Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-15

bit Of biography there cngravca.
"Dnt It's two years and more III Nov.
II, 1890, said voice at his side
Tommy morely cast an Indifferent look
upon the speaker and walked Oh without
a word
Tho whole village now thought that
Tommy had become a monomaniao upon
the subject Of his tombstone. Perhaps
he had.
No one has boon able to learn from his
friend, Billy Skldmore. 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 llc no longer confined his
walks thithcr 20 tho pleasant DAYS. Iie
went Ia weather tho most perilous to 40
old and frail n man
ono Of his prospective heirs tool; sufil.
Client interest Ina him to advise moro care
of his health.
II can easily keep alive till tho iime
comes returned the antique. THERE'S
only year left.7
Rapidly his hold upon life relaxed. a
week before Nov. II. 1890. be went TO
bed and staid there People began TO
'pcculatc Us to whether his unique pre-
dictlon-or. should say. bis decree
would DO fulhlled to the very day.
Upon the fifth day OF his illness Death
threatened to come before the time that
had been get for receiving him.
"lsnt this tho i0thY tho old man
mumblcd
mo" said his houseteeper. who, with
ono OF his nieccs. tho doctor, aud Billy
slddmorc, attended tho III man. ITS
only tho 9th"
"Thcn must fight for two days more,
Tho tombstone must not lie
Aud no rallied 80 well that Il seemed
~ " tho tombstone would lie, ncycrihc-
less, for old Tommy was still alive a,
ii3O on tho aight Of Nov. II. Moro.
ovur, no had been Ia his senses when last
awake, aud there was every likelihood
that he would look at the clock whom
ever his eyes should next open.
"lio can't live til morning, that's
sure" said the doctor.
"But, good Lordl you don't mean ia
say ho1l hold out TIL after IL o'clock,
said Billy slsidmorc, whose anxiety only
had sustained him In hts grief at the ap
preaching dissolution OF his friend.
"Quito probably replied tho doctor.
Good heavens, Tommy won't rvs,
easy Ia his grave N ho dogln't die on On,
ilth. Tho monument would bo wrong.
"Oh. that won't matter" said "a.
niece.
Billy looked az her IN amazcmeut
Was hia old frlcnG'a sacred wish to mis-
carry thuH
"Yos, twin natter he said IN a loud
| whisper "And u timo wont wait foi
Tommy Of 10 own accord. wcll make IL
When did he last fco the clock
"lialf past o." said tho housol,ccper.
"Thcn wen turn It back 10 TO-" sai,
skdmoro. acting ~ no spoke
"But no may hear tho town clocl
I strikc.r
Billy rad mover a word, but plungc'
l into his ovcrcoat. throw on his hat az,
I hurried out into the cold night
"Tcn minutes 20 midnight no said
as q looked mp at the town clock upoi
the church stscrlc "Can | skin up then
ladders In timer
Tommy awoke once before tho las
tlumbor Billy was by his bedside, q
were ,ho doctor. the housckcopor and IA
niece Tho old mans eyes sought til
clock.
ELEVEN no munnurcd. Then h
was silent. for the town clock had bcgu
I To olang ilo counted the strokcs-
eleven. Then he SMILED and tried :
tpcnk again.
"Almoit-livc out-blrthday--
seventy --tombstone--al right
llo closed his Dyes, aud, inasmurh a
the town clock furnishes tho official tim
for kearward. the published report 9
Tommy McGuRys going records that h
passed at twenty-five minutes after II /
M, Nov. II, 1890,
Veryfcw people know that time turnc
back ono hour aud half In order thu
tho reputation Of Tommy MoGuAy
tombstone for veracity might bo spotly0
Ia the eyes OF future generations
Billy Slddmote, the sexton, arrange
20 have Rearward time ready for tho m
when IL rusc upon the following NOR
mgr. Y. Stephens In PHILADELPHIA
nrsaa