Griggs courier., 1893-06-30
ROMANCE OF A pooR KEY.

ROMANCE OF A DOOR KEY.
How the Pretty widows Mistake Result
ed In = Reunion Of Former Lovers.
Quite little romance occurred last
year in one of Brooklyn's best neigh
borhoods. A widow, young, charming,
and possessor of abundant means, was
exchanging her old home for a more
spacious house about the middle of q
handsome row. In the midst of the
confusion on moving day" she was
hurriedly summoned 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 trusted companion since her hus-
bands death.
"You will be to tired to sit up wait
ing for me if I should be late," were
her last words to this domestic func-
tionary. "But you may let the light
burn in the second floor, and I will take
the front door key so can get in with
out disturbing you."
1t was past eleven o'clock of the even
ing when she ascended the steps of
what she supposed to be her new house.
The night was very dark, and, in the
uncertain glimmer Of the street lamp
several doors away, she could detect
the outlines of what seemed the num-
ber ''s3." Her key admitted her readi-
ly and she tripped confidently up the
dark staircase to the landing above,
where a gas jet was burning very low.
If she wondered a little that the car
fo Sh 1HA l.
stairs and landing it was only to reflect
that her companion must have been un-
commonly expeditions. And if she no.
ticed anything odd or strange she sup
posed 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 front room on
the second floor. The door was slight
ly ajar and a brilliant light showed
from within.
She pushed open the door and stepped
blithely inside. And then she stopped
motionless, her pretty face flushed with
amazement and indignation at the sight
of gentleman sitting comfortably be-
fore the CRATE fire, his feet in slippers,
an evening paper extended before him,
and his face turned inquiringly toward
her. The gentleman was one whom
Mrs. D. knew perfectly we'll, one whom
she had always disliked apparently,
and whom she had certainly Stunned in
every possible way for years. Rumor
declared that they had been lovers in
their early youth, and that they had
been estranged by some cause which
nobody could ever ascertain. Anyhow,
they had quarreled bitterly, and both
had married within a year. Mrs. D.
had become a widow a few months
after her marriage, and the gentleman
had buried his wife in the south of
France about three years before this
eventful night. Perhaps, then, Mrs. D.
had cause for Indignation when she be-
held him ensconced so cozily by what
she supposed was her own fireside.
'How dare you, how dare
| And then she noticed wicked mas
culine smile fit over his countenance.
And, indeed, she suddenly noticed q
number of things in her wild stare
around the room! And all at once the
truth-the awful truth-fashed 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 inter-
posed his fascinating person between
her and fight.
81 can't permit you to leave me yet.
Emma. I have something to say to
you, something you would have known
long ago had you allowed me an oppor-
tunity to explain. he said, or at least
it is reported that he said something of
the kind!
And anyhow, when she finally sought
her own residence-the house she had
entered in her mistake was ''35''-the
gentleman escorted her with evident
satisfaction to both. And a few
months later she returned to ''35" as
its mistress and the wife of her girl.
hoods lover.-Brooklyn Times.