The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-16
ROMANCE OF A DOOR KEY.
How the Widows Mistake Resulted
in Reunion of Former Lovers.

AbAAA AAtt III WAY A iA4AINs
Quite little romance occurred last
year in one of Brooklyn's best neighbor-
hoods. A widow, young, charming, and
possessor of abundant means, was ex-
changing her old home for more spa
cious house about the middle of q hand
some row. In the midst of the confusion
on moving day she was hurriedly sum
moned to the sick bed of a very dear
friend, and she went at once, leaving
everything in charge of an elderly woman
who had lived with her as trustcd com
panion since her husbands death.
You will be too tired to sit up waiting
for me if | should be late were her last
words to this domestic functionary. But
you may let the light burn In the second
floor and l viii take the front door key so
can get in without disturbing YOU"
1t was past IL o'clock of the evening
when she assembled the steps of what she
supposed to be her new house. The night
was very dark, and in the uncertain glim-
mcr of the street lamp several doors
away, she could just detect the outlines
of what seemed the number 49, Her
key admitted her readily and she tripped
confidently up the dark staircase to the
landing above, where a gas jet was burn
ing very low. If she wondered a little
that the carpets should be down so soon
on the stairs and landing it was only to
reflect that her companion must have
been uncOmmOnly expeditions. And If
she noticed anything odd or strange she
supposed it was caused by the unfamiliar
dwelling and by the very dim flicker of
gas-if, indeed, she had time to suppose
anything at all in the few seconds re
quired to reach what she believed to be
her own room! 1t was a front room on
the second floor. The door was slightly
aiar and u brilliant light showed from
within.
She pushed open the door and stepped
bGthCly inside. And then she stopped
motiouless, her pretty face flushed with
ama2Cment and indignation at the sight
of Il gentleman sitting comfortably before
the Crate fire, his feet in slippers, an
evening paper extended before him, and
his face turned inquiriugly toward her.
The gentleman was one whom Mrs. ID.
knew perfectly well, one whom she had
always disliked apparently, and whom
she had certainly stunned in every
possible way for years. RumOrs de-
clarcd that they had been lovers in thor
early youth, and that they had been
Cstranged by some cause which nobody
could over ascertain. Anyhow, they had
quarreled bitterly, and both bad married
within year. Mrs. D. had become q
widow a few months after her marriage
and the gentleman had buried his wife in
the south of France about three years be
fore this evcntful night. Perhaps then
Mrs. d. had cause for indignation when
she beheld him enscOnced so colily by
what she supposed to be her own fircside
"HOw dare you, how dare"-she began
with blazing eyes.
Aud then she noticed a wicked mascu-
line smile fit over his countcnance And,
indeed, she suddenly noticed Z number Of
things in her wild stare around the room
And all at once the truth-the awful
truth-hashed upon her brain OF course
she ought to have asked his pardon and
Withdrawn as gracefully as possible But
she did not; she had no opportunity. He
was master OF the situation or seemed to
fancy he was. and he instantly iutcrpOsed
his fascinating person between her and
flight.
Il can't permit you to leave me yet,
Emma. have something to say to you,
something you would have known long
ago had you allowed me an opportunity
to explain" he said, or at least it is re-
ported that he said something Of the
kind
And anyhow, when She finally sought
her own rCsidence-the house she had en-
tered in her mistake was ''35''-thc gen
tleman escorted her with evident salts
faction to both. And few months later
she returned TO '35'' as its mistress and
the wife of her girlhood's lover.