THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 338, 14 March 1910, Page 6

THE STORYTELLER.

A KEY FOR TWO "Where be you going, Martha?" asked Boii Stokes. "To Winkfield," answered his wife shortly. "Thei: I thiuk I'll ask Jem Saddier to come and nave a smoke while jc be gone. It'll be a bit lonesome without yj." "Yfs'iL do nothing o' the sort," answered Mavtha grimly. "1 know what that do mean. It, be the new 'barrel o' be.ir ye wuut to test. A pretty plight ye'd be in uy the time I got back. No, my man, when I go out, ye go out, too, and I takes the key." She snapped her lips together at the close of this speech in a manner that boded :'il to anyone who should venture to opp-.se her will. ' "Oh, but, Martha, I've asked Jem to come," protested Ben feebly. "Thul be your look-out. Ye might have knowed I snouldn't be fool enough to leave ye here with that barrel o' 'beer only just tapped," answered Martha, proceeding rapidly with lier preparations. "Now, then, Ibe ready. So off yt go," sh" said, a x'ew minutes lateT. "Couise ye be jokin', Martha," said Ben, .villi a rather uncertain smile. "Jok'n',! Not I." Ben put on his hat and shuffled across the ro..m.

"It be raining hard. I shall get my death of cold," he said, giving a little cough, which failed signally in its purpose of raising his wife's compassion. She V.ammed the door, and, locking it securely, dropped the key in her pocket. Ben's look of dejection deepened as he saw all hope of a convivial eveniig thus destroyed. "Whore do 'ee think I can get out o' the eo :d?" he asked plaintively. "Better go to the church room," advised his wife. '"Miss Perkins be giving one o: her temperance lectures tonight." ' ''' > Lefc alone, Ben surveyed the outside of the (ottage mournfully. "Some females be tyrants," he reflect ed. 'Who'd 'a' thought when I married Mart'iir, that she'd ever have turned out like this? 'Ere be Jem.' He'll be disappointed, too," he added, as the gate swung on its hinges. "Wiiyt be the matter? Ain't she going?" asked Jem in a whisper, looking anxiously at the closed door. "Worse than that," was the tragic answer. "Her's gone and locked I out."

- "And can't 'ee get in at all?" Jem asked 111 dismay.

"No Her's fastened all the window?. I watched her do it," answered Bn "rueiu'ly. "We i, ye do be a fool to kt a woman serve ve like that. If she were my wife I'd manage her different." . "It bain't no good getting (riled, ■' said Ben. "Can't 'ee think of some way of passing the evening comfortable <tnd pleasant like?" "No, I ain't got no money, and I cjon't suppose you have, so I be goi:i' home.'' answered Jem sulkily. "Then I'd better have a look in a' thfe temperance meetikg," thought Ben. "There don't seem nothing else to do."

Slowly and despondently he walked down the village street to the church •room. He stood outside the hall for i few mnutes, hoping some other alternative would present itself, rendering his attendance there unnecessary, but no frj.-iirl came by and the rain fell fas';, so thai, he was unwillingly compelled '.o seek rlielter. He opened the door quietly and slip ped into a seat at the back of the room. Miss Perkins, the vicar's sister, w,a9 addresiing the gathering. She broke off in her speech as Ben entered to express fie pleasure she felt at seeing him in that company. "Come to the front," she said, graciously. "You will heaCbetter." '"No, thank ee, mum, I be very comforts >l° here." said Ben, who tliouj*\t he might possibly wish to leave uefo-s the close of the meeting. Mis; Perkins continued her address. "Prtrlnps this illustration will mal-'P my running clearer," she said. "I have here a number of locks each fU ted w ; :,h its own key. The key of one lock .ar.not open any other lock. ■.']] try, ')i:t vou will see 1 shall fail."

She proceeded to convinc? her aulience of the truth of her statement !>y patier:;v experimenting with each lo:k and kt} in turn. "But now I take my master-key." S'ie held i*-, up nlott. "Thi-= will open evcv lock. There!" she exclaims! triumphantlr. as lock after lock yielded. "W nderful." ejaculated Ben, pressin? forward in excitement. Mis'* Perkins rewarded him with ■> please't little nod. The keen interest, he displayed was very gratifying. ,'i.s a rub, the villagers were nolitely ji tenths, no more; they listened r.v STiectf 'ily and natiently to her exhorti tions on the evils of drink, but betray! no enthusiasm. Ben's case was difi'eient/ He cran.-d his neck forward in order to miss no word. His eyes shone and his who e bearir.« revealed the intensity of his omotim. This success was yet mo-a pleasi.ig- to Miss Perkins, since she, in conjur.i-tion with all others who knew him, regarded Ben as irreclaimable. Many, many times had she labored to rouse aim to a sense of shame, had en deavor<:d to extract a promise of reform, i<ut all her efforts had met with failure. But now, at last, she was to see the iruit for which she had toiled. Ben, the incorrigible loafer and tippler, «\as before her, listening wit:i bated breath and eager attention to her discourse on the advantages of total aostmen< e.

■Elated by the knowledge, she resumed her liarangue. "Just as the master-key opens a'! looks, so does a life of temperance open all dorrs of happiness. A comfortable

homo. a loving wife, contented little ones--all these are the rewards that come '.o the man who resolves to vie!.l \ «D liiiiia to the seductions of strong I drink.' Be i rank back in his chair as the lecturer repeated the 'familiar arguments. Miss i'crkins levelled most of her r» marks at him, watching hopefully x'or further signs of the revolution that she thouiTlt was taking place within him. But he displayed no more emotion, an- 1 it whs with a feeling of disappointme.it that ?he closed her speech. "(J.-ui I have a word with 'ee, ma'am?" Ben :u(' walked round to the platform, where Miss Perkins was seated, listening to the inspiring words of another advo-Mtc of the cause she had so minh at heart. , "Certainly, Ben." she answered, stepping down with alacrity. "Tint, were a powerful line speech /« made, sna'ani," "began Bon. "I'm glad you thought so. And no v I hope you are going to act on my advice a.:d lead a steady, sober life." "Ye;, indeed, ma'am.' answered Bsn with k.-'vor. "T!u; is right," said Miss Perkins, nodding her head approvingly. "And we will all help you. "Thank 'ee, ma'am. Ye be very kind.'' He hesitated a moment, looking thoughtfully on the ground, and then asked, :I I wonder if 'ee would lend me that key for a bit?"

"Lend you the key?" repeated M'ss Perkins, in surprise. "Why do vou want that?"

"Well, ye see, Jem Saddler and me .-e great pals, and we be both too fond ■ a drop 0' drink. And I were thinking ae I were sitting there that I wished he could hear the wonderful words ye were saying.'' "Yes," said Miss Perkins with an eacouragicg smile. "But what has that, to do with the key?" "I thought if ve'd be so kind as tc lend me it I could show him what you've been showing us." "There will be another temperance meeting on Friday night, when I shall speak again. Would it not be better to wait till then?" "Oh, ma'am." said Ben reproachfuUv, "and this be only Monday." Miss Perkins flushed at the rebuke. "Suppose I come and speak to him myself?" ' Ben shook his head doubtfully. ] "No, ma'am. I don't think that wo i'd do, either. Jem be a queer fellow aud likely as not he wouldn't listen to 'ee. I But there, never mind, if ye can't spare the key." He turned away sorrowfully. "Of course you can have it," cried Miss Perkins, in haste. "Thank 'ee, ma'am, I'll never forget your kindness," was the grateful answer.

He pocketed the key and walked briskly towards the door. "Come back, Ben. Here are the locks."

"All, jlus't fancy me forgetting o' them, lain't got iriuch of a headpiece," Leaving the hall, he hurriecf through the village, heedless now of the cold and rain. ''Jem, Jem!" he cried, knocking impatiently at the door of his friend's cottage. ? "What be the matter now?" asked Jem, who still showed traces of sullciness. "I've got the key. Come on>" sa'.d Ben, gleefully displaying his treasure. "How did 'ee get it? I thought Martha took it with her."

"This be another. A master-key—one as opens any door. Come on quick." Jem waited for no second invitation, and in a very short time the two m;n were seated in Martha's cosj' kitchen, i "Miss Perkir.s be a very good woman," ' said Ben reflectively, as he filled his glass for the third time. ] "Do ce think so ?" '

"Yes. And don't 'ee go showing an -ungrateful spirit, man. Ii it hadn't been for Miss Perkins, vvheije would ye V now ? Why, moping at home, 6~ course, with never a drop of anything to com , fort ye." I

"I think I shall cad at Ben's cottage fo>- the key," said Miss Perkins to her brother at the close of the meeting. "It is a most effective illustration, and .1 shall use it at the next gathering." "Why, Martha! What does this mean?" she asked, opening the door of the little house inhabited by Ben and . liis wife. Martha, with flushed, angry face, was 1 storming violently at her husband, who sat at the table smiliag in a helpless lnit friendly way. I "Look at him," cried Martlia, indignantly. "I locked the door and took the key with me. oecause I knew whit he'd be at if I left him alone with tJie new barrel o' beer. But some intert-T-' ing busybody must lend him a key aad i this be the result." j Miss Perkins looked in dismay fro ti • one to the other. For once, words failed her, and she left the cottage in silence. i

Ben staggered down the garden pa- L h tieliind her. "Here be the Key and thank ; ee, ma'am," he said genially. "And dan't 'ee mind being called a busybodv. Martha don't know as it were you, and I won't let on."

Then, with a reassuring nod arid smile, be shuffled back into the house,