Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-10-06
THAT CLOCK.

Of bronze, with a couple Of Cupids In at
titudes Of charming abandon, the neat.
est Of carved flowers and various other
decorations, all calculated to attract at.
tention and please tho eye.
It stood under q glass globe in a con.
spicuous position in the show window
Of n well known Broadway jeweler, and
as pretty Mrs. Mayblossom, tho wife Of
"a month, passing by with her young
husband. caught sight Of It, she abruptly
paused and gushiagly exclaimed:
"Oh. George, what a lovely clockr'
''Yes, Annie, dear" replied he, ut is
really beautiful"
How ] WISH" said she wistfully,
''that you could afford to buy it. 10
would make such a splendid ornaments
for the parlor mantelpiece."
u would be only too happy to do 80,
but you know, Annie, I'm a young mer.
chant, and whatever resources have
must DO strictly devoted TO business"
She gave a little sigh Of regret, but
urged the purchase no further, and tho
newly married couple shortly afterward
arriving at Mr.. MayblOssom's place OF
business no, after a tender parting from
his wife, entered his store, while she con-
tinued on her way to buy some few nee.
essary things for their recently estab.
lished household.
In spite Of his economic resolutions
the young husband felt strongly inclined
to crafty his pretty wifo's wish, and
when therefore he found lying on his
his desk a letter containing a sum OF
money and was informed by the writer
that it was tho repayment of a loan
which Mr.. Mayblosson had made to q
friend in his bachelor days and long
looked upon rs hopeless he determined
TO invest the money, which was as good
as found, to the purchase Of that clock.
1t did not take him long to return TO
the jewelers. to strike "a bargain, tire
money he had so opportunity received
being Just a little more than the price
asked, and the clock and globe were care.
fully done up in a parcel.
ITO what address shall | send itF'
asked the polite storekeeper.
There is my card" replied Mr.. May
blossom, taking the bit of pasteboard ont
of his cardcase. 81 wish you would send
it at once, as my wife is out, and | de
sire to surprise her by having her sec
the clock on her return home"
II am sorry that it is impossible for
me TO do so. My delivery clerk is alb.
sent and will not return for an hour OF
So"
mo matter. then. Give mo the par
eel"
He took the clock, and having reached
the sidewalk hailed n commissionaire,
who Happened to pass by.
You will take this clock to this adj
dress" he SAID. handing him the parcel
and a card from the cardcase which he
still held in his hand. and here's the
money for your service. Now be of
and see that you execute your errand
promptly and don't you dare to demand
any pay from the lady"
"All right, sir, said tho commission
aire. I'll do the job in a jitfy."
Mr.. Mayblossom returned to his store
in a very blissful state of mind, while
the man glanced at the card for the di-
rection.
"Hello, what's thisY exclaimed he
in some surprise, reading the address,
Miss Priscilla Dusenbury, dressmaker,
$40 - street. "Well, now, who'd
think that suck a fine gentleman would
be sending clocks TO dressmakers? No
matter; that's none Of my business. I've
got my pay in advance, and I'll take her
tho clock"
Now, Miss Priscilla was a charming,
red checked, blue eyed damsel Of 1S or 10
years of age. possessed Of q fair patron
age, good health and q beau who gloried
in tho name of Augustus Tomkins, and
was indeed u clerk in the identical jew
elry store where the clock had been
bought.
She was sitting stitching a robe, hum
ming a song, and with her thoughts cen
tered on her devoted Augustus, spocu-
lating whether he would make his GUS
tomary monday visit, when a knock
sounded ON the door, and opening it she
saw the commissionaire with his parcel
"a present for you, miss" said he.
placing the clsck on the table before the
astonished girl "And such n fine gen.
tleman too. He's paid mo already. !
congratulate you. miss. Good morn
ing"
And before she could evensay "Thank
you" he was gone.
In great surprise Priscilla united the
parcel. and an exclamation Of Joy es-
capped her lips when she beheld its con-
tents.
''The very clock I was speaking to Au-
gustus about. The dear, delightful fell
low has bought it from his employer and
sent it to me. Oh, don't | wish he'd
como today, so that ! could tell him how
muck obliged / nm to him for his spl6n-
did gift"
She arranged the clock on her tiny
mantelpiece and had hardly finished do
ing 50 when there was a second knock
on the door, and in answer to the Come
in" in stalked Mrs. Mayblossom.
She was one Of Priscilla's customers
and had come to SEQ about a dress upon
which tho latter was just then engaged.
Her first glance naturally took In the
clock.
"Oh, Mrs. MACPHERSON" exclaimed
Priscilla, noting tho direction Of hei
eyes, "isn't ii lovely And it was just
uonk % ma "a q uraaank brf "a osonfIouaar