The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-25
stranre looking but comfortable set


Alas, I was ashamed to think how
many Of my boyish hours / had spent
living upon one or other Of these chests
aimlessly reading romances and poetry
when had been supposed to be stu:
dying more useful but less consenial
matter!
As soon rs we had breakfasted my
father began to search for the keys OF
the chests. for he had but vague
idea as to where they might be found.
While he was employed rummagisg
old bureaus and cabinets. I removed
the coverings from the chests. marvel
Ing greatly that they should have so
long escaped my notice. To do this.
and to clear the table ready I" recaive
the documents. did not age me
many minutes. and I was II lent to
obtain the keys
But the keys could not be I, I'd. I
assisted my father IN the search for
them, and together we turned over as
many knick-knacks quaint jewelry.
miniatures. pocketbooks, tokens. old
coins. packets Of love letters tied with
faded silk md dated early in the last
century. metal purses. scent bottles.
etc.-as would have stocked q first
class curiosity shop. But that which
we sought we could not find.
II was now past noon. and my uncle
and aunt were expected to arrive at 4
o'clock. Though we had been search.
Ing for several hours we had not yet
examined the contents Of half the cab
inets and closets which abounded In
our old manor house, many Of which
had not been opened within the men,
ory Of our oldest servant My father
would have given up the search but
for my advice to him to continue 1t.
Wisely or unwisely. my father seldom
or never refused to comply with any
wish that ! expressed. and he saw that
was interested In the odds and ends
accumulated by our family.
After another two hours Of search
ing my father found the keys OF the
chests. tied together and labeled. IN
the place where he had first looked
for them. With q peculiar facial ex-
preston. In which It was difficult to
determine whether fatigue. annoyance
or triumph predominated. he tossed
them to me. and remarking that he
had had as much of this aEair as he
cared for In one day, left me to do as
I pleased.
Having hurriedly deposited the few
things before me In the places where
they had been found. I FASTENED to the
library and proceeded to open the
nearest chest. The key entered the
lock as easily as might be wished. but
was turned with difficulty. and made q
harsh. grating sound. had no sooner
raised the lid than the air became so
charged with minute fungi that I VOL
UNFAIRLY stepped back and opened a
window.
The chest was quite filed with
parchment or vellum documents. some
rolled and others fat. and to nearly all
Of them were attached large pendu-
lous seals. I did not pause to exam
inc them, but transferred them all to
the table, and opened the second chest,
wherein I discovered nearly as many
documents as In the first, all Of simi-
lar character. But there was also q
thick folio volume. filed with close.
neat writing. every letter Of which
appeared to be formed with great
care and accuracy. About two
thirds Of the book was English and
the remainder strange characters.
which I had little doubt were Orien-
tai, though I was not scholar enough
to determine the language to which
they belonged. This book. and a cop
per box. about eighteen inches BY
twelve. and Eve inches deep. were all
I found besides the documents. The
box, which was locked. was much
discolored; but I could discern writ.
ing upon the lid such as may be pro-
duced by nitrate Of silver upon cop
per. All I could decipher Mt q hasty
glance was Roger Trueman." written
In characters rather larger than the
others. Trueman being q very old
form Of our family name. and the box
exceedingly heavy for its size. at
once conceived the hope that it con-
tanned something Of special value. As
/ could find no key to the box. l set It
aside with the folio volume. resolving
to carefully examine both at my leis-
ure.
At this moment q servant entered
the room and informed me that ny
uncle and aunt had arrived. Dinner
had been ordered to be served as soon
rs possible. and there barely re-
mained sufficient time for me to pre-
pare for II.
Quite tired Of my days work. the
intelligence was not unwelcoDe. TAX
ing with me the folio volume end the
copper box. locked the library door
and put the key in my pocket, leav-
ing all the old documents on the table
within. I then sought my bedroom.
where. having safely bestowed the
book and box. mace what I thea
thought was an elaborate toilette such
as beftted my introdpcticn 10 L.?
American kinswonan.
To BE- continued.
Trapping Professor by Wire.
Among some intensely abusing col.
leSe scraces told by Il Graduate" in
the Ladies Home Journal. is the story