The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-04
THE OLD CABINET.
Thrilling Story Of a Terrible Stu
etion--The Denouement.

"a note for you, ma'am. No an.
Swer."
/ was resting in my own room, after
riding-it was six o clock, too early to
dress for dinner, too late to dress twice
after taking off my habt-sleeping over
Il book, and comfortable in my white
dressing-gOwn. | was bored by the in
terruption. The note was no more than
this:
DEAR SALEEN: must stay where am:
and you must go by yourself to the Testers
you won't mind. / saw Jack and he said
there was no party, as il would be trouble
dining-room is given up to the breakfast.
I've sent back the brOugham. Thine,
FRED"
Fred is my brother, and was invited.
like myself, 10 dine quietly with these
Testers. whose pretty daughter was to
be married next day to friend of ours
specially Fred's and mineLJohn
March, commonly called Jack"
What keeps Fred?" was my passing
thought; then | read a little longer.
dressed and drove to Portman Square.
As | turned the corner | saw visible
preparations 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 in white aprons came
and went. As the brougham drew I'D
| 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 being made
with the tables. Several maid-seryants
and some of the confectionery men
were arranging the ornaments and
flowers; the cake, with its conventional
erection, stood conspicuous. My friends
maid was putting moss into tie flower
baskets and decorating the high dishes
containing the more durable part of the
feast. well. Barker, Twas beginning,
when | caught the wOman's ewes. She
was doing her work with a strange
gravity, and her face was full of horror
and pain. When she saw me she let fall
the flowers in her hand.
20. ma am! o, Miss Sarah! you've
come"
''Of course I've come" answered.
+'What is the matter?n
You haven't seen them, ma'am,
have you?''
''Seen who?-the ladies? No; / came
straight in here to look at the tables.
Is there anything wrong? l suppose
we're to dine in the library for to-day.
How nice it ali looksr''
mice! o, a'am, it's mockery, it's
awful! To see it all. and to go on as if
as 10 LOrd.' and the woman sat
down and rocked herself to an fro, with
the tears running down her face.
| was thoroughly alarmed now.
Barker. is there anything wrong? Is |
anyone i'll or dead? Don't frighten me |
like this. III go and see them if YOU
won't speak out;" and l went to the |
door, just saw that Barker had de- |
seconded to the floor, and that her head |
was on the chair, which she clutched. |
sobbing aloud.
l met the butler and another man |
crossing the hall, both with scared. SOL !
emn 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 valua-
bic collection of antiquities stood facing
the door-a huge cabinet, with massive
,clamped doors and richly cut brass
work-ctSete as only genuine brass work
OF old time can be; curiously inlaid wood
work; marvellous locks, which no one
but its owner understood, and no one
else dared NEEDLE with. 1t was a very
old friend, the great arRaoire; playing
with the children of the house in nv
own childhood. knew it. inside and
outside, by heart A mystery and
wonder then-an interest later-always
a thing to admire and wonder at even
now.
Il bad t,.ree doors. Tic center ono. |