The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-31
Brandon Banner.

an old clock
Which has Il history. 1t is over IL hun
dred and fifty years since its French
nlal'cr gave it the finishing touches and
81, Us big pendulum III motion. and IL
century since the brass hands marked
otf the last hours of British supremacy
i'll America. The house was the homo
OF Miss Polly Carter, an eccentric old
creature, y no lived alone and held little
communication with the outside world
She was called Crazy Polly by her
ncighboia, who dislilicd her most heart
lily. She died way back in the fiftcs
ut the advanced age of ninety, and was
promptly buried and as promptly for
gotten.
She was so withercd ard ugly in her
last days that it was difficult to credit
the stories Of her great beauty when IL
girl. II Is said that ut Il grand ball Civ
en in the old Robson manor house, ut
Gonlicrs, an English governor remarked
that She was not only the most bcatti-
tul bat the most charming young Wom-
mn in the Provinces and danced with
her so often that his angry spouse led
him home by the nose
AZ hcr death the diupidatcd house
and woTkcG-out farm passed into the
hands of q granddaughter in the west
who stili owns it. Everything OF value
in the honsc was sold except thc Oh
clock when, with its rusty works and
battered ease, WAS passed by as Il worth
less Poo OF rubbish.
liz t.l al story Of Miss Calter's life
The old clOc.: plays IN Important part
liz the days of the revolution the Carter
house, thon Il fine old place, lay within
the British lines. Col. Carter. It's owner,
was with The continental army. rs WIS
his nephew and his intended son-in-law,
Lieut.. Lawrence Carter. His daughter.
Polly, remained at home under the pro-
lection OF :. maiden aunt.
They were sad days for the poor girl,
days Of anxiety and fear. For weeks
she had received no tidin~S Of either.
father or lover as the ncighborhood
was infested with redcoats and all
means of communication cut off.
One rainy afternoon while sitting be-
fore the ire dreaming of the days when
horrid war should be Thing OF the
past, she was startled by the sudden
opening Of :. door, and the next moment
She vas held in two strong arms and 4
handsonc young officer was kissing the
tears away from her lovely face.
A second later She broke from the en-
brace and cried, her voice qrivcrinp
with fright: "Oh. Larry, Why did You
come? They will catch YOU. The
brutcS arc everywhere" The sentences
were broken by Il Hood of tears but the
young fellow laughed lightly, and talk
= ing her face between his hands he kissed
her again AID said: Never Won fear.
my pet: | ,krow the country too well To
be trapped 10y the bcef-cating Brit
ishcrS It's as safe as Il sanctuary here
and | can ~et back through the lines
tonight. Bat come, come, dry Your
eyes and lets have something To eat.
am as hungry as a bear and as wet as
water rat
Thus rcassurcd, the trembling girl
fastened 20 set food and wine before
her ali-fami>hcd lover, who all the
while was chattcring as gayly as
schoolboy. He had removed his cloak
and the tight fitting uniform showed off
his graceful figure to perfection. He
was strihinGly handsome. and as good
ard honest as he was pleasing to the
eye Polly was a girl OF considerable
experience for her years, and had re-
fused more suitors than one, but she
loved her young cousin dcvotcdly and
stoutly affirmed that he was a better
lover than cousin, which was saying a
good deal. After he had finished eating
he stretched out before the fire and
smoked his pipe as unconcerncdly as if
there had not been an enemy in the