Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-01-15

INTO another show of eccentricity. He
stralshtway turned night into day by
receiving his visitors at midnight pre-
clsely. 1t was not long before these
nightly l. o'clock receptions became
rather unpopular. Those who did
come, however, were politely received
ny Mr.. and Mrs Montgomery
with rare girlish beauty, set off by the
most elaborate and richest costumes.
and he in the beggarly garment of a
tatter-demalion-av very suggestive COM
mentary on his requted wealth, Some
people thought that Jacob Montgomery
seemed both proud and fond of his
wife, while others, more observing, per
haps, remarked that he watched her
exactly like cat watching mouse it
has caught and has at clutching length.
One dreary December day, when sad
winds blew up from the sea, and all
nature seemed to be bewailing its lost
youth, Jacob Montgomery was thrown
rom light buggy upon the bare fro
zen earth. When they were taking him
down the steps into his house, he said
with difficulty, Lay me in my ham
mock" After that, although perfectly
sensible, and alive to all surroundings,
except when under the influence of
some of his medicines, he was speech
less.
His mind seemed to dwell upon that
clock, and it appeared as if the poor
old man was vainly trying to make some
thing known about it to his attendants.
At the very last he opened his eyes
from short, fitful doze, gave pitiful
groan, stretched his arms out toward
the malachite table and fell back quite
dead just as the clock in the belfrv of
St, Mark rang out the hour of s.
When young Mrs. Montgomery
turned away from the still swaying death
couch, her eyes fell upon the silver face
of the Florentine clock. Witt a sharp,
quick cry she grasped the doctors arm,
and with a tremulous intonation ofawe
in her voice, called his attention to the
fact that the clock had stopped just the
moment the life had gone out of the
hand of its present owner who alone had
cared for 1t since it had been set up in
this queer, American home. Presently,
too, it dawned upon the fair widows
mind for the first time that day that it
was Christmas, and just year, since
the wonderful clock had come into her
husbands possession.
Immediately after the large funeral.
which was attended from st. Marks. the
beautiful young widow shut herself up
in the queer old house with the deaf
and almost dumb old housekeeper, de
cllned all calls, even those of condo
lence, and spent her time-no one knew
how
At the time Of Jacob Montg omery's
death his lawyer was absent in Califor-
MIA, whittier he had been called on
business only the day before the acct
dent which had 80 speedily caused his
eccentric clients decease. When he
arrived home, however, be Immediately
addressed note to the widow, saying
he would call upon her on the morrow.
This was Z visit by no means to be de
cllned, and, at the hour appointed, Mrs.
Montgomery descended to the great en-
trance hall to receive him. Standing in
her somber trailing robes before the fire.
which was kept burning as usual, she
heard the counselor through.
"Mr. Montgomery willed his entire
estate to you Internationally, madam"
said he. "Iou are very wealthy
woman. But there is clause in the
will, which myself drew, chat refers to
a certain paper that will be found at
the manse giving instructions as to
some details. Do you know where it
is ?'
The wiz ow could give no light upon
the subject whatever; and, although the
mansion was ransacked from top to
bottom, and each individual block of
the marble basement of the huge hall
raised, no such paper or document of
any sort could be found.
Counselor Hungerford, plain, prac-
teal man, tried to reason Mrs. Mont
gomery out of the whimsical mode Of
life she was following One day he said
TO her, 81 am going to send man to-
morrow to examine nd set going that
curious clock Of yours. If there is any
thing to make a person nervous, 1t Is
to stare into the face OF dead clock,
day after day"
There is nothing that would induce
me to have it touched, she exclaimed.
"That clock has history, Mr.. Hunger
ford. Perhaps / had best relate it to
you here and now; then you will I'M
derstand why | feel as | dO--that my
life is a blighted one:
son Christmas day. three years before
| married Mr.. Montgomery, | became
engaged to Herman Clay, young artist
who was previously professor of paint
ing in young ladies seminary where
| taught French and Italian. Although
too poor to marry, we spent a happy
year in each others society and plan
ned for a possible happier future. On
the first anniversary of cur engagement
we had petty difference which grew