Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-28
Gales aud Sketthes.
THE MYSTERIOUS OLD CABINET.

was resting in my own room, after
riding-it was o'clock too early to dress
for dinner. too late to dress twice after
taking off my notwithstanding over book
and comfortable in my white dressing
gown. ] was bored by the interruption.
| The note was no more than this:
''DEAR SALEM must stay where
am and you must 60 by Yourself to the
Testers you won't mind. | saw Jack,
and he said there was no party. as it would
be troublesome with the wedding to-mor-
row, and the dining-room is given up to
the breakfast. I've sent back the brougham.
Thine, FRED"
Fred is nv brother, and was invited,
like myself, to dine quietly with these
! Testers, whose pretty daughter was to be
married next day to a friend OF ours
specially Fred's and mine-John March,
commonly called Jack"
| What keeps Fred, was my passing
thought; then read little longer. dress
ed, and drove to Portman Square. As
| turned the corner | saw visible prepare
| tons and signs OF the morrow's wedding
at the Testers door. A cart with flowers
was unloading; an awning was being put
up over the balcony and hall door; men
I
brougham drew up. could see through
the open door the hustle and stir within.
At home in the house, opened the dining
room door, to see what progress was be-
ing made with the tables. Several maid
servants and some of the confectioner's
men were arranging the ornaments and
/ flowers; The cake, with its conventional
erection. stood conspicuous. My friends
maid was putting moss into the flower
baskets. and decorating the high dishes
containing the more durable part of the
feast "Well, Barker" was beginning,
when | caught the woman's eyes. She
was doing her work with a strange grav-
ty, and her face was full of horror and
pain. When she saw me she let tall the
flowers in her hand.
80, maam! O, Miss Sarah you've
come"
"Of course I've come" | answered.
What is the matter?"
You haven't seen them, ma'am, have
you?"
'Seen whom P--the ladies? No,
came straight in here to look at the tables.
Is there anything wrong? | suppose we
are to dine in the library tor today! How
nice it all looksr'
mice .. ma am, it's mockery, it's
awful To see it all, and to go on as if
as ito Lord !" and the woman sat down
and rocked herself to and fro, with the
tears running down her face,
| was thoroughly alarmed now Barker,
is there anything wrong? Is any one i'll,
or dead Don't brighten me like this. I'll
go and see them If you won't speak out
and went to the door. | just saw that
Barker had descended to the floor, and
that her head was on the chair, which she
clutched, sobbing aloud.
| met the butler and another man cross
ing the hall, both with scared, solemn
faces, and went on to the morning room
on the same floor. There, all looked
much as usual. The pride of the house,
and of my friends rather valuable collec-
ton of antiquities, stood facing the door
a huge cabinet, with massive clamped
doors, and richly cut brass work-eiSeIe as
only genuine brass work of old time can
be, curiously inlaiG wood work marvel
lous clocks, which no one but its owner
understood, and no one else dared NEEDLE
with 1t was very old friend, the great
o1n0ire; playing with the children of the
house in my own childhood, | knew it,
luSltlt anu OutoitC ny Htdll ~ HlNSltIN
and wonder then-an interest lateral
ways thing to adore and wonder at even
now.
1t had three doors. The centre one,
about four feet wide, and certainly six
inches thick. shut in another, which again
enclosed, with space of about eight in
ches of waste room. a set of six drawers.
of different sizes. and sort of cupboard
| between them. We used to stand as little
| children between the drawers and the in
ner door. and wonder, supposing we were
! shut in. whether we could breathe long
! in that narrow enclosure, or be heard by
any one without, supposing awful
thought we were forgotten. or the outer
door was shut. | remember thinking of it
in bed at night, as nervous children will
think of such things. till | was cold with
horror. Both these two doors shut with a
catch which was not a lock: but we chill
dren were forbidden ever to open or shut
them except when Mr.. Lester was pres
emit 1t was doubtful if any one else knew
how to open them. for no one ever tried
The two side doors opened with curious
keys, which stood in the locks, chained to
the armoire. They were valuables in
themselves. The great kew of the centre
door, worth hundred pounds or more,
was considered too sacred for comm on
ewes, and lay in a velvet-lined case in Mr.
Testers own keeping-brought out only
occasionally to show to those who could
appreciate such things.
1t stood there in the summer twilight.
looming darkly in the quiet room, darker
than the rest of the house. as back rooms
in London often are. Chilly. it seemed to
me, in my thin white dress. coming from
the hall full of sunset light. Turning to
leave the room, saw man lying prone
on his face upon the sofa; so still, and so
straight. and so strange in his attitude,
that | could only stare for minute, and
wonder whether he was asleep or dead.
His hands were over his ears, grasping
his hair, as if in pain; and noticed the
soles OF his boots turned quite up, as one
notices trifles in the midst of alarm or be-
wilderment. The nails in his boots show
ed he was not dressed Tor dinner. His
hat was lying on the floor on its side
His face | could not see; but knew it
was Jack March, and touched his arm in
wonder.
Jack, are you awaken Are you asleep !?
What is it p" l asked with growing alarm
Was to find something strange in every
room | entered in this house? Jack ~
said again,