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

stairs, the clock of st. Marks began To
strike the hour of l.. Standing with
one hand on the knob of the open door.
and with the other holding the basket
containing the Christmas benefaction OF
food for the poor creatures in waiting
below, while yet the last reverberation
from the great bell opposite was trem-
bllng IN the cold, gray air, the clear,
silyery sound of that wedding march,
so ominously silent for just one year,
broke upon her ears from the depths
beneath her. Though faint from the
dreadful surprise and apprehension, she
reached the foot OF the stairway and
sunk down white and speeches. upon
the lowermost steps.
There, grouped before the malachite
table, were the three strolling musicians
regarding with rapturous gaze and erect
ears the wedding procession with its CAV
and dainty accompaniment of Italian
music.
II look ut We sam clock | in Italy
once did see, SAID the man, Struggling
rapid apologies out Of his shoulders,
land say he not 60 for one whole
year; | sail see for ye kind lady We mat
ter is of ye clock. Now he so; stop no
more-here is We key. AdGio SigRora"
The effect of the sudden shock upon
Mrs. Montgomery's nerves had now
passed away, and rising to her feet and
offering the man the basket of food. to-
gether with her purse, besought him in
his own language TO remain and show
her what he had done to bring that
clock to life again. The Italian ex-
planned that ne had simply opened a
little compartment hitherto shut out
from the widows observation by It's
little gothic window door, and in it find
ing the key, he had merely wound up
the intricate machinery Of the instru-
ment.
He again pressed the spring conceal
ed in the tracery of the miniature
church window, wnen it few open, dis
closing not only the key but also fold
ed paper lying snugy beside it. The
young widow quickly drew 1t out, and
dismissng the Italian and his now thor
ouehly warmed children with renewed
thanks, proceeded to read the contents
of the paper, which she found to be adj
dressed to herself. Ii contained long
list OF Jacob Montgomery's hitherto
private charities, accompanied with the
request that his widow should keep
them up should she be SO disposed.
The document ended with an affection
ately expressed desire that after pro-
per time she should send for her old
lover, marry him and be happy.
Strangely enough, this proposed mar
riage at once became repellant to the
young widow. She now saw her cccen-
tric husbands character in new light,
and resolved to make the carrying out
of his benevolent purposes her life
work. The pitiful efforts of her hus-
band in his last moments to call atten-
ton to the clock, was to acquaint her
with the Whereabouts of that paper, and
to make ii known that the clock need
ed winding. At the very last it ap-
peared that his acute perception had
detected the fact that the intricate works
of the instrument had run down, and
all his remaining vitality was consumed
in the effort to convey the TACT TO his
attendants. She at once set about the
work that had been put into her hands
by such curious train of circumstan-
ces, and when, just a day before the
next Christmas carillons rung out from
the spire of st. Marks, the news came
to her that her old lover had married
an Italian signora, just one pang OF lin
gering remorse visited her heart, and
the past was forever buried.