The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-09
A BUNCH OF KEYS.

town of Foreham, and as Nigel Greenly
sauntered through the place one sunny
afternoon, stopping here and there, now to
look at some fishing tackle, then to glance
at a view of Marchlands'. church dis
played in the stationer'S boW-window, he
caught sight of the announcement concern
ing the bunch of keys. But he read it IN
beedingly; the lost keys and the reward
offered were nothing to him. Still, how
ever, he had taken into his mind the TACT
that some one had dropped bunch of keys
and would be very glad to find them.
Marchlauds is Il small, picturesque vii
lace. with as beautiful an old church as one
would desire to find anywhere; and Nigel
Greenly, who was staying in the neighbor-
hood, had walked over from his friends
house expressly to see Marchlands' church.
Thus it came to pass that he had sauntered
through the quiet country town OF Fore
ham. and had read the advertisement which
heads this story.
As he left Fcreham behind him and got
into the foOtpath leading toward the VII
lage for which he was making, he Tell INTO
a sad reverie, as lie generally dld now when
lie was alone, and bis reyerle ended, as II
ever did, with a deep drawn sigh.
Hi, young sir! The horse 'uil be upon
YOU, if so be you don't move out Of the
pathP
Nigel started at this warning and per-
eeived bulky cart-horse, led by country
man, rounding the road which lie was tax
ing The horse logged on while Nigel
stood still, debating with himself which
way TO 20, and rs he looked up and down,
his eyes lighted on something which glSt-
ened on the grassy path, and moment
after he picked up bunch OF keys
"The KEYS about which that notice read
was posted up How provoking. Now, L
must take them TO the owner, which may
impose walk on me and consume the tine
| meant for exploring willow Cottage. !
wish had not such knaCk for remember
ing an address when once haNe heard OF
linus thinking he twirled the keys
around, ewing them with cons .derable dis
favor, ana in SO doing he noticed that one
of the many keys hanging to The seal ring
which held them together was Of gold. Sud
denly his face flushed, and he began to eX-
anime the small gold Key.
1t was deliberately chased, and something
or Oth0. connected with 1t plainly caused
him considerable amount OF agitation.
Good heayensw muttered he, ITO md II
here! can there be two such keys? No.
mp
Without hesitatinG moment longer he
dashed on through the woodland before
him: .,, C...--.o, o., -, ,..k
the nrst person lie met; and his voice De-
trayed his agitation
"Straight on till We gets TO the fust stile,
and then 90 TO the lett, sir. IT'S that slate
colored house with the clump O. willows
behind it."
And who lives there Do you know?'
continued Nigel.
"A widow lady, sir, O. the name O. Grey;
a quiet sort o body, with two grown-up
daughters"
Grey! Then l must be mistaken; her
name was not Grey" murmuIed the young
lao, d is inf n ma Spl
Again, however, he examined the article
he had found, and once more his agitation
"Stin, must be mistakenw repeated he
TO himself
With one more searching glance at the
glittering thing which bad awakened by
gone memories, he turned toward the will
lows and an instant later was inqulrIng of
the neat parlormaid who answered his
summons III Mrs. Grey was at homer"
Yes. sir. VIII you please walk this
way?"
And he was ushered into a pretty room
where a lady, dressed in slight mourning,
was seated at a writing table.
One glance convinced that she was quite
q stranger TO him, as she rose to greet him.
Permit lie to ask, he began courteously,
whether these are the keys which, pre-
sume, you have lost? l found them on the
way here from Foreham," and at the same
time he produced the bunch and held them
toward the lady.
"a friend of mine who is staying with me
lost some keys. Yes; those are the ones
that were lost. Oh, how much obliged TO
you | amp replied she with evident salts
faction, examining them meantime atten-
lively.
Had not her gaze been directed to the
keys she must have observed Nigefs re-
newed agitation.
"a friend of yours?" he faltered. MAY
ask who? What is her name?"
"Her uame?" responded the LADY, look
ing up with smile. 1T is not lady, but
a gentleman who lost the keys"
"a gentleman stammered Nigel, and
by this time his listener began to perceive
that there was something connected with
the bunch of keys which raised some MEN,
cries not altogether free from pam.
- am sure my friend would like 10 thank
you himself for your kindness in bringing
back his property" she said. VIII you
not sit down? He has only walked up to
the ruins with my daughters"
You are very kind" replied Nigel, his
heart beating uneveniy as he accepted Mrs.
Grey's offer.
Then, as strangers are wont to do when
they are thrown together, and ciyility
obllges them to make some effort at con-
versation, several commonplace remarks
were exchanged between the lady and gen.
teman. while Nigeps pulses were thIob-
bling, and the question mentally recurring,
VINO is this man who owns her key?"
He had hardly waited a quarter of an
hour when footsteps and laughter an-
nounced the return of the Misses Grey and
their visitor.
Here they are," said Mrs. Grey.
The door was thrown open, and two
young ladies entered, followed by a very
handsome young man.
Hugh" exclaimed the lady of the house,
turning to the newcomer, This gentleman
has kindly brought you your keys. He
found them in walking from Foreman"
How fortunate Indeed | am much in
debted to you." said Mrs. Grey's visitor.
Nigel had sent a piercing look in the d.
rection Of the young man, but at once saw
that lie was unknown to him. There was
no excuse for lingering any longer, but he
could not go till he had determined some
thing which tore him with Uitterest agony.
You will tell mel hope" faltered he,
chow this key came into your possession ?"
and he indicated the bright line of gold
hanging amid the steel.
On, that oncl" replied the young man,
earelessly. THAT isn't mine as a matter of
fact, though l hardly suppose l shall ever
have an opportunity Of restoring il to its
owner"
Where-where did you find to" cried
Nigel, now in uncomfortable agltation-so
keen that it communicated itself, in part, to
his hearers.
al picked 1t up on board ship last year
when | went over to America for an autumn
ayoung lady-one of the passengers-and-
and"
You and she are engaged2" interrupted
Nigel in a voice scarcely audible from the
emotion Of the speaker.
mo; We are strangers" the young man
fastened TO say. 81 have never been able
TO restore the key (Which recognized as
hers from having often observed it hanging
from her watch-chain) because pressing
business, coupled with the severe illness of
a near relative who had journeyed out with
me, prevented my tracing this lady imme-
diately. Afterward it was too late; she
and her mother had left the hotel to which
found they had gone on landing, and so
placed the key on my own ring. Suppose |
now transfer it to your keeping?
Nigel had sat down again. The revulsion
Of feeling had been too strong Tor him after
believing that his lnst love was eterually
divided from hm-that she must he be-
trothed to the handsome young man who
possessed her key. Once, three years ago,
he and she had been Oh the eve of making
their VOWS together at the altar, when all at
once, through his own foolish jealousy, this
bright vision of happiness had vanished.
~ Ion hfu Lvvfn ..n1 L..