The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-10-08

Wneto 10 could 500 Rogers nee PLAIN
". The puzzled expression that passed
over u and fingered moment was In
describable. Flora had not moved
from her place. and sat. with one hand
upliftcd from the piano keys. listening
intently and wonderingly to the meas.
ured striking. which now seemed
louder than ever. Then we saw
Rogers lips move, and Flora turned
blushing and said something which, Of
course. we could not hear Whatever
IL was. they did not seem TO under
stand each other any better than we
did.
All Of sudden both faces turned
toward the sitiing-room door. Father
was coming! In moment he was IN
the room, in his dressing-gown. and
holding . lamp. Is II hc had been
searching the house over for the cause
OF this unseemly disturbance. What
he said we did not hear II must have
been. something severe. for Flora
blushed reddev than ever. and dcs-
perate CLEAN t$me into Rogers eyes.
Fred and ] began to realize that we
were in something Of scrape. But
we were bound to enjoy it while we
could. and we managed with sharp
enod stick to pry up the window 50
We could hear what was going on.
What ON earth does this mean.
Flora?" shouted father.
Poor Flora had buried her bushes In
her hands. and gave no answer.
Father looked from Flora to Roger
and back to Flora again. and said.
louder than before:
II want an answer; what does all
this mcanf'
"Oh. fatherr' cried Flora. II don I
really know. unless the sitting-room
clock is bewitched.
II have stopped every clock in the
house, I" replied her father in stentorian
| tones.
Rogers face turned white and red by
turns; but he did not attempt to say
any thing. Father turned 70 him:
"Mr. Pettijohn, can You tell me what
this unearthly din in my house at near
" midnight meansP"
Roger had disjointed his flute, and
laid each bright silver section carefully
in its place in the ebony box which he
had himself made for il. As father
finished his question. Roger snapped
down the cover Of the box and re-
torted. stiflly:
If you allude 10 the duet which
Miss Flora and / have been practicing
must at least thank you for as mucf
OF your compliment Is includes myself
II you allude 10 the misfortune which
seems to have Oyertaken your clock
excuse me IL ] tell you that you o.
some Of your household know NOR
about it than do. l wish you a yer,
good-evening. Mr.. Shaw. Good-cven
ing. Miss shaw
And the wratl,ful Mr. Pcttijohn turncs
on his heel. and 4 moment later tn
front door shut behind him with NJ
uncertain sound.
. Miss Shawl" whispered Il
Fred. "Thats murdcrous! He's fear
full mad. or he never would say Mis-
Shaw"
Roger did not whistle As he wake
briskly down the gravel path. w
could Just see his form as he passed !
: the darkness.
When we looked again into the pal
lor Aunt Elizabeth. prim and straigh
: in her morning wrapper, candle
. hand and her eyes swapping an
cleaning like cats back In the darl
stood between father and Flora, lo0I
, ing inquiringly from one to the othel
Mother had also come into the room
her face the picture Of bewildermer
} and despair.
We thought il was time TO draw tn
} curtain on our joke. We CAREFUL
! lowered the window. and. taking
: last look at the distressfnl tableau. hui
ricd into the kitchen. twitched of on
, boots, and fastened upstairs. In
: minute we were well abed. The cloc
was still striking - we dropped OIL
!, sleep.
! Our experiences next morning do ne
I need to be described. We were foun
out, Of course. Flora wore an injure
. air for q week. Father was stern. b.
{ We half suspected that he inwardly al
/. proved our course. Roger Pettijohn
ring did not disturb our door-bcll *
months-
When il was certain that Flora ha
! vanquished all competitors for the hea
, Of her class. Fred and managed TO Il
l him know how ''misfortune' can
: upon our clock. We put the worl
back in the case. and with proper GER
> mony made him q present Of II, and
. was given an honored place in h
{ room. When at the academy con
! mencement Flora borc off the valedis
tory, her largest bouquet had Roger
card neatly attached with blue Ri
: bon.
= III. e,,r.,ssst v,.rt ~ sha offa;r -,