The Oak Closet

Margaret Grey was in somc sort an upper sorvuut in the househokl of Judgo Wallaeei The Judgo lived ia a handsome house in tho suburbs of the littlo village of Thorudale. Margaret was left an orphan at an early ftge, and llic Jodgfi and his wife had taken her into theu house to save her fioia bfcing thrown on the charity of the town. They h;ul done their part well for her. They had two ehildren of their own - twins - Alice and Algernon, and Margaret had enjoyed every advantage of educatiDU in commoii Wlth the brother and sister. As shc grew older, and bogan to realiza how luuch she owod tlie Judgo and hia wife, she feit a desire in sonie way to make them recompense for their kindQ688, and as she was an active, strong girl, slie soou beeanie very useful about tlio domestic affairs in the household. Mrs. Wallaoe was a feeble woman, and willingly rosigned the care and buiden to Margaret, and in doe courso of time the young girl carne to be trusted and depended on, until, by the time she was twenty-two, she was really at the head of the establishment, though Mrs. Wallace still did the honors in her quiet, ladylikc way, and puurcd tho cofi'ee and tea at tlie head of the table. Alice had married carly, and gone to the Far Wust with her husband ; Algernon -was finishing bis medical studies at a Germán University, and only the Judge and Margaret, and his wife - besides the man and woman servant, who had been with them foi years- were left at home. Sume unfort unate speculations, largely indulged in when the Judge was quite a young man, liad encumbered the old estáte with a mortgage, and this it was the Judge's ambition to discharge. He wanted to leave the place totully free and olear from debt to his son Algernon. The strictest economp had been practtted t'or yeas in tho house with this end in view, and at last tin; Judgu holcj i in hand the money with whieh to liqNüdate the claim. It was late one Saturduy night when ho brought it home and said to his wife as he swung the little black leather fcrunk containing it before her eyes, "TS ril, Annie, at last we ave to 1"; free from debt '. There is eight thousanA dollars in that trunk, and on Monday 1 shall pay Jones in full, and oa Monday we will burn that abominable mortgage together, you and I, Annio. It will be the happiest day of my whole life." " But if anyjhing shonld happen, Williani r" said Mrs. Wallace, nervously, -'Do [ut the money in somo safe place. It has cost us just dear enough to scrape it together." The judge bent down and patted the anxious little woman on the head. " I am goiug to put it in the little oak ■1. et, Annie. It has a spring lock, and if by tihance any burglar should get into the house he would never think of finding anything of value in a little stifled up closet at the head of the garretstairs." And with a light heart the judge went off to deposit the treasure. Margaret was sitting in the room, daming the judge's stockings when this conversation took place, and of courso she lieard where the money was to be placed, though at the time sho gave little beed to it. The next day, John and Sarah, the two servante, had a holiday to visit a marriod daughter of thoirs who resided fifteen or twenty miles a way, and it was in November, and the days were short, they would not return until Monday night. And somc time after they set out there came an imperative message to the judge from his only sister- saying that she was very ill, and desired to sec hún without dclay. lier home was in Shelby - eight or ten miles off, and of course tho judge lost no time in obeying the summons. He took his wife with him, leaving Margaret alone in the house. After thoy wero seated in tho carriage the judge stopped to say, "Itisbarely possible, Margaret, that we may reniain all night. It looks very much like a storm, and in that case we shnll certainly stay. And if so, you had better get Sallie Turner to como over and stay with you for company." But though Margaret would have liked Sallie's company well enough, she at once decided not to ask for it, bccause if sho did so she knew that Sallie's brother, Willis, would be sure to come a-long, and the less she saw of Willis Turner why the better she was pleased. Willis was an honest, industrióos sort of a fellow, and he was Margaret's most devoted admirer, but with the usual inconsisteney of her sex, shc utterly refused to see what was best for her. The long afternoon wore slowly away. Margaret read a little, and drummed a few tunes listlessly on the piano, played with the black and white kitten, and held the old cat curled up in her lap like a sleepy Caterpillar, and at last it was sunset. Time to milk tho cows and shut the barn door for the night. It was evident cuough that there was going to be a storm, for tho north and west were dark and gloomy with ominoua black clouds, and the east wind sighed drearily in tho pine woods baok of the house. And, indeed, before Margaret had done up the odd jobs at the barn, the great drops of the frozen rain began to fall, and by the time she had eaten her Bupper ana strained the milk, tho storm had set in in deadly eavnest. She closed and barred the doors - the wiudows were already fastened - drew tlie shutters, and piled the kxtohen fire-plaee full of dry hickory. The kitten had gono to sleep in the cushioned chair in the "corner, and the old black cat sat on the hearth blinking her eyes Bleopily at the ehoerl'ul blaze. Margavet read a little, and dreamed a great deal, as girls of her age ore prono to do at times. She made a very pretty picture, if only thero had boen somo one to see her. Her soft brown hair was unbound, and feil rippling toherwaist; lier fair round lace was tinted as dolicatcly pink as the inside of a sea shell ; her brown eyes were clrcamy and full of languor, and her xed lips wore swoet and womanly enough for any truc lover to find lus varest happiiless tl kissing. Slowly, at length, the old coffia-shapod clock in the corner struck ten. Margaret stiirtiid up. She had not thought it was so lato. The evening had gone off much more ijuiekly thaii she expected it would. It. Was Hot so droadfu] to Btay alono after all, slie said to hersolf. She opened a shuttor and pcered out into the darkneas. It was as dark as Erebos, and the wind and ruin beat against the pone in a perfect torivnt. The judge would not think of retuming on such a night. " Woll, Tommy," said shi' to the cat. " I gasm yon and 1 wiU go to bed. We must be up bitiiiiis in the morning, you know, since there'll bc none but us to do up the diores." As she spoke, Margaret stoppcd to strokc old Tommy, but to her infinite surprise slie saw that the animal's paw and tail were erect - her eyes had chansred io illo.-sy green of rage and terror, and with slow, pantlu-r-like tread, she was malrinp her way toward the door which opened upon the eullar stairway. And while she gazed, Margaret' saw with horror that the latch was slowlj' lifting, and the next moment the door opened with an onünoua creak, aml a man stepped into the room. He was a short, thiek set fellow, with saudy haiv and whiakers, and a palo, ferocious-looking eye, set far back in his head. " So ho, iny dear," said he, "you are solo proprietor, it appcars." For an instant, Margaret's heart stood still, but she was naturally a hrave girl, and Bhe was proud as well, and would not tillüw this man to poe she feared him. " I have that honor," Bhe i-eplied cooly. " Who are you V And what do you want ? " ia 'I trust you will excuee me if I ncgloct :o introduce myself," said the man with much courtesy - " as for my business, I a.i quite happy to inform you about that. [ want. that i-ight thousand dollars that ;he judge brought from Ridgely bank last ïight, and I depend on you to point it out to me." The indignant blood rushed to Mnrgavt's taco and she sharply answered : " I will die before 1 will do what you ask ! " " You shall have your ehoice." He produced a revolver, which he cocked deliberately, and pointed at her naad. " Now show mo the place whcre the case is hiddeu, or I'll blow your brains out." Like lightning a Tañed train of thought ■ushed through the head of the frirl ; in ;hat one instant of time she thought of a score of plans to evade the rascal, and inmltaneously discarded them as imracticable. There she was alone, a weak and helpess girl, almosi amile front any other ïnman habitation, and ia such a storm it vas by no mean likely that any one would ie ji issing by from wliomshe eould claim issistauce. For i. setminl ln Hinnghij of risking ivorytuing to "scape by the othei door, nul, trusting to the darkness, and her ntimate knowledge of the way, to atempt to reach Mr. Turmr's, and seek )rotection. But the man seesaed to divine her houghts, for he stepped between hor and ho door. " Xo, njy beauty, you don't lay that game on mo," he said, with a sardonio grin. "And now I'll give you ust three minutes to decido what you'll lo. Il' you will show me only wheiv the money is, I will swear to do jou no larm ; if you refuse, T swear to kill you, nul trust to luck to filiding it without rour help." lie took out his watch and etood regarding it and Margaret alternatoly. As he stood there, faint and giddy with car, a new idea penetrated Margaret'a )rain, and she was just in that state of [rsiiemtion which stops at no sacrifico, Lowever great. Come life or dcath, she uust save the money for which her kind rienda had toiled so long and eamestly, md tin; loss of which would involve them n ruin. And she thought she saw a way o do it, although it would compass her le.-imetion. " You may put up your pistol," slie aid calmly. " I will show you whcro the uoney is concoaled." " That's sensible, my dear," said the nan. " It ain't ofton that sense and a retty face go together. But you're an excoption. Come, you must be livelv 1OW." She took a candió from the table, seected one fcey from a bunch in the baski t ïanging from the wall and bade him folow her. iSho led him up the stairs to the loor of the oak closet, applied the key, and opening the door, pointed to the ilack box in the farthest corner of the closet. " You will find what you Beek in there," ho said. Bhe stepped back for him to enter, but ie seized her by tho wrist, and pulled her klong with him. " 1 know your game," said ho ; " you would get mo into this cursed close, hole and then look the door on me. Take out he key and fling it down the stairs, and come in along with me. I shan't eat rou." Slie obeyed him literally ; and as thcy stood together in the stifling place, which vas hardly lurgo cnough to contain them, tfargaret, with tho hand which she lad h it f ree, seized on the door and closed t. It shut with a sharp click - sluit and ooked at the same time. A lierco oath bui-st from the lips of tho lurglar. " What do you mean ? " hc cried. "Heil and furies ! I shajl Buffooate hero '. Open ;hat door, or I will shoot you." " Do as you please, ' said Margaret, doiantly ; " the door has i spring lock, and can bo opened only from the outsido, and miless some one coiucs to our release we shal! remain here until we die, which will only be a few houw at most." " You - she-ile vi l ! Why have you done thisí" he domandod, hoarse With rage. Don't you know that yov will die, too 'i " "Certainly ; but I prefer death to the ruin of my best friends. If wo die bere - is we shall without doubt - tho money will be saved." The oaths, and throats, and curses of the man were t'earful, but Margaret feit no fear. Soniething above and bevond hierself sustained her, and she was happy in the co&sciousnesa that her life woiid purphaee the old homo for hor kind benetactora. 'ï)n'. close, torpid air wi-icrhed upon her likelead; already had the w'reteli who was her ooropankm, s:mk Btupefled to the Hoor. All her past life oame up before her; she rcmcmberid things long ago forgottonsho saw faces dead and buried- sho heard voiees, long ninte be ueaih the grave clods, and then life and sense faded out, and sho know no inore. Judge Wallaoe found his sister bettor, but the storm coming on, it was decmed beet to remain all night; but early the next morning he set out for homo, aocompanied by his wife. Arrived in sight of the house, he was sorprised to see the shut terg still elosod, and the chimney giving out no smoke oi vyclcome. At the gafe a yoliiijj tttafl vis tying a horso, and tlie jndge exolahnod (o liis wife : " Bless iny Ufe, Annie, that's Algernoa! There'e no mistaking him. He's a month oarlier home than Weexpooted him. But I urrutiy fear soínething ii atniss with Maggiel She's an early riser, and tho shutters are ye1 olosed." líe whipped up bis hone, and very soon ho had his long absent son ly the hand. The first wurm greetinga over, the jodge rappéd at the fastened door, but elioitíng no responso, his alarm inoreased, and after sliouting lor Margaret at tho top of his voicc, aud receiving no reply, with Algernon'a aid he bnist open tho baolc door, and entercd tliu kite All v;is iis shc had lift. it, die night previous - tho firo liurned down, au I bfacï branda coTered the hoarth ; the chanibor doorstoodsagKoatively open. Fatberand son ascended che stairs, and halt' way up the judge hit his foot against the koy of tho oak closet. "Good huavens!" ho exolaimed, "the koy of the closet whero I left that money. I greatly fear that evil has befallen Margaret." They fonnd the closet door locked; and to the ir repeated knookiaga there came no response from within. Algernon thon appliod tho key, and the ojieiftd door reveiihl a frightful sight. With feaifully di.stortcd, purplo fnoe, the robber lay on the floor, stono dead, and a little removed from him palo and quiet, lay Margaret. Algernon bore her down stnirs, and info the open air, bnt it was very long bofore she gavu any sign or tiikcn of life. And it was a week bet'ore she was able to fiive a detailed account of wha had happened during tho night of horror in the oak closet. But she had savod tho monoy, as she undertook to pay the debt of grutitude owed by her to the father. And before was over Algeman married MaTgaret, and tomthcr they dweil in the old homestead, aiid on stonny nights they tell their childreu the story of the old oák oloset.