The L'Anse sentinel., 1906-12-29


went upstairs, her first New Years
eve. Perhaps by the time the midnight
bells rang out she might be making a
few strange resolutions for the coming
year.
It was dark on the garret stairs.
She stopped at the door Of Bob's dress
ing-room and took candlestick from
the mantel. 1t was wedding gift-a
Japanese bronze grimm, with outspread
wings and spiral, sinuous tall
AS she held 1t to the gas Jet to light
the candle something fell on the rug
at her feet and she picked 1t up. 1t
was a small, old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at 1t hesitating-
ly. 1t had never been on Bob's ring,
she knew. The space between the
wings of the bronze griffin was clever
idea Of concealment.
She set her lips closely and wert up
the garret stairs with candlestick In
one hand and the key In the other.
Half way there was turn at small
landing, and 1t was at the angle made
by this that she had found the little
low door leading to the catch ALL"
She opened 1t now and entered, half
closing the door after her.
The desk was pushed to ono side
with some trunks and boxes. It was
a quaint, antique affair Of mahogany,
severely colonial in style. The main
body was crescent-shaped, supported
on hand-carved legs. There were four
drawers, two on each side, and small,
low cabinet Of pigeon-holes on top.
Suzanne stood motionless before 1t
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 slightly
and she held her breath. The key
turned easily and the draw was ready
for inspection, but she did not open 1t.
Thoughts whirled like the fluttering
snowfiakes 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 her unfaltering
belief and confidence in him. 1t was
the very keystone of her marriage
faith, and yet, at the first blow Of sus-
picion, 1t 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 1t in the hurry and
excitement Of the wedding. She must
believe in him. The mere fact that
they were married did not give her
coroner's right to hold post-mortem
over his dead past.
There was the sound of a 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 recognition
Of 1t.
Its only I, Sue. What on earth are
you doing in there"
She stood mute and motionless as
he bent his head and entered the low
door. It 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
added. II couldn't let you face the
first New Year alone, sweetheart"
His arms reached for her, but she
shook her head and handed him the
key.
II haven't used It," she said, broken
ly. But, oh, Bob, came so near 1t.
You don't have to tell me what's in
the old thing. I'll believe in you just
the same, and don't want to know"
Know what?" he demanded. Don't
cry, Sue" He drew her to him tender
ly. Whats up, anyhow"
That desk" she sobbed. TITS
locked"
"Is it?" He stared at the desk in be-
wilderment well, the key was on
my mantel, dear You found 1t all
right, didn't your. Couldn't you un-
lock it,"
II could, but-but don't want 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
wedding present to you from Grand
mother Hadleigh. It's been In the fam
lily since the year one, I guess, and
there isn't single thing In those draw
ers. It came the last minute the day
we were married, and was so heavy
and unwieldy told father to send II
along with my things and have It put
away somewhere until we came home.
And I 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