The Grenada sentinel., 1906-12-29

Bob had been jealous Of the copper
made millions, and had married her in
a fit of pique.
She turned from the window With
sudden determination. It 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.
It was dark on the garret stairs.
She stopped at the door Of Bob's dress
ing-room and took q candlestick from
the mantel. 1t was wedding gift-a
Japanese bronze griffin, with outspread
wings and spiral, sinuous tail.
As she held 1t 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 Bobs 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 garret stairs with candlestick in
one hand and the key in the other.
Half way there was a turn at a 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. It was
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 a 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 50, 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
snowflakes 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 child, with the impulsive
Judgment of a 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
of the wedding. She must |
,elleve lin him. The mere fact that |
hey were married did not give her
,oroner's right to hold a pOst-mortem |
over his dead past.
There was the sound Of footstep |
IN the stairs, and she relocked the |
lrawer quickly.
I'll be down in moment, Nora"
The called. "You may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was famil-
ar and masculine. She nearly let the
,andle fall in her surprised recognition
If it.
Its only I, Sue. What on earth are
'ou doing in there?"
She stood mute and motionless as
lie bent his head and entered the low
loor. 1t was Bob, and he was smiling
md happy, his clear eyes seeking for
he glad welcome he expected.
Il only ran down for tonight" he
dded. Il couldn't let you face the
irst New Year alone, sweetheart"
His arms reached for her, but she
hook her head and haQded him the
,ey.
Il haven't used it," she said, broken
Y. But, oh, Bob, came so near it.
you don't have to tell me what's in
he old thing. I'll believe in you just
he same, and I don't want to know"
"Know what?" he demanded. Don't
nv Sue" He drew her to him tender