Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-01-20
CHAPTER II.

II YVES some time AFTER TINS tDRt IL WAS
found that the key of ''The Closed Room, "
as it was called, was missing from the nail
on which it had hung with Others as rusty
and disused as itself. When or how it had
disappeared Coald not be asCertained, and
it's loss was only discovered by accident.
Deborah Brand remembered well the
last time it had been used, which was
when she had had the honor assigned her of
showing her new mistress over hex new do
main shortly after her marriage with Sir
HUGH. She remembered, too, bow stiff the
lock was and how hard the key turned IN 1t;
and how, when the heavy door at last stir
red on its rusty hinges and they entered,
the dus. lay 80 thick upon the floor that
her ladyship's small feet left tier imprint
on the old oak boards. And how she had
looked with great curissity at the old, iron
bound chest in the corner, and made her
read the inscription on its lid, and asked II
il was true that it had never been opened
once, and thar no one knew what wac
hidden within, and how it came there, and
many other questions concerning it. And
after that she had inspected the old family
portraits in the long gallery, and had
paused before the picture of Sir
Jonas, and regarded it earnestly
with fingers on lip while Deborah
related his history and all that was known
of his life and death, not forgetting to
mention the legend which reported that it
was in that very same suit of carnstion-
colored velvet that he had been stricken
by the terrible visitation of the time. And
the wicked smile on the painted face OF the
portrait had seemed to deepen aud spread
while she recountsd the tale.
Then she had returned the key to IFS
hook in the dark closet, where it had hung
before. but where it now hung no longer.
1t was gone-missing; but how and when,
and wherefore, it was impossible to dis
cover
Perhsps the mystery Of its disappearance
might have been solved if any one could
have followed Lady Halliwell a6o1t this
time. as she mounted the massive staircase
and passed through the picture gallery,
where she remained for some moments
silently observing the portrait OF Sir Jonas
AZ be stood carelessly resting his hand
upon his word and seeming to regard the
silent spectator with hooking smile and
curl of his scornfdl upper lip. Aud sg4m
had followed her IS she left the gallery,
and, passing through doorway at the end,
and traversing more than one winding pas
sage with closed doors on either side, had
paused at last be fore one, in which she
inserted key,
The lock, which had yielded so unwill-
inely to old Deborah's equity fingers, gave
WAY now with but little difficulty, in q
manner that suggested witchcVaft or a re-
cent application of an oiled feather. The
time which had elapsed since the door had
last been opened had added an extra thick
ness TO the layers of dust which lay on the
floor and wall and window lodges. But,
gathering up her silken skirt in one hsnd,
she besitated not to enter, nor forgot to
carefully close and lock the door behind
her.
And if the same suggestions individual
Gould have peered through the keyh0le. or
nv anv means, legitimate or otherwise,
have penetrated with his eye the solid oak
door. he would have seen the same naughty
dame kneeliug among all the dust and
crime of years upon years, regardless Of
the consf quences and the damage done to
her satin and brocade, in front of mas
sively-carvsd chest, and running her deli
este taper firgers in and out end all over
its olumsily-mo.ded Communications, press
ing every knob or projection and examining
every inch of its wOrm-esten surface with
the closest scrutiny and patience unac-
counta6le ard unprecedented. Then, at
last after an hour or so spent in this en-
plovment, she rose with halt-weary, half
angry exclamation and muttered: Il must
STAY no longer or shall be missed, but l
will come again and sgsin, end never rest
until 1 have learned the secret of the spring
and what lies hidden within ~
To BE CONTINUED.