hand one!
lock that her key fitted, aud l mentally
resolved that it should be restored to
her. But how
Isecreted the steel key in my PALM
as l held up the bunch TO say
1 need a piece of steel-you see
these will not answer-with Sits in the
square end. to open this box
She interrupted me wirh a quick gest-
ure.
Yes, yes! she cried brokenly that Is
like the lost key? Oh, ifit had but been
mine long ago.'
She began her walk again.
A thought came into my mind l
was determined not TO lose sight OF
the box, and to struggle for ii il neces-
sary.
will you let the colored man 60 to
my shop for what need ? asked hall
fearing, she would order me to 80 IN
stead.
Yes, yesr she cried quietly.
Il will go down and tell him. SAID
not wishing her to know what | meant
to do.
Hastily writing a few lines in the ball
below, and wrapping the key securely
IN the paper, gave the man his ms
tress' order to carry it to Its address,
And u.enI went back to the dark
woman. and sat down by the box and
waited.
She never ceased 10 pace The floor,
and now and again raised her hand with
terrible gesture.
| thought she was weeping. Al last
she came to the table.
What do you !hiak is IN that box? ?
she said, and wistful sound came IN
her voice, as if she let confidence in me
aud vishel to hear me speak.
l felt sudden courage. The young
o,rl's voice was in my ears and made
one brave.
.somethlug that does not belong to
you,' said, listening for the black
mans step.
How do yyu knos:' she cried hastl-
ly,
Tho front door surely opened.
.Your anxiety tells me, and because
have the KEY, which you never own
ed. That box has been stolen ma am!
There were steps on the stair, but
more than one PERSONS. did not eX-
pect my answer to come thus, but IN
that and all that followed | no more
had part. The end cane speedily.
i did not steal it, came VITA shrle k
from the dark woman at the door op-
ened aud the black man ushered III The
young girl and her mother
Then another cry rang cut sharply.
Sister y
Zoe! AT last =
The young girl drew near me as her
mother went up to the dark woman
and caught her hands, aud handed me
the kew. | drew the box toward me-
Tho dark woman rushed toward the ta-
BILE, aud raised her hand.
4 call heaven to witness that until
two wears ago, when my hurDand died.
| I did not know that he had stolen the
box said 10 contain my fathers last
will, and truly thought my selflhe he'll
ase