Sharp County record., 1903-07-03
The BroGen
HouSe Key

q short eight week, ago she had mar
rjcd her dear Gus and had followed
him t. his home i'm W, and all
ready ne had begun to neglect her to
90 out of an evening, and tu leave
her alone in the big house. He had
tried To convince her that hr could
not altogether n.glcct his former
friends and cowpauiugs, and that She
ought not TO object to his meeting
them ON two evenings, every week,
and to pass an agreeable hour or two
in their company over a friendly
game Of whist; but she simply did
not comprehend how he could even
Think of going anywhere without
taking her along.
"Oh the dreadful evenings I have
20 spend" she complained with tears
in her eyes. ~ am Obliged 10 sit
here all alone because nave as yet
had no chance to form any acqndmt.
anccs here. Naturally | get home.
sick. often I feel like leaving every
thing aud taking the train home to
my parents
"Would it not be better darling, if
YOU went TO bed instead and tried to
sIccp?"
"That is just where thc trouble is"
she replied, still in tears. ~ am
afraid. Our servant >}tcps way mp in
the attic. She would not even hear
were anything to happen to me-
why you foolish child, what Is
there to be afraid of. what is going
TO happen
Are not the papers every day full
of burglaries and Iobberics?' she
persisted. Think of the many stran-
gers that flock to a wcll-kuown
health resort like this. Nothing is
impossible under such eircum-
stances.'
The husband looked thoughtfully
at his sweet bride.
"No, dear, l do not want you to
frighten yourself into illness. | prom
Use you herewith, of my own free
will (thc poor fellow could not help
hcaring a sigh as he said this), to re-
turn promptly at II o'clock whenever
go to meet my friends. 1t is impos-
siblc for me to withdraw from their
society altogether, for they would
ridieulc and make fun Of me- and call
me henpccked. burglars rarely put
in their appearance before the hour
of II, the streets being fun of life
and traffic. Good-by, darling, and
please do not feel lonesome"
Annie sighed and submitted resign
cdly TO her fate She read awhile;
she then took up her embroidery, a
present for her mother; she played a
game OF solitaire, and finally she
paced Eestlessly up and down the
room, At home there had been a
large family circle, hence it was very
trying to her TO be left so much tc
herself in her new surroundings.
At ten o'clock even the familiar
noises in the kitchen ceased for the
servant had gone upstairs to her at
tic, and the poor woman felt the old
feeling Of distress and fright CREEP
over her; the sitting-room was locat-
ed to the rear Oh the house, and there
was a hallway between it and the
front rooms. She therefore could
not hear the usual street noises. a
lcath-like silence reigned in the room.
Tired, and yet excited, she threw
herself on the lounge. She sadly re-
hScted why beer houses and card par.
ties had been called into existence.
BY and by her thoughts became more
and more confused, and she fell into
sound slumher
1t was 1905 when Gus arrived
breathlessly and post haste at his
house door and tried to fit his key
into the lock-
Poor fellow! Had evil spirits con,
spired to get him into trouble? Click
the key broke in two, and the bit
stuck fast in the kcyhole, handle and
barrel alone remaining in his hands,
He knocked; he called; he knocked
again and louder, for, unfortunately,
there was no house bell-all in vain.
Il hardly think my wife has retired
rs early as this he reflected, "but
If course, she is in the sitting-room
and most likely she cannot hear me-"
Once more he knocked this time
very loud-he called until his voice
was hoorse, No reply.
TO dn his cup of misery to the brim
it commenced TO rain, and he was
without an umbrella.
perhaps Annie has gone to bed
after ALL" he thought shivering and
dripping wet, rShail go to a hotel?
No! What would the people think?
The only place that | know Of that
may stiu be open is the railway
depot, for there is a train arriving at
midnight"
He went down the street in the
pouring rain, and at last found him
self in the waiting-room of the sta
tion.
"a glass OF beer, sir?' asked an
enterprising waiter. Gus shook him.
self He felt chilly. punch" be