Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-05
S Ell ECT s TO n Y
The Old Clock;
OR RALPH VANE'S WOOING.

The sunset was piling his temples Of fire
and amythist over the dark hills that seemed
to touch the flaming West-the whippoorWill,
moaning its plaintive 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 ola summer twilight
Ralph Vane had stood waiting at the mos
sy stile for two long hours-waiting and
watching in vain.
''She is coming at last-at last p he NUT
tered between his set teeth, as light rust
ling in the bushes struck his ear.
No, it was but robin darting homeward
to its nest, half terrified at being out SO late ;
and once more the deep, peaceful quiet
brooded above the silent meadows
ut is too late," he said, as the village
church chimed nine. 'Sbe Will not come
knowing that am fool. She never loved
me-ske never cared for me, else she would
have came here to tell me goodbye 1t may
be the last time she will ever Look upon my
face. Much she cares, the pretty, deceiving
little coquette-yet / fancied, blind block
head that l have been, that she loved me-
He dashed suspicious drop of moisture
from his eye lashes as he spoke, and plunged
in the dense, fragrant woods as if he would
fain hurry himself away from human kin.
"Such magnificent wild strawberries as |
have found down in the pasture lot, mother.
Only Took p
And Rachel Bensley held up he: apron
full of scarlet berries blushing through silver
green leaves.
She was pretty, rosy-cheeked girl, with
shining black hair, and brown eyes that had
the velvet softness Of a gazelle's-a rustic
beauty, whose sun bonnet was tied as coquet-
tishly under the chin as if it had been a
French chip that had cost forty dollars.
"Put them down, daughter" said Mrs.
Benseley "Widow Moore fas just been
here and what do you think sue says ?"
Il don't know"
She says that Ralph Vane has enlisted
and gone off to the wars. He left the vii
Iage last night"
Rachel sat down, the rosy bloom dying out
of her cheeks and leaving CHASTITY palor be-
hind. "Mother,' she vailed. 'do you be-
lieye that it is true 2"
''l'm afraid SO, daughter. Do not fret-he
isR worth it, to leave you in this sort Of Way
you that he was as good as engaged J
Oh, Rachel, | couldn't have believed it !'
Rachel laid aside her bonnet, and began
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 Benseley, leaning against the
porch piiar drew long breath Of relief
''She don't take it very hard after ALL, he
muttered. 'Fm glad it's all over. Ralph
Vane never would have made good husband
for her."
x
Three years passed away, and Capt Vane
was walking up crowded city street absorb
ed in his own meditations, when suddenly he
stopped.
"Now what was it that brought the wide
old kitchen at Farmer Bensleys SO suddenly
to my mind just then 2" he thought. Il
could take MY oath [ saw the old clock Just
as it used to stand above the chintz- covered
settee. And-hallo! there it is p
There 1t was-ticking monotonously away
IN the window of a dingy little second rate
pawnbroker's establishment on the corner
where two narrow streets met
Following the first impulse ofthe moment,
he opened the door and went in.
"What is the price of that old-fashioned
cioek in the window 2" he asked
THAT clock p said the Jewish looking in
dividual in attendance. sWel, you can
have that clock cheap, bein' there's somethin'
ails the striking apparatus, and it Was such a
shackley old thing We didn't care to have it
oyerhauled. Two dollars for that clock is
sayin' pretty fair"
Il should think 50, observed Capt Vane,