Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-07
Beyond The Green -baiZG Door.

negIectlng an Old-eStabllShed rule.
On the other hand, I offend you.
Pray step into the waiting room, where
Mr.. Blakely will join you in less than
half the time we have spent in argu-
ment"
When Mr.. 'Blakely came, he did SO
in his habitual leisurely manner, and
he walked into the waiting room, leav-
ing the door ajar.
"Mr. Blakely," she said, haughtily,
IT have been insulted by one of your
clerks. He refused to admit me to
your room, although he knew me-"
She pausel in a way that seemed to
tell me she was looking at him search
ingly.
"My dear girl" he replied, tender
ly, "what has come over you? You're
not like yourself, Mary. What is it?
And what has brought you here so un-
expectedly?"
"Did you not hear what I said,
Richard? Surely, the fact that have
been insulted is reason enough for the
change you remark"
"But not reason for your advent,
since you must have been insulted
through coming here" he responded,
with his usual promptness.
''Since when has your wife been
denied the right to enter your private
room?" she demanded.
"Ever since she wrongly assumed
that she had such right, Mary. NY
clerks have their orders; they obey
them. You cannot blame them for up
holding rules I myself have framed.
Come, dear, be reasonable. What do
you want? l am very busy this morn
ing. The market is very unsteady just
now."
At this juncture it struck ME that it
was incumbent upon me to let them
know in some way that they could be
overheard, or else to get out of e.r-
shot. While undecided which course
to take, 1 heard what aggravated my
indecision.
''Tell me, Richard; had yo1 known
1 was coming, would you allowed
your clerk to deny me access to your
private room?" Mrs. Blakely inquired,
somewhat sternly it seemed to me.
'Tid you come here to ask me
that?"
answer me, yes or no!' she in
sisted.
"The rule is of many years stand
ing, Mary" he said, deliberately. eff
it were set aside for you it would be
the thin end of the wedge; my room
would no longer be private"
"You indorse your Gle ks insult?"
I uphold my clerk who upholds
the banks rules"
She was evidently nonplussed for
the moment by the fine fencing, for
she paused.
eff you have any shopping to do in
town." he said, ''you might come back
in an hour, when shall be free to
drive home with you."
Richard" she said, quietly, 81
married you, not for your money, but
because loved you. loved you be-
fore younger man because 1 believed
! could trust my whole soul to you.
We have been married-how long?-
ten months; and until within q few
hours my confidence in you has been
mistaken. You let me into all your
secret hopes and fears; you kept moth
ing from me. Suddenly I hear
strange story about a mysterious
green baize door, which No one but
yourself is allowed to approach. 1 call
the carriage and drive here to fathom
the depths of the mystery which /
fancied was only imaginary. But am
more than amused now; am piqued;
my confidence in you is at stake. Let
me see into the room which no other
person but you has ever entered, and
I'll go home"
'You are the first person to suggest
that any mystery attaches itself to the
room, DEAR" he replied, with good
natured laugh. cit is simply humble
room, where work too hard to admit
of being disturbed at all hours of the
day."
"Will you let me see? I don't
doubt you-why should I? But 1 am
determinedly inquisitive. Will you
show me the room?"
'Not today, dear, am very busy"
I felt her brush past me as she
came out of the room, and saw her
walk round the desks, her lips tightly
compressed and her head very high.
The following morning when I
turned up at the bank the porter m ct
me with the inquiry, Had I seen any
thing of Mr.. Blakely? No? Strange!
No one had seen him since the bank
closed the night before. He was not
in the bank-had not been home-in-
deed, it was Mrs. Blakely who had
driven down the first thing to inquire
about him; and no one had seen him.
''Was he on the premises when you
locked up?" I asked.
''Can't say; shouldn't think so," the
porter replied. 81 left the side door
on the latch until seven, as usual, and
then bolted mp, expecting ne must
have gone-generally goes before that,
you know, sir. He must have gone,