Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-09-01

~" oool leauinS TO the catch all"
she opened it now and entered, half
closing the door after her.
The desk was pushed to one side
with some trunks and boxes. 1t was a
quaint, antique affair of mahogany, Sc
verely colonial in style. The main
body was crescent shaped, supported
on hand carved legs. There We're four
drawers, two on each side, and a
small, low cabinet of pigeonholes on
top.
Suzanne stood motionless before it
for several minutes, trying to make
up her mind to insert the key. When
she did so in the lock of the nearest
top drawer, her hand trembled slight.
~, and she held her breath. The key
turned easily, and the drawer was
ready for inspection, but she did not
open 1t. Thoughts whirled like the
futterins snowaakes through her mind,
and she stood again irresolute.
She had told Bess that she believed
absolutely in Bob. Higher than her
love for him had been the unfalter-
Ing belief and confidence in him. 1t
was the very Keystone of her marriage
faith. and yet at the first blow of sus-
picion it gave way.
Bess was child, with the impulsive
judgment of child. She had been
wrong to even tell her of the desk,
wrong to discuss Bob or his motives
with her at all or to listen for an in
slant to any doubt of him, even in jest.
She must have faith and wait. He
had probably locked the desk against
the curiosity Of the servants and had
forgotten it in the hurry and excite
ment Of the wedding. She must be-
lieve in him. The mere fact that they
We're married did not give her q coro-
ner's right to hold a postmortem over
his dead past.
There was the sound of footstep
on the stairs. and she relocked the
drawer quickly.
"I'll be down in moment, Nora"
she called. "You may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was famil-
lar and masculine. She nearly let the
candle fall in her surprised recogni-
ton of it.
cts only l, Sue What on earth are
you doing in there?"
She stood mute and motionless as he
bent his head and entered the low door.
1t was Bob, and he was smiling and
happy, his clear eyes seeking for the
glad welcome he expected.
II only ran down for tonight" he
nlxJ ~I Isl 10
first new year alone, sweetheart"
His arms reached for her, but she
shook her head and handed him the
key.
Il haven't used It," she said broken
~. "But, oh, Bob, came SO near it.
You don't have to tell me what's in
the old thing. I'll belisye you just
the same, and don't want to know"
Know what?" he demanded. Don't
cry, Sue" He drew her to him ten
derby. whats up, anyway"
THAT desk" she sobbed. Its lock-
ed"
rs it?' He stared at the desk in
bewilderment. "Well, the key was on
my mantel, dear. You found it all
right, didn't you? Couldn't you I'M
lock ft?"
Il could, but-but 1 don't wish to
know your private affairs" She tried
to draw herself away but he took her
hands and held them from her tear
wet face so that he could see her eyes.
'.Sue, darling" he said, "you blessed
little Mrs. Bluebeard, that desk is a
wedding present to you from Grand
mother Hadleigh It's been in the fam
lily since the year 1, guess, and there
Isn't a single thing in those draw
ers. 1t came the last minute the day
we were married, and was so heavy
and unwieldly told father to send it
along with my things and have it pus
away somewhere until we came home.
And laid the key in the griffin for
safe keeping. What did you think
was In it?"
But Suzanne silenced further ques-
tioning in her own effectual way. The
Keystone of her happiness was firm
and immovable. But as they went
downstairs to dinner she registered one
New Years vow in her heart. In the
future she would let love laugh at lock-
smiths.