The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-27
IRE OLD CABINET.
THRILLING STORY OF TERRIBLE sITUA-
TIoN-THE DENoUEMENT
"A note for you, ma'am. No answer

"A note for you, ma am. No answer
was resting Ia my own room, after rid.
ing-it was six O'Clock, too early to dress fUr
dinner, too late 10 dress twice after taking
off my habit-sipeping over a book, and
comfortable in my white dressing gown. ]
was bored by the interruption. The note
was 20 more than this s.:
DEAR SALEEN / must stay win re- a M :
ana you must 30 by Yourself to the LISTERS
you won't mind. 1 saw Jack aud ne said
there was no party, as il would be trouble
some with the wedding tomorrow. aud the
dining room Is given up TO the break 81.
I've sent bBcs the brOugham.
f.. Thine. FRED.
Fred is my brother, and was invited, like
mySrif, To dine quietly with these Testers,
whose pretty daughter was TO be married
next day to frieRd of ours-speciaiIy Fred's 5
aud mine-John March, commonIy called
jack
What keeps Fred p was my passing
thought; then l read little longer, dressed
and drove TO POrtman Square. As l turned
The corner | saw visible preparations and
signs OF the morrow's wedding at Testers
door cart with flowers was unloading ;
an awning was being put up over the balco-
ny and hall door men in white aprons came
and went. As the brougham drew up |
could see through the open door the hustle
and stir within. AT home in the house, 1
opened the dining room door, to see what
progress was being maue with The tables
Several maid servants and some of the con-
fectiOner's men were arranging the orna-
ments aud flowers; the cake, with its con-
ventional erection, stood conspicuous. My
friends maid was putting moss into the
flower baskets and decorating the high dish
Is containing the more durable part of the
feast. Wen, Barker l was beginning,
when caught the wOmau's eyes. She was
doing her work with strange gravity. and
her face was full of horror and pain When
she saw me she let fall the flowers in her
hand.
%, ma'am! o, Miss Sarah you have
come
'Of course I've come answered. What
is the matter?'
You haven't seen them, ma am, have
you p
Seen who ?-the ladies No; l came
straight in here TO loDk at the tables. Is
there anything wrong? / suppose we're to
dine in the library for TO day. How nice it
ali looks =
Nice o, ma'am, it's a 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.
l was Il oroughly alarmed now. Barker,
is there anything wrong? Is anyone i'll or
dead? Cont frighten me like this. I'll 90
and see them if you won't speak out and 1
went to the door. 1 just saw that Barker
had descended 10 the floor, and that her
head was on the chair, which she clutched,
sobbing aloud.
| met the butler and another man crossing
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 collection of antiquities
stood facing the dOOr-a huge cabinet, with
massive clamped doors and richly cut brass
wOrk--clscle as only genuine brass work of
old time can be curiously iBlaid wood
work marvellous locks, which no one but
its owner understood, and no one else dared
meddle with. 1t was a very old friend, the
great drnloire; playing with the children of
the house in my own childhood, know it,
inside and outside, by heart. A mystery
and a wonder then-an interest lateral
ways a thing to admire and wonder at even
now
1t had three doors. The center one, about
four feet wide and certainly SIX inches thick,
shut in another, which again inclosed, with
a space of about eight inches of waste room,
a set of six drawers, of different sizes, and a
sort of cupboard between them. We used
to stand as little children between the draw
ers and the inner door, and wonder, suppos-
ing we we were shut in, whether we could
breathe long in that narrow Inclosure, OF be
heard by any one without, suppOsing-aw-
full thought-we were forgotten, or the outer
door was shut. l remember thinking of 1t
in bed at night, as nervous children will
thizk of such things, till / was cold with
horror. Both these two doors shut with a
catch which was not lock but we chill
dren were forbidden ever to open OF shut
them except when Mr.. Lester was present.
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 ar.
moire. They were valuables in themselves
The great key of the center door, worth q
hundred pounds OF more, was considered
too sacred for common eyes, and lay in q
velvet-lined case, in Mr.. Testers own keep
ing brought o ut only occasionally to show
to those who could readily appreciate suct
| things.
II stood there In the summer twilight
/ looming darkly in the quiet room, darker
than the rest of the house, as back rooms il
| London often are. Chilly, 1t seemed to me
/ in my thin white dress, coming from the hal
full of sunset light Turning to leave tn
| room l saw a man lying prone on his fac
upon the sofa; so still and so straight, an
so strange IN his attitude, that L could onl
stare for a minute, and wonder whether b
was asleep or dead. His hands were oYe
bis ears, grasping his hair, as in pain an
1 noticed the soles of bis boots turned quit
up, as one notices trifes in tie midst Q
alarm or bewiIderment The nails In hi
boots showed he was not dressed for dinner
His hat was lying on the floor on its side
His face / could not see but l knew it wa
Jack March, and touched his arm in wOr
Ger.
Jack, are you awake? Are you asleep
What is it?' l asked. with growing alarm
Was 1 to find something strange in ever
room 1 entered in this house? Jack
said again. He turned, and saw his wilC
baggard face, that looked at me with vagu
eyes that seemed not to see and then }
put his head down with a moan and covere
his ears once more, as if to shut out sigl
and sound. The room felt darker and chi
lier for this silent figure, and the gsunt o.
armoire seemed bigger and more Oppressive