River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-08-13

But it's two years and mere til
November Il, 1899, said voice ~ ids
side
Tommy merely east an indifferent
look upon the speaker and walked of
without a word.
The whole village now thought that
Tommy had become a monomaniac
upon the subject of his tombstone
Perhaps he had
No one had been able to learn from
his friend Billy Skidmore, what
thoughts he may have communicated
to the latter upon the matter.
Tommy now lived for no other ap-
parent purpose than to visit his tomb
stone daily. lie no longer confined his
walks thither to the pleasant days He
went in weather the most perilous to
50 old and frail man.
One Of his prospective heirs took suf-
ticient interest in him To advise more
care of his health.
Il can easily keep alive till the time
comes. returned the antique; there's
only year left
Rapidly his hold upon life relaxed.
\ week before November II, 1890. he
began to speculate as to whether his
unique prediction-or. should say, his
would be fulfilled to the very
day.
Upon the fifth day OF his Illness
death threatened to come before the
time that had been set for receiving
him.
Isn't this the loth2- the old man
mumbled.
NO" said his housekeeper, who.
with one of his nieeeS. the doctor and
Billy Skidmore, attended the i'll man;
Its only the 9th"
Then ] must fight for two days
more. The tombstone must not lie. "
And he rallied so well that it seemed
as if the tombstone would lie, never
theless, for old Tommy was still alive
at 1880 on the night of November II.
Moreover, he had been in his senses
when last awake. and there was every
likelihood that he would look al the
clock whenever his eyes should next
open.
''IIe cant live till morning; that's
sure. " said the doctor
But. good Lord, you don't mean to
say he'll hold out till after twelve
o'clock?" said Billy Skidmore, whose
anxiety only had sustained him in his
grief at the approaching dissolution of
his friend
Quite probably" replied the doctor.
Good heavens. Tommy won't res
easy in his grave if he doesn't die on
the 18th. The monument would be
wrong
"oh, that don't matter" said the
niece.
Billy looked at her in amazemeut
Was his old friends sacred wish to mis-,
carry thus?
Yes: twill matter" he said. in =
loud whisper. And if time won't wais
for Tommy of its own accord, wen
make it When did he last see the
clocll?"
"IIalf-past nine" said the house
beepef.
''Then Wen turn it back to ten, sai';
Skidmore, acting as he spoke.
''Bub he may hear the town clock
strike.
Billy said never word, but plunged
into his overcoat, threw on his hat, and
hurried out into the cold night.
Ten minutes TO midnight. he said,
as he looked up at the town clock upon
the church steeple. Can | skin up them
ladders in time?"
Tommy awoke once before the last
slum Der. Billy was by his bedside, rs
were the doctor. the hOuSekeeper and
the niece. The old mans eyes sought
the clock.
Eleven" he murmured. Then he
was silent, for the town clock had be-
gun to clang. He counted the strokes
eleven. Then he smiled and tried to
speak again.
"Almost-live out-birthday -seven-
ty-tombstone--al right"
He closed his eyes, aud, inasmuch as
the town clock furnishes the official
time for Rearward. the published re
port of Tommy McGuff 5 going records
that he passed at twenty-five minutes
after eleven D. m. Novem Der II, 1890.
Very few people knew that time
turned back one hour and a half in or
der that the reputation of Tommy Me-
Guffy's tombstone for veracity might
be spotless in the eyes of future genera
tons.
Billy Sl1idmore. the sexton. arranged
to have Rearward time ready for the
sun when it rose upon the following
morning.-R. y. Stephens. in Philadel-
phia Press