The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-01-27

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'No," answered Prudence. 'T would
not think for a moment of selling my
clock. 1t belonged to my grandfather. +"
LET me see it." said the stranger.
''i'm interested in these old clocks. The
folks in the large cities have taken a
notion to 'em lately, an I'm buying 'em
up for firm in Harrisburg"
''He entered the kitchen as he spoke,
and Prudence, after a moments heSita-
ton, led the way into the hall.
The clock stood at one side of the
hall door. 1t was eight feet tall, with
enormous wooden ornaments on the top
resembling antlers, and door half way
down the case, that, when opened, dis
| closed two great iron weights on chain
pulleys and big brass pendulum that
swung slowly back and forth with
solemn "tickl tick !" that some people,
alone in the house, would have found
unbearable. But Prudence liked it. She
was as fond of the old clock as if it had
been living thing, and had never
thought of herself as an inmate of Johns
house without a mental vision of the old
clock there, too.
''rhis would Just suit lady that's
been after me for one" said the man,
looking admiringly at the old-fashioned
face of the clock, with its wreath of flow
ers encircling the lower part, and big,
jolly-faced moon at the top. "Come,
now, you'd better sell it. Pm willing to
! give you fifteen dollars for it."
Prudence shook her head.
"My grandfather left it to me when he
iaH ~ ho i
The man argued the matter with her
for little while, but finding her firm,
| finally went away.
That afternoon, when dinner was over
and the house put in order, Prudence
dressed herself in her best muslin gown
and went out to take a walk. Her
mother looked after her with some curl
osity as she closed the gate behind her.
1t was Prudence's custom to sit down at
her sewing when the work was done.
| She seldom went out except to attend to
some necessary purchases, which were
always discussed openly before she left.
She had never before gone out without
assigning some good reason for it.
"What said bout that girl kinder
stirred her up, expect" commented
Mrs. Dennison, who would have been
greatly amazed had she known that it
was for the purpose of seeing the girl in
question, and judging for herself of her
superior charms, that Prudence had gone
out.
Her walk was not in vain. AS she ap.
preached Mrs. Peck's house, she saw a
lovely vision on the front porch-a tiny
creature with a quantity of golden hair
piled on top of her small head; deli
cate, pale face, and graceful figure ar
rayed in some soft, white material gath
cred in at the waist with a very broad
cardinal sash.
Prudence did not doubt for moment
that this was Mrs. Peck's boarder, and
her heart sank like lead in her breast.
Was it any wonder that John admired
this dainty creature2 He would have
been less than a man if he had not. And,
oh. how different she looked from any
girl Prudence had ever seen before
Poor Prudence Her life had been q
very quiet, monotonous one, and she had
never known the necessity for pretty
dresses and gay ribbons. She had al
ways bought only what was absolutely
necessary in the way of personal raiment,
and her selections had invariably been
made with view to durability and econ
omv. She had never owned a sash in
her life, nor pair of slippers, and she
had worn her chestnut hair In the same
quiet fashion for the past ten years.
She walked past the house very slow
ly, and kept straight down the street
until she reached the open country. Their
she sat down under great tree in a Sc
cluded lane, and tried TO think calmly
over this new phase in her quiet life-a
phase she had never dreamed would en-
ter it.
1t WAS almost dusk when she reached
home, and she passed through the
kitchen without speaking to her mother
who was setting the table for supper
AS with a settled purpose, she entered
the gloomy parlor on the right of the
hall, and threw open the shutters. There
was an old-fashioned mirror between
the windows, and after moments
hesitation she stepped before il anc
looked in. She stood motionless a lonl
time her dark eyes strangely troubled
her slim, brown hands ciasped before
her.
With heavy sigh she turned away a
last, and looked about her. Everything
was the worse for wear, in spite of care
full usage; for the parlor had been fur
nished when Mrs. Dennison had com,
to the house a bride, forty years before,
On the mantel were the little china or
|, naments Prudence had received as birth
day and Christmas gifts when child.
''Im getting on, as mother said.
can see that now. l never thought 0
it before. But couple of new dresses
bright rbbons-those things count TO
p good deal with man, suppose. III
don't know it, perhaps, but he is in
= fluenced by them"
Thus murmuring to herself, Prudenc
advanced TO the windows to close tn
shutters, but paused as she saw tn
stranger with the red mustache standin
outside.
"Came back to see if you had change
your mind about that clock" he said
, with a familiar smile.