Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-30
CHAPTER IN.

CHAPTER III.
The funeral was to take place tho next
morning, and Philip, who, since his meet.
ing with the daughter of Mynheer Poots,
appeared even to himself not so anxious
for immediate examination of the room,
resolved that he would not open 1t until
after the melancholy ceremony. With this
resolution he fell asleep; and exhausted
with bodily and mental excitement, he did
not wake until the next morning, when
he was summoned by the priest to assist
at the funeral rites. In an hour all was
over; the crowd dispersed, and Philip, re-
turning to the cottage, bolted the door
that he might not be interrupted, and felt
happy that hewas alone. He walked into
the room where his mother had lain one
short hour before, and unwittingly felt
relief. Taking down the cabinet, he now
recommended his task; the panel was soon
removed, and secret drawer discovered,
he drew it out, and it contained what he
presumed to be the object Of his searoh-a
large key with slight coat Of rust upon
it, which came off upon its being handled.
Under the key was a paper, the writing
on which was somewhat discolored; 1t was
in his mothers hand, and ran as follows
sit is now two nights since a horrible
event took place which has induced me to
close the lower chamber, and my brain 10
still bursting with terror. Should I not
during my lifetime, reveal what occurred,
still this key will be required, as at my
death the room will be opened. When
rushed from 1t hastened up stairs, and
remained that night with my child; the
next morning I summoned up sufasisnt
courage to 60 down, turn the key, and
bring 1T up into my chamber. II u now
closed till close my eyes In death. No
privation, no suffering, shall induce me
to open it, although in the iron cupboard
under the buffet farthest from the win
dow, there Is money sufficient for all my
wants; that money will remain there for
my child, to whom, If do not imba the
fatal secret, he must be satisfied that it Is
one which 1t were better should be con-
cenled--one so horrible as to induce me to
take the steps which now do. The keys
of the cupboards and buffets were, think,
lying on the table, or In my workbox,
when quilted the room. There Is a let
ter on the table, at least think go. II is
sealed. Let not the seal be broken but by
my son, and not by him unless he knows
the secret. Let it be burned by tho priest
for it is cursed; and even should my son
know all that ] do, oh, let him .peuse-let
him reflect well before he breaks the seal
for 'twere better he should know no
more!"
mot know morer' thought Philip, as
his eyes were still fixed upon the paper.
Yes, but must and will know morel
so forgive me, dearest mother, If I waste
no time in reflection. 1t would be but
time thrown away. when one is resolved
as nm."
1t was about noon when Philip descend
ed to open the chamber The room was
about 10 or IA feet square, with but one
window; opposite to the door stood the
chimney and fireplace, with high buffet
of dark wood on each side. The floor of
the room was not dirty, although about its
upper parts spiders had run their oobwebs
in every direction. On the wall facing
the window were other prints, in frames
equally yelled in damp and cobwebs, and
also two birdcages. The birdcages Philip
approached, and looked into them. The
occupants, of course, had long been dead;
but at the bottom of the cages was small
heap of yellow feathers, through which
the little white bones of the skeletons ere
to be seen, proving that they had been
brought from the Canary isles; and at
that period such birds were highly valued.
Philip appeared to wish to examine every.
thing before he sought that which he mos,
dreaded. yet most wished, to find. TAess
were several chairs round the room; on
one Of them was some linen; he took n
up. twas some that must have belon sed
to him when he was yet q child. At last,
Philip turned his eyes to the wall not yet
examined Chat opposite the chimney piece)
through which the door was pierced, and
behind the door as 1t lay open, he was to
find the table, the couch, the workbox,
and the fatal letter. AS he turned round,
his pulse which had gradually recovered
Its regular motion, beat more quickly; but
he made the effort, and it was over. At
first he examined the walls, against which
were hung swords and pistols of various
sorts, but chiefly Asiatie bows and arrows,
and other implements of destruction.
Philips eyes gradually descended upon
the table and little couch behind it. where
his mother stated herself to have been
seated when his father made his awful
visit. The workhox and all its implements
were on the table, Just as she had left
Snein. lAe Aeys she mentioned were also
lying there, but Philip looked, and looked
again; there was no letter. He now adj
vanced nearer, examined closely-there
was none that he could perceive, either on
the couch or on the table-or on the floor.
He lifted up the vorkbox to ascertain II it
was beneath-but no. He examined
among its contents, but no letter was
there. He turned over the pillows of the
couch, but still there was no letter to be
found. And Philip felt as if there had
been heavy load removed from his pant
Ing chest. Surely, then,'' thought he,
as he leaned against the wall, this must
have been the vision Of a heated imagina-
ton. My poor mother must have fallen
asleep, and dreamed this horrid tale. ]
thought 1T was impossible, at least hoped
SO. 1t must have been as I suppose; tho
dream was too powerful, too like fearful
reality-partially unseated my poor moth
er's reason" Philip reflected again, and
was then satisfied that his suppositions
We're correct.
Yes, it must have been so, poor dear
mother! how much thou hast suffered !.