The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-28
THE STORY.
Told by q New Years Clock.


Yes, there were grand times here in
the old hall in masters day, and it is
hard, say, to outlive ones usefulness
To be sure l go on ticking away the
hours when any one attends to me reg
ularly, but no one seems to remember
that clock has habits and requirements
as well as other creatures. Why, when
nv master. the Colonel, lived here at
the Burs, his OWL hands wound me up
tight just as certain as nine o clock came
on Saturday. OF course 1 stop, get out
of order and forget to strike RI ght when
they wind me at odd times, and some
times neglect me altogether. 1t was a
sad time to US all when he had that
stroke of paralysis, and could only sit,
ike beaten old hulk, yonder in his
armchair, and in a weak, altered voice
gave directions about his affairs. Then
Miss Agnes sat by him like shadow,
wheeled him about, opened the mail
bag, read him his letters, cut flowers
every morning for his plate at break
fast, and silently anticipated every want.
1t was she now who climbed upon q
hassock Saturday night to wind up the
clocks She had TO get Dorkins, the
butler, to hold chair for her when she
attended to the hall clock. great lum-
bering I'D thing hundred wears old.
more or less, that put on frightful airs
because It had stood in the hall when
master was born. when old master, the
ColonerS father. died. and when Young
Master Roland was born. But it cot 10
striking wild when the shadow of evil
hung over the Burs and making the
servants and the housekeeper shake in
their shoes. Master would turn white
and smile in queer way when he heard
it, and would allow no one to correct it.
Master Roland was hot and heavy set
against it. and often talked about hay
ing II carted away altogether. but his
father would not hear OF it.
That clock has sounded every mo-
ment of my life, sir, and / want it TO
mark every hour until | am gone. 1t
will be time enough then TO send it
away from the old house: but if | have
my own way it shall never be moved
until the last EdgewOrth passes away"
Which was as good as law. No one
dared to dispute Colonel Edgeworth's
viii as long IS those piercing black eyes
had power to dart anger and scorn or
his lips frame words of bitterness and
command.
l remember well the night Miss Agnes
came She was wee white thing in
long gown with the wondering gray
eyes you see in the pictures of saints.
and Heaven gave them to her She
was brought in by Mrs. Compartments.
the housekeeper, in basket. which had
haar, lar- TrzfIn -, l.
doors al dusk one night by a forlorn
yoang thing as hadn the nerve to ring
the bell and say: Take care of nv
babe; her name is Agnes. and she is
lawful child, and i, her wretched
mother, cannot keep her, and curses
light on them that do her such wrong
as have suffered" But she writes It
in fine lady-lke hand, and pins it on
the little things bosom, along with a |
lock Of her hair, very pretty tress it |
was, and hung about the baby's neck, |
and there it was always shining, day |
and night; and often wet with her tears,
although all that any cherished daugh-
ter could have had from master she had. |
III never forget his words to Mrs. |
Cowperthwait as she brung her to him. |
as he sat by this very fireplace LISTENING |
to the birch logs swapping on the brass /
andirons, while / was lust about N
strike nine, and it was Christmas Eve
and the clouds, lowering all day. had
opened and the white snow was drift
ing down on the lawn and the avenue
Of frs.
Use her well, Mrs Cowperthwait.
Sod took away my little girl. and now
He has sent me another As | deal by
her, 50 Heaven deal by me-
AND ever there was an oath kept
religiously, Colonel Edgeworth kept
this one But there was dark blood
running in the EdgeworthS. Master
knew il well. and the harm that came
% Miss Agnes fell through him at last
Master Roland was a young. fair
barrel boy then, as much like his moth
er IN looks as two peas-you can see
their portraits side by side in the old
gallery stalrs-b but he was as unlike her
IN hesrf .' if he had been gypsy. He
made a piaything of Miss Agnes. and I
when she learned to toddle about he \
mad rare games here at the hall with
her be could not live out of her siobt
and their merry voices rang thro1ob i
the Old rooms, and master smiled as he 4
heard them.
One day when the post came there
was terrible letter. Standing on the J,
rug Juss facing me, master read It and I I,
never !. see such look as flashed over
nim' even to the roots of his eoal-black