Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-01-29
he Broken
House Key

sv he young ana pretty bride Tell
worried and out of sorts. Only
: short eight weeks ago she had mar
ried her dear Gus and had followed
him to his home in W, and al.
ready he had begun to neglect her to
60 out of an evening, and to leave
her alone in the big house. He had
tried to convince her that he could
not altogether neglect his former
friends and companions, 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.
y "Oh the dreadful evenings I have
to spend" she complained with tears
in her eyes. 81 am obliged to sit
here all alone because have as yet
had no chance to form any acquaint.
ances here. Naturally get home
sick. Often feel like leaving every
thing and taking the train home to
my parents"
''Would it not be better, darling, if
you went to bed instead and tried to
sleep?"
'That is just where the trouble is"
she replied, still in tears. II am
afraid. Our servant sleeps way up 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 burglariesr and robberies?" she
persisted. "Think of the many stran-
gers that flock to well-known
health resort like this. Nothing is
impossible under such circum-
stances!"
The husband looked thoughtfully
at his sweet bride.
mo, dear, I do not want you to
brighten yourself into illness. prom
Use you herewith, of my own free
will (the poor fellow could not help
heaving a sigh as he said this), to re-
turn promptly at II o'clock whenever
1 go to meet my friends. It is impos-
sible for me to withdraw from their
society altogether, for they would
ridicule and make fun of me, and call
me henpeched. Burglars rarely put
in their appearance before the hour
of IL, the streets being full of life
and traffic. Good-by, darling, and
please do not feel lonesome"
Annie sighed and submitted resign
eddy 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 rsstlessly 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 ole
feeling of distress and fright Greer
over her; the sitting-room was locat
ed to the rear of the house, and there
was hallway between it and the
front rooms. She therefore could
not hear the usual street noises.
death-like silence reigned in the room
Tired, and yet excited, she threw
herself on the lounge. She sadly re.
fected 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 slumber.
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 keyholc, 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
II hardly think my wife has retired
as early as this" he reflected, "but
of course, she is in the sitting-room
and most likely she cannot hear me-
Once more he knocked-this TIM
very loud-he called until his voice
was hoarse. No reply!
To fill his cup of misery to the brin
it commenced to rain, and he wa
without an umbrella.
"Perhaps Annie has gone to be-
after ALL" he thought, shivering ant
dripping wet. "Shall I go to hotel
No! What would the people think
The only place that I know of tina
may still be open is the railwa,
depot, for there is train arriving a
midnight"
He went down the street in tn,
pouring rain, and at last found him
self in the waiting-room of the sta
ton.
"A glass of beer, sir?'' asked al
enterprising waiter. Gus shook him
self. He felt chilly. 'Punch," h
said, land make it hot!" He dram
one glass, and then another, and sti
another, to while away the time. H
was the only person there. In du