The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-03-23

have actually undertaken to wind it mp
once year. =
''You have received q great deal Of in
formation in return, snid the ghost cheer
fully
(which will never be of the slightest
use to nue., I answered sadly, for the
apple was eaten and the family troubles
were before me.
II wish, / remarked to the philoso-
pher, that you could induce your friends
to behave with little moro moderation
when they come to see me next 2
~ viii use all my influence in that
direction he answered, with polite
bow OF farewell The dawn was break
ing, and like puff of cold wind, he went
past me to his subtcrranean dwelling.
next had an interview with Tirnpkins,
and tried to put the situation before him
cheerfully. We engaged new servants,
who were to arrive in eight days, and for
the next few nights we put up with the
ghosts as we'll as we could. Timpkins
stood by me manfully during the period,
and when the clock had run down peace
prevailed.
The year that followed was q pleasant
one. Nobody mcddled with the clock, and
the ghosts practiced their parts silently
underground. I liked my uneleis house,
and enjoyed the use of his fortune. I
almost forgot at times that it included a
collection OF phantoms. But tho months
went on, and the season came when was
obliged to face my difficulties. I dis
missed my servants for ten days holiday
and shut up all the house except my own
rooms. engaged Timpkins to remain
with me during the awful week for q fee
of 100 guineas; this money was to buy his
silence also
81 am afraid, Timpkins, - said, sadly,
"that we may expect the ghosts again. I
am obliged-er-to have little talk with
them -
That's a pity, SIR" said Timpkins,
with an air OF gloom. SIT isn't well to
give too many liberties to them creatures.
The old master never did it. and it isn't
good for 'eIn, gives them notions and puts
them up to mischief
1T won't happen often, I answered,
alphabetically, 'only once year.
"Once a year. Indeed, sir, that's very
bad" said Timpki1is, severely. He de
parted then, and / was left alone with the
clock.
/ took the key in my fingers, and I
looked at the innocent timepiece with
hatred. Something very like murder was
in a thousand fragments? Such was GER
tainly my inclination, but I doubted the
wisdom of indulging it. The ghosts
would regard such an act of violence as q
destruction of their agreement with my
uncle, and would swarm all over the
premises at once and forever. At present
they seemed to have the impression
foolish creaturesD that ] had the power
of keeping them to their treaty as my
uncle would have done, and of enforcing
penalties for breech of contract. 1t
was as well that they should remain in
this delusion; / had no wish to destroy it
by any rude shock, nor to enlighten them
as to the real doubts of my weakness and
the poverty Of my resources. No, would
do no act of violence; l would keep my
word with the phantom philosopher and
wind up the clock; therefore l began my
task with self control and outward calm
ness. But the works were rusty; the
damp had got into the inner chimney wall
during the recent rains and had damaged
the clock. Still l persisted in my consei-
entious efforts to turn the key; still the
clock resisted. Then suddenly there was
a crack and a whirr, and the key turned
round with the greatest ease, for the main
spring was broken.
Salk dOWH III Tue easy cndlf anu rang I
the bell for the butler, who came running
in alarm.
''Timpkins, said, incoherently, lyon
can send for the servants as soon as you
like. It's all right; they'll never come
again.
Timplzins looked at tho open clock face,
and at the key in my hand.
81 understand, sir, he remarked, with
significance; II was always sure that had
something TO do with it, You've broken
the clockf' Evidently he approved of
my action; perhaps he thought had done
it on purpose. did not undeceive him.
1t was to the ghosts, and not to him, that
l was answerable.
We sent for tho servants to return to
their duties at once. telegraphed invita-
tons to some of my friends to come and
have jolly week with me; and a jolly
week we mad. l never felt so happy in |
my life, nor so free. Now l can keep my
compact with the phantom without fear.
l shall turn the key round next Christmas
with a light heart, for nothing will follow
And the ghosts have no right to complain,
for the thing happened entirely by acct |
dent. But l shall not have the clock
Inended; that was not in the contract
-IdCmillans MAGAZINE