New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-23

In due course reached London,
and met thesfriend whom I had to see
on business; we separated very late
at night, so when | got home went
straight to my bedroom without light
ing the lamp in my sitting-room, or
looking to see if there were any letters
awaiting me, was awakened about
nine O'Clock in the morning by the
servant with q telegram. He told
me two had come for ME the previous
night as we'll, and handed me all three.
They were all from my aunt's butler.
The first was, Come back at once
with the cellar key; the second,
Start st once and bring the key with
YOU; the third, Cannot understand
delay, most serious, start Immediate
ly."
What a. fuss to make about a
wretched key, thought, but I could
not afford to disobey these peremp-
tory summonses, and so I started OFF
at once. At two O'Clock was alight-
ing at Aunt Julia's door. I was some
what disquieted, for the station-mas-
ter had informed me that thedog-cart
had been down, to meet every train
from London that day and the two
last trains the previous night, Still, I
had no suspicion of the truth, but
thought that Aunt Julia was getting
madden than ever. $@- =
The dog-cart had no sooner drawn
up at the door than the butler ran
out, looking as if he had not been to
bed all night, which, indeed, / after
wards found out was the case.
''Thank goodness, you've come at
last, SIR" said,he;'' the mistress might
60 OF her head if she was kept much
longer.' ~.
"What rubbish is, this about the
key?" I asked. cts safe enough with
| me, surely?'
"Too safe, SIR" said the butler.
"We've been trying to break into the
cellar since three O'Clock yesterday
afternoon. You left Miss Reeves lock
ed up in it!''
saw it all. I had forgotten my
aunt's habit of hiding herself in the
cellar during a thunderstorm, and
had locked her in. She must have
slipped in during my short absence
upstairs, and been shut in by me when
| returned to lock the door. The vii
lage blacksmith, the butler told me,
+ had been at work for three or four
hours, but the solid iron door and the
patent lock had been too much for
him, and he had gone away exhaust
ed, without having made any impress
sion on them, while maid was good
enough to inform me that "Poor Miss
Reeves cries was simply heartrendin'
all night'
l didn't lose much time in rushing
downstairs and unlocking the door,
when my aunt came out, pale, dirty,
covered with straw, and with her
hair hanging over her shoulders.
"My dear, aunt" began.
"Monster! don't speak to me-" she
said, you did it npurpose; but you
shall pay for your practical joke"
"Such an idea never
"Oh, didn't it? Were you not tele
graphed for three times, yet you did
not come tillit suited you? Leave my
house at once" and she hurried past
me to her ROOM. Attempts to see her
were useless; and left the house with
out succeeding in catching a glimpse
of my dear Aunt Julia. I Wrote let
tiers to her but they were returned
unopened, and never saw her again
A year ago she died, and | went
down to hear her will read, with slight
) hopes, but still with hopes. They
were not realized. She Left all her
property to a missionary, who had
got around her--he has since gone out,
he says, to convert the heather, but
has not unfortunately, gone to q can
nibal island. My name was indeed
mentioned, however. IN a special
clause-''To my nephew, George Reev-
es, it ran che having once valued its
possession so highly, l leave the eel
: lar key.'
+ RlenklnsOD-DOn't fret. nv bow.