The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-26

The Pe-ru-nR Medicine Co., Colum.
bus, o., will mail DR.. HRrtmansS special
book for women. free on application, 70
Fomsnonly. AlldruEgiItsS ell Ps-ru-nA.
that she learned why and that I'VE did
not quarrel, dear, but circumstances
made 1t impossible that we should con-
tlnue to live together any more!"
Among other "slamese habits" of the
tWo-to use Miss Varney's own fond,
foolish phrase-was this one: They car
ried each an absolutely duplicate bunch
Of keys. These keys were objects OF
beauty, chased and sllvered. and de-
pending from silver chatelaines Of an
tluue workmanship. On the night
that Lucy Gray left them the two la
dies sat a while in front of the FIRE
before retiring to their rooms for the
night, and Miss Varney's keys lay in
her lap, catching the warm rays Of the
dying hrelIght on their many facets.
"How pretty gold light is on silver"
she said, letting the keys play Idly
through her fingers. "They want re-
dipping. I think"
$50 do nfine," said the other, begin
ming to handle hers. Let us have
them done. Shall I send mine or will
you?"
ut doesn't matter which," Miss Var
ney said. She began to pick up the
keys and tell them one by one. THE
bookcase, the linen press, the store
room, the burcau-I can't remember
what this key belongs TO-" she broke on
suddenly.
site to her suddenly became blanched
and gray with fear
Alice" she said, helplessly. 1t was
Miss Varney's Christian name.
well, Alice!" said the other woman
impRtlently, staring at her. are you
not well. Kitty?"
somehow or other got hold OF my
bunch" Miss Leven said, in far away
kind Of voice.
well, and IL have? There Is no
There is a key on my bunch-an ex-
IAN extra key! don't understand
you, or your agitation, Kitty"
mo. dear. 1t is the key OF little
II see" said the fiery Miss varney.
You have u secret, Kitty Say no
She turned a proud profile to Miss
Leyen, and put her. hand on her heart.
Dearest Alice, don't. please, take It
SO seriously. 1t is nothing-no secret,
merely the key OF a little old desk OF
my mothers where keep a few pa
Naturally. Papers that you do not
care to have me sect" Miss Nnrney re-
piled, haughtIly. There is no more to
be said, II you do not mind" She was
quIvering all over.
but can we go on living together
asked the other, giving voice TO her Sc
cret preoccupatiOn.
mo. ! don't see how we can" MISS
Varney driven to bay. answered her. Il
am fool, Know, but II WAS not IN Tue
bond"
"T'l show you the papers" said Miss
I.even, desperately.
''Oh, no, no; please do not speak or
such q thing. Yes, you have perfect
right to have secrets from me, but |
confess I-don't like It, II Il no good
Kitty. Look here. dear; don't let us
speak OF It any more. but go to BED,
and we Will see how we feel In the
morning. Heavens! never knew what
4. bad temper had until this moment!
She but her hand to her head.
NO" said Kitty Leven, determinedly.
II could not rest, thinking that we had
uIinrrelled. You must"
1--WE have not quarrelled. II is only
my temper. Good God. Kitty! VIII you
mo, Alice. would rather you would
look at the contents Of the desk. II you
don't mind. have n right to demand
II, after all you have said What l
wished so much to avoid cannot DO
worse than this. And now l insist on
your looking ut the contents OF the
desk. I will go and fetch IT,"
II have told you had so much rain
or not"
That was enough for me"
She rose as she spoke. Her complex
ion was now quite pale and nshen,whi
the saIlow Miss VHney's cheeks wore
the handsome huSh Of n gypsy.
Miss VArney clutched nj her lost SELF
control, put her handkerchief to her
face. and was able TO resume, almost IN
her own natural voice:
~ nm an old fool! Yes, bring the
desk. Kitty. and we'll have an end to
this" She sat down, laughing hysIeric'
ally. 49,
with her nm old rosewood desk that
looked indeed az II II might have be-
iOuEed TO her mother.
Slowly and deliberately, with the SOL
pmn air Of one accomplishing n long
forgotten religious rite. she inserted the
little silver key In the worn Keynote. IL
was no Jagged that the key did not 20
in easily. and her face flushed and her
eyes filled 80 that tear betrayed her
and dropped on the polished surface Of
the lid. She raised Il slowly, murmur-
ing:
II could have wished this had not
happened; but what must be must be.
She drew out packet Of old letters,
tied up with string: the outside enVel-
Opc was addressed to "MIsH kntherinc
Levch" In the bold, not easily mlHthk-
able handwriting that they both knew
Il wish you to read the nrHt letter
the very first letter that comes, and no
more" Miss Levcn begged,
81 won't read my" HRld Miss Vnrney
dOgRedly, yet her eyes were wlld WIN
eaEerncsE and her restless hnnd drew
toward and again withdrew from thc
packet she coveted. -,