Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-01
a Key to the Mystery.

will be again, / doubt not.
Blu, marriage was thing OF The lu'
ture and each time it came nearer II
seemed 10 slip ahead again, and leave
moor Emily and me as far from our goal
as ever and with fainting hope each
time.
ba6 mother an invalid sister 10
support, and somehow or other locks
wouldn't get out of repair, or need re-
nairiuo in sufficient numbers to en-
able me TO add little wife to my list o.
womankind.
Emily was deft little seamstress'
and slowly but steadily went on earning
her wedding outfit saying cheerily;
Remember the tide in every mans
life, John. Some day you'll take 1t al
its full. and fortune will follow
Bless the patient little woman she
did predict the truth.
An order came one day for the repair
of a trunk lock in q distant part ol
town | wondered little, as with my
BAG of tools l hastened TO obey the
direction, that l had been sent ior-
such a distance from the place-ano
whether there we're not locksmiths III
that neighborhood.
By an old chance Emily's word came
Into my mind. Was my tide about 'o
turn?
found the house-a small, plain cot
tage. with nothing about 1t indicative Of
magic power, but rather suggesting thai
the inmates were waiting as well as
John Rhodes, for the way to fortune
A sweet faced girl refined and well
b,ed admitted me and with smile LED
the way at once 10 the work she wished
done. :,
It was in the front bedroom-a well
worn trunk that had seen its best days
and was rather ricksty about the buck
les and lock.
I set about the repairs at once, as
the young lady's manner indicated haste
and while buslly employed thought how
much better this little fveroomed house
would sui: Emily and me than the very
evident Superior condition of the iair
Girl l was working for.
In an arm chair by the window sat an
elderly lady who seemed to watch my
work with gentle curiosity, and beside
her sat the young girl, speaking IN a low
tone, as if pleading.
You work hardly said the LADY
kindly.
Yes, ma'am, from sunrise to sunset
| answered, filing away at the old LOCK-
MY mother has great sympathy ioI
workers, laughed the Young GIRL pat
ting the elder lady's pretty hand' 'ano
thinks 1 am to be pilied because be-
long to the hive of human bees.'
l looked at her. She couldn't &c
hard work, thought with those slim
fingers and rosy cheeks-music or teach
ing; perhaps, at the most.
Never mind. mother dear, by tide
will turn some day. she laughed again
as I finished my small job and arose
.and then what fortune il will lead Oh
to-
She was like my Emily cheering her
self with bits Of pretty sayings, got ou'
Of books, and it made me feel kindly
toward her, as if would like 10 serve
her.
My change came, strange TO say, be-
fore long. AS she paid me my due,
which l made purposelY small Tor th'
sake of Emily's CHEEKY words, she asket
quickly:
Would lot of odd keys be OF ser
vice to you We have such a big buncl
that It is only in the way, and we would
thank YOU 10 take them.'
1t suited me very well, as 1 coult
work them over and save on them, Sc
I took them gratefully as she held then
up, iingling, in big heap.
.Ah,' she said, balf sadly, if we Onll
had now the closets and wardrobes ant
all the locks those keys once fitted, how
quickly would our cares fade away
,Tis hard to be SO poor when our love-
ones suffer!'
1 could not answer for she did no
seem to speak to me, but felt still NOR
willingto help her.
She let me out the door kindly.
Il am glad l went by your shop b.
chance she SAID, 'and decided to Civ
you job, for 1 think you look consci
entious. Good byv
went home thoughtfully ponderins
over this new experience. Was th
tide coming in!
AS hung up the toOl-bag In its plac
7 remembered the keys the young lao
had gwen me, aud took them out to SCI
if 7 could fit them to some locks the
awaiting keys.
AsI took up the bunch one ks
struck my notice. The like 1 had neve
before seen, and knew that 1t wa
never wrought by locksmith this sid
of the Atlantic, but came, no doub'
from strange lands, where they neede
such curious things to hide strang
doings. II was a fiat piece OF stet
about two inches long, and had fol
slits in the square end, two on eac
side.
wondered what use 1t had ev'
served. and if it belonged to the youn
lady's happier days: but being slo
thinking man, aud little given TO re
nance / hung up the key bunch al
wont IN work at nv locks, thinking I