Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-06

whom sho impaired the revelation so
far from condemning her for 1t con-
sidered her action as deserving OF the
highest commentator.
CHAPTER II.
Tt was some time after this that it 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 disuscd as itself. When or
how it had disappeared could not be as
certained. and It's loss Was only discover
cd by accident.
,eborah Brand remembered well the
last time it had been used, which was
when she had had the honor assigned
her Of showing Der new mistress over
her new domain shortly after her mar
riage with Sir Hugh. She remembered,
too. how still tine lock was, and how
hard the key turned init; and how,
when the heavy door atlast stirred on It's
rusty hinges and they entered, the dust
lay so thick upon the floor that
her ladyship's small feet left their
imprint on the old oak boards.
And how she had looked with
great curiosity Mt the old, iron-bOund
chest in the corner, and mado her read
the inscription on its lid, and asked if it
was true that it had never been opened
once, and that no one knew what was
hidden within. and how it came there,
and many other questions concerning
il. And inter that she had inspected the
old family portraits in tine 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 for
getting to mention the legend which re-
ported that 1t was in that very SAINT SUIT
of carnation colorcd 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 and spread while she
recounted the tale.
Then she had returned the KEY to It's
hook IN the dark closet where it had
hung before, but where it now hung no
longer. 1t Was gone-misslng but
how, and when, and wherefore, it was
impossible TO discover
Perhaps the mystery of its disappear
ance might have been solved If any one
could have followed Lady Halliweu
about this time, as she mounted the
massive staircase and passed through
the picture-gallery. where she renamed
for some moments silently observing the
portrait of sir Jonas as he stood careless
" resting his hand upon his sword. and
seeming to regard the silent spectator
with Il mocl1iLg smile and curl of his
scorniul upper lip. And again had fol-
lowed her as she left the gallery, and,
passing through doorway at one end
and traversing more than one winding
passage with closed doors on either side,
had paused at last before one, in which
she inserted key.
The lock, which had yielded so I'M
willingly to old Deborah equity fingers,
gave way now with but little difficulty,
in manner that suggested witchcraft or
q recent application of an oiled feather.
The time which had elapsed since the
door had last been opened had added an
extra thickness TO the layers of dust
which lay on floor, and wall, and win
dow-ledges. But, gathering up her
silken skirt in her hand, she hesitated
not TO enter, nor forgot 10 carefully close
and lock the door behind her.
And if the same supposititious indi-
vidual could have peered through the
keyhole, or by any means, legitimate or
otherwise, have penetrated with his eye
the solid oak door, he would have seen
Il same naughty dame kneeling among
all the dust and CRIME OF years upon
years, regardless of the consequences and
the damage done TO her satin and bro
cade, in front of "a massively-caryed
chest, and running her delicate, taper
fingers IN and out and all over It's c!um-
sily-molded ornamentations, pressing
every knob or projection, and examining
every inch of IL Worm-eaten surface with
the closest scrutiny and a patience unac-
countable and unprecedented. Then, mt
last, after an hour or so spent IN this en-
ployment. she rose, with halt-weary,
halfangry exclamation, and muttered
Il must stay no longer or l shall be
missed, but l will come again and again,
and never rest until l have learned the
secret Of the spring and what lies hidden
within !"
The two brothers grew up TO manhood,
being in their several ways as handsome
II pair Of Young men as one would wish
to look upon; and year by year the dark
look in tho face OF Lady Isabella grew
deeper and more fixed. She was never
in the least degree, outwardly, unkind 10
her stepson, though she bit her lip and
clenched her hand when the country
people dropped their courtesies or pulled
their forelocks in salutation TO 18th
yoang Squoire." There was nothing IN
her demeanur toward him TO cayil OF, ex-
ccpt her Coldness-but she was cold rs a
statue always, unless when under the do
Ininion of one OF her sudden outoursts OF
temper-and TO every one, except her
son Anthony. And when her eyes fell
upon him or her hand touched his, the
statue became living, breathing, loving
woman. though proud always, as proud
as Lucifer, with the pride which cankers
the heart
With regard-to Reginald himself, he
admired his stepmother exceedingly for
her grace and beauty, for she was beau
tiful woman still. at more than forty years
OF age but there was no particular al
lection for her on his part, and he es-
chewed her company az all times in IA
yor OF that Of old Deb. who was Q very