The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-04-29
A BUNCH OF KEYS.

same to Willow cottage Marchlands, shall receive
| one pound reward
The above notice, printed in large type,
was exhibited in several of the shops in
the High street. in the little town of Fore
ham, 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 DISPLAYED in
the stationer's bow window, he caught
| sight of the announcement concerning the
bunch Of keys. But he read it unheeding-
] ly; the lost keys and the reward offered
were nothing to him. Still, however, he
had taken into his mind the fact that some
one had dropped bunch of keys and
would be very glad to find them.
Marchlands is a small, picturesque vii
lage, with as beautiful an old church as
one would desire to find anywhere; and
| Nigel Greenly, who was staying in the
neighborhood, 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 Foreham, and had read the advertise
ment which heads this story.
As he left Foreham behind him, and got
into the footpath leading toward the viii
lage for which he was making, he fell into
sad reverie, as he generally did now
when he was alone, and his reverie ended,
as it ever did, with deep drawn sigh.
Hi, young srl The horse 'ull be upon
| you if so be you don't move out of the
pathl"
Nigel started at this warning, and per
ceived a bulky cart horse, led bya country
man, rounding the road which he was tax
ing. The horse logged on while Nigel
stood still, debating with himself which
way to go, and as he looked up and down
his eyes lighted on something which glis-
tened on the grassy path, and a moment
after he picked up bunch of keys.
The keys about which that notice read
was posted up How provoking Now |
must take them to the owner, which may
impose a walk on me and consume the
time meant for exploring Willow cottage
wish | had not such knack of remem-
bering an address when once / have heard
or seen it,"
Thus thinking he twirled the KEYS
around, eying them with considerable dis
favor, and in so doing he noticed that one
Of the many keys hanging to the seal ring
which held Them together was of gold
Suddenly his face flushed, and he began to
examine the small gold key.
1t was deliberately chased. and some
thing or other connected wSeh it plainly
caused him a considerable amount of api-
tation.
Good heavensr' muttered he. ito find
it hereI Can there be two such keysP No,
Nor
Without hesitating a moment longer he
dashed on through the woodland before
him.
(Which is Willow cottage?" asked he of
the first person he met, and his voice be-
trayed his agitation.
Straight on till We gets to the fust stile
and then go to the left, sir. IT'S that slate
colored house with the clump o. willows
behind it, i"
"And who lives thereS Do you knowY"
continued Nigel
"A widow lady, sir, o. the name o. Grey:
quiet sort o. body. with two grown up
daughters"
Grey Then l must be mistaken; her
name was not Grey" murmured the young
man when his informant passed on.
Again, however, he examined the article
he had found. and once more his agitation
returned
Still, must be mistakenr' repeated he
to himself
With one more searching glance at the
glittering thing which had awakened bv-
gone memories he turned toward the viii
lows, and an instant later was inauiring of
the neat parlor maid who answered his
summons IF Mrs. Grey was at home"
way?n
And he was ushered into a pretty room.
where lady, dressed in slight mourning.
was seated at a writing table.
One glance convinced him that she was
quite stranger to him as she rose to greet
him.
Permit me oask, t" he began courteous
ly, whether these are the keys which. |
presume, you have lost? 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 Nigel's re-
newed agitation.
"A friend of yours?" he faltered. 'May
ask who? What is her name?"
Her name?" responded the lady, look
ing up with a smile ut 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 mem
cries not altogether free from pain.
Il am sure my friend would like TO
thank you himself for your kindness in
bringing back his property" she said.
"Will you sit DOWN. He has only walked
up to the ruins with my daughters
"You are very kind" replied Nigel, his
haavt baofft,sr L. IL,