Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-09
THE LOST
KEY
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

at u NOOK vi WulSu tiiS nSSo VI 1AA>
church we're wont to hang, he noticed
that the bunch did not look so large as
usual. Going to the hook, he took down
the keys and found the one to the yes.
try door missing.
The sexton asked his wife If she had
taken the key, and she said she had
not. Had 1t been stolen?
But what object any one could have
to steal the vestry door key was a
mystery. There was nothing of value
to a thief in either the vestry or the
church. The plate was not kept there.
Hymn and prayer books there We're IN
plenty and cushions to the seats, but
these were scarcely attractive to rob-
ber
So reasoning, the sexton went to bed
and to sleep, thinking that some one
had taken the key for an ordinary pur-
pose and forgotten to put it back In Its
place. The clock on the church tower
was striking II when Mrs. Brown
awakened her husband.
There's light III the church. John"
she said.
Brown bestirred himself and, looking
ont through n window, true enough.
saw u dim light, not 10 the church, but
in the vestrv. Thinking that, after all.
there might he thieves at work, he
dressed him self and started for tie
church. Wuile dressing and ON his
way he thought what he should Go on
his arrival and concluded to he guided
by circumstances.
On reaching the vestry he stood on
tiptoe beside window and was thus
enabled to look inside. The light With
in was so dim that, he could not see
very well, but he managed to make
out a man and woman. They were
sitting together, and the man was talk
ing earnestly to the woman. who SEEM
ed Ill at ease.
While John was looking at them he
heard step not far from him, and
some one entered the vestry door. AS
soon as the person was in the vestry
John saw that he was a man in the
yestments of the Episcopal church. he
approached the couple, and John saw
that they were talking together. though
the two men We're talking alternately
to the woman, who said nothing. From
the manner of all of them it appeared
to Brown that they were using per-
suasion upon the woman. She seemed
very young. about twenty years OF age.
Finally the man who had been sitting
with her. rising, took her hand and
gently pulled her out of her chair
With evident reluctance she stood be-
side him, and the man in caEonicals
began to read from prayer book.
This is a MARRIAGE said John to
himself, .'quite'likely clandestine one.
ANY way | don't like it that the rector
should be beaten ont Of his fees in this
way. I'll happen in and investigate.
So John went to the vestry door and
knocked. Not bearing an immediate
reply. he opened the door and entered.
! All three Of the persons within stared
at him as an intruder, the clergyman
turning to do so.
I'm looking" said John, for the
rector of the church. There's a man
dyin' and wants him at once"
I'm the rector" said the clergyman
LAS soon as | have married this couple
III so with you"
II thought DR.. Brook was the rector
here" said John. ,
81 am Dr. Brook
'You DR.. Brook! Not bit Of it
I've heard Dr. Brook preach many a
time. know him well.
"What's that" said the woman
starting. Isn't this DR.. Brook ~
mo, miss. DR.. Brook is an older
and larger man than this gentleman
"Oh, Henry" she exclaimed reproach
fully. turning to the man beside her
you have deceived me-"
"Who are YOU. and why do you come
here at this time Of night?" said Henry
to the sexton angrily.
"Well. seein' as there's no use in
maxim any further prerense. I'm the
sexton Of this church. and come here
to find out what was goin' on in the
vestry. missed the key and suspect
ed somethiD' was wrong. Just now
my wife saw light here, so l tum
bled out O. bed. and here am"
At this the woman turned to the
man; she called Henry and. white with
anger, said:
you villain You contemplate dog!
This explains your story of your par.
ents objection to your marrying me.
This is why you must marry me clan
destinely. is it? Don't ever let me see
your cowardly face again"
The man tried to calm her; but. pay.
ing no attention to him. she stalked
out of the vestry and disappeared In
the darkness Henry made lunge
at the sexton, but the old man was
spry enough to get out OF the way.
and Henry rushed from the vestry. fol-
lowed by the man in canonicals.
Brown found the missing key In the
restry door. and. locking up. he went
home and to bed.
The next morning when he was at
work in the church the lady Of the
evening before entered. The first John
knew of her presence he felt her arms
about his neck. When the embrace
was over she told him her story, which
differed but little from such cases. She
was a girl without fortune. and the
man she was to have married was
rich mans son. The man in canon.
icals was fake clergyman. She ad.
mitted that John had saved her from
a terrible fate. but she was unable to
reward him.
However, when the congregation OF
I1,h e.