The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-28
THE LOST
KEY
B. ESTHER VANDEvEER

was about 10 go To bed, when, looking
at hook on which the keys Of the
church were wont TO hang. he noticed
that the bunch did not look So large as
usual. Going 10 the hook. lie 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 ii been stolen:
But what object any one could have
to steal the vestry door key was a
mystery. There was nothing of value
to thief in either the veStry or the
church. The plate was not kept there.
Hymn and prayer books there were In
plenty and cushions 10 the seats. but
these were scarcely attractive to rob.
Der.
So reasoning. the sexton went to bed
and to sleep, thinking that some one
had taken the key for an ordinary pur-
pose ana forgotten to put it back in IT'S
place. The clock ON the church tower
was striking T. when Mrs Brown
awakened her husband.
There's light in the church. John.
she said
Brown hestirred himself and looking
out through window. true enough.
saw a dim light. not ia the church. but
in the Ne>trl Thinking that, after all.
there might be thieves at work. he
dressed himself and started for the
church While dressing and on his
way he thought what he should do ON
his arrival and concluded To be guided
10y circumstances
On reaching the yestry he stood on
tiptUe beside window ana 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 i'll at ease.
While John was looking at them he
heard step not far from him. and
some one entered the yestry door As
soon as the person was In the vestry
John saw that he was man In the
yestments 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 all OF them 1t 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 marriage said John a
himself. quite likely clandestine one
ANY way | don't like It tnat the rector
should he beaten out of his fees in this
way III 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 hun as an intruder, The clergyman
turning to do 50.
I'm looking" said John. FOR the
rector of the church. There's man
dyin' and wants him at once"
I'm the rector" said the clergyman
"As soon as have married this coupl,
III 60 with you"
4 II thought Or Brook was the rector
here" said John
II am DR.. Bsoo1."
"You DR.. Brook. Not a bit OF it
I've heard Dr Brook preach many
time know him well
whats that said the woman
starting Isn't this DR.. Brook
"No. miss DR.. Brook is an olde
and a larger man than this gentleman.
"Oh. Henry" she exclaimed reproach
fully. turning 10 the man beside hei
you have deceived me-
"Who are you. and why DO You com
here at this dine of night SAID Herr
to the sexton ansrily
well. seein as there, no use !
maxim any further pre,ensc, I'm tn
sexton Of this church, aud | come her
: to find out what was goin' Oh in IN
veStry. missed the KEY and suspect
ed somethn was wrong. lust no'
nv wife saw a light here, SO ! tun
bled out O bed and here AIN"
At this the woman turned to I'll
man she called Henry and. white VII
! anger said,
You villain. You contemplate do
This explains your story OF your pa
ents objection to your MARRY ing III
This is why you must marry me cla
destinely. IS it, Don't ever let me s.
vour cowardly face again"
The man tried to cain her, but pa
ing no attention to him, she STAKE
our Of the vestry and disappeared
the darkness. Henry made lun'
At the sexton. but the old man VI
spry enough to get out OF the wa
and Henry rushed from the yestfy, L
lowed by the man in canonieais
Brown found the missing Key IN Z