Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-07-14
THE OLD CLOCK; OR, RALPH EANES
WOOLNG.

The sunset was piling its temples Of
fire and amethyst over the dark hills
that seemed to touch the flaming West
the WhippoOrWill, moaning its plaintiye
cadence on the ruinous fence beyond the
old mill, was answered by the ripple of
the stream in the glen below, and the
whole landscape was wrapped in the
sweet, dreamlike repose of a summer
twilight
Ralph Yane had stood waiting at the
messy stile for two long hours-Waiting
and watching in vain.
'She was coming at last-at last?" he
muttered between his set teeth, as slight
rustling in the bushes struck his ear.
Not vas but robin darting home
ward to It's nest, half terrified at being
out so late: and once more the deep,
peaceful quiet broode6s above the silent
meadows.
ut is too late," he said as the village
church spire chimed nine ''She will not
! come now, and [ have the inefable sat
isfaction of knowing that / am fool -
She never loved me-she never cared for
me, else she would have come here to
tell me goodbye. 1t may be the last
time she will ever look upon my face
Much she cares, the pretty, deceiving lit
eoquette-yet l faneied, blind blockhead
that [ have been, that she loved me-
He dashed a suspicious drop of mois-
ture from his eyelashes as he spoke, and
plunged in the dense, fragrant woods, as
if he would fain bring himself away from
human ken.
sSuch magnificent wild strawberries as
have found down in the pasture lot,
mother. Only look !"
| And Rachel Bensley held up her apron
full of scarlet berries blushing through
silver green leaves.
Sho rrirl nth ob1
ing black hair, and brown eyes that had
the velvet sOftness of a gazelle's-a rus
tic beauty, whose sunbonnet was tied as
eoquettishly under her chin as if it had
been a French chip hat that cost forty
dollars.
Put them down, daughter" said Mrs.
Bensley. widow Moore has just been
here, and what de you think she says ?''
II don't know"
and e one of the wars. He left the viii
! lage last night"
Rachel sat down, the rosy bloom dying
out of her cheeks and leaving a CHASTITY
pallor behind.
Mother" she walled, do you believe
| that it is true.
Il am afraid SO, daughter. Do not fret
he isn't worth it, to leave you in this
sort of way-you that he was as good as
engaged to Oh Rachel, | couldn't have
| believed itr'
Rachel laid aside her bonnet, and be-
gan mechanically to pinch the green
stems from her strawberries, but she said
no more. From that moment she never
mentioned Ralph Vane's name. All the
tears she shed were wept in secret.
And Farmer Bensley, leaning against
the porch pillar, drew a long breath of
relief
he muttered; Il am glad its well over
Ralph Vane never would have made a
| good husband for her.
Three years passed away, and Ralph
Vane was walking up a crowded city
street, absorbed In his own meditations,
when suddenly he stopped.
'Now, what was it brought the wide
old kitchen at Farmer Bensleys so sud
denly to my mind, just then?' he thought.
II could take my oath [ saw the old
clock, just as it used to stand above the
chintz-covered settee. And-hallo! there
it isl"
There it was-ticking monotonously
away in the window of dingy little
seeond-rate pawnbroker's establishment
on the corner where two streets met.
] Following the first impulse of the mo-
ment, he opened the door and went in.
what is the price of that old fashion
ed CLOCK III bu6 WlQUOW ne asked.
'sThat clock ?'' said the Jewish looking
individual in attendance. well, you can
have that clock cheap, bein' there's some
thin ails the striking apparatus, and it
was such shackly old thing we didn't
care to have it overhauled. Two dollars
for that clock is. saying pretty fair.
II should think so, observed Capt
Vane, as it probably cost no more than
that when new. However, I'll take it
for the sake of old times" he murmured
to himself. e5
Yes sir; I'll do it up directly"
"By the way, where did you get it?" he
asked, with an affectation of carelessness
which he by no means felt.
"Well, sir, it was left here by respect
able old female, about six weeks ago. I
believe I've got her address somewhere
for she has brought good many little
items here one time and another. Oh
here it is-Rebecca Bensley, No Baker
street.
Ralph Vane laid down his two dollal
bill and walked out of the store, with the
little clock under his arm.
"Why did ask any questions ?'' he
What are they to me? And yet i
gives me a keen pang to think of RacheFs
mother being destitute and in want
When heard of Farmer Bensley's death
/ never tancIed they would be left In IN
, digent circumstances. G
How strange the wooden clock looked
on the carved marble mantle of his elegant
parlor at the st. Ambrose Hotel-how
singular its solemn tick, y tick, blended
with the silver chime of bells and the
rumble of omnibuses on the pavement
below Yet Captain Vane felt his heart
soften as he looked at the time worn dial
Il wonder what, ails the striking
machinery he thought, opening the little
door. Il used to have a genuine Yankee
: facility for tinkering- perhaps it has not
entirely deserted me yet. .
He drew out the dusty weights-they
were wedged in by some stiff paper; he
: examined it more closely.
1.-THE very letter l wrote to Rachel Ben.
sley, three years ago-theletter IintrusteC
to her fathers care, with the seal unbro-
ken STILL"
A flood of light seemed to break in upor
his throbbing brain.
Jacob Bensleyl' he calculated between
his set teeth "may heaven forgive you
for this deed of treachery, for it seems tC
me that [ never can.
| "How late is it, Raehel?"
: six o'clock, mother. Are you better
: "Yes, but my head aches still?"
Il will come and bathe it for you