The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-24
THE LOST
KEY
By ESTHER VAl1DEVEER

John Brown, sexton of Trinity church.
was about TO 20 to bed. when, looking
at hook on which the keys of the
church were wont 10 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 it been stolen?
But what object any one could have
10 steal the vestry door key was
mystery. There was nothing of value
10 thief in either the vestry or the
church. The plate was not kept there.
Hymn and prayer books there were In
plenty and cushions TO the seats, but
these were scarcely attractive to rob
Der
So reasoning. the sexton went TO bed
and 10 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 l. when Mrs Brown
awakened her husband
There's a light IN the church. John"
she said
Brown bestirred himself and. looking
out through a window. true enough,
saw dim light. not In the church. but
in the vestry Thinking that. after all.
there might be thieves ut work. he
dressed himself and started for the
church. While dressing and on his
way he thought what lie should do on
his arrival and concluded to be guided
by circumstances.
On reaching the vestry he stood on
tiptoe beside a 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 man and woman. They were
sitting together, and the man was talk.
ing earnestly To the woman, who seem.
ed Iii at ease.
While John was looking at them he
heard n 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 q man in the
vestments OF the Episcopal church. He
approached the couple. and John saw
that they were talking together. though
the two men were talking alternately
to the woman. who said nothing. From
the manner OF MI of them II 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. aud the man in canonicals
began TO read from prayer book.
This IS marriage" said John 10
himself, quite likely clandestlne one
Any way | don't Hike It that the rector
should be beaten out Of his fees In this
way, I'll happen in and investigate"
So John went To the vestry door and
knocked Not hearing 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 mt once"
I'm the rector" said the clergyman
AS soon aS ! have married this couple
I'll 60 with you"
Il thought Or. Brook was the rector
here" said Jonn.
81 am DR. Brook"
you DR. Brook! Not a bit OF II.
I've heard Or Brook preach many
time. | know him well"
What's that?" said the woman
starting Isn't this DR. BROOKE"
mo. miss, DR.. Brook is an older
and larger man than this gentleman
"Oh. Henry" she exclaimed reproach
fully turning 10 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.
We'll, seem as there's no use II.
maxim any further pretense, 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 somethin' was wrong. Just now
my wife saw n light here. so tum
bled out o ped. 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 CAIN her, but. pay
ing no attention to him. she stalked
out of the vestry and disappeared In
the darkness Henry made a 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
vestry 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
araning bafnra aptarad Tho first John