Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-12-20

She turned from the window with
sudden determination. 1t lacked half
an hour of dinner time. A lonely din
ner for a bride, she thought, as she
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.
1t was dark on the garrett stairs.
She stopped at the door of Bob's dress
ing-room and took a candlestick from
the mantel. 1t was wedding gift-a
Japanese bronze griffin, with outspread
wings and spiral, sinuous tail.
AS she held it to the gas jet to light
the candle something fell on the rug
at her feet and she picked it up. 1t
was a small old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at it 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 went up
the garrett stairs with candlestick in
one hand and the key in the other.
Half way there was turn at small
landing. and it was at the angle made
by this that she had found the little
low door leading 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
quaint, antique affair of mahogany,
al in CT M n
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 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 slightly
and she held her breath. The key
turned easily and the draw was ready
for inspection, but she did not open it,
Thoughts whirled like the fluttering
snowfakes 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, it gave way.
Bess was a 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
stant 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
excitement of the wedding. She must
believe in him. The mere fact that
they were married did not give her a
coroner's right to hold a post-mortem
over his dead past.
There was the sound of a footstep
on the stairs, and she relocked the
drawer quickly.
'Ill be down in a 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 it.
IT'S 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. 1t was Bob. and he was smiling
and happy, his clear eyes seeking for
the glad welcome he expected
81 only ran down for tonight" he
added "T cOu1Hp't 1af you faca tho
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
ly. But, oh, Bob, came SO near it.
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"
rs it?" He stared at the desk in be-
wilderment. We'll, the key was on
my mantel, dear. You found it all
right, didn't you? Couldn't you un-
lock it?'
II could, but-but I 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, l guess, and
there isn't arsingle thing in those draw
ers. 1t came the last minute the day
we were married, and was so heavy
and unwieldy l told father to send it
along with my things and have 1t put
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 hapniness was firm