The record-union., 1896-04-05

entered Thomas, with the lighted
taper in his hand, made as il he were
still engaged in examining the works of
the clock.
"WeI," said the tall woman, in
French, to her sister, lis the venerable
object going again?"
Yes, Charlotte; 1t goes as well as
ever"
"And your worship Of it also as be-
fore pr
'As before, sister,"
ut is an old clock, is it not?" she
asked, addressing the clockmaker.
Yes, madam; very old"
1.-The case is curious, but the move
ment must be antiquated. Why not have
a new one?"
They have worn so far together; it
would be pity to separate them now" :"
You also?" she said, laughing. some
what stridently for a woman. But it
is excused with you; you are clock
maker"
"Only a clockmaker, madame"
.'Well," she said in the same gibing
tone, "let your bill read: To repairing
and IDOL and my foolish sister will pay
you handsomely.
"'Tis the same price for idols, ma
dame, as for new gods; the proper time
of day is everything"
The woman looked sharply at the
clockmaker Thomas Cathro stood
there with his pockets full Of alien
mystery. The clock was ticking brave
ly; there was no excuse for longer stay
He turned to the girl: will you then
have the case waxed, as I suggested?
1t will preserve it."
"Yes, please" she answered at once.
II will come tomorrow, if conven-
lent"
VERY well; at the same hour"
'At the same hour, mademoiselle.
"But that is cabinet maker 50 work, +"
said the elder sister.
Il understand perfectly about wood
work, madame He bowed respect
fully, and took his departure.
In the evening as he sat in his own
little room overlooking the lake, note
was brought him by an elderly woman,
who, before delivering it, made certain
by many questions of his identity. 1t
ran thus: 'This is sent you by faith
full old servant You will please read
the letters and tell me their import to-
morrow. I hear you ask, Must I do
this?' I say Yes. Your Friend"
Thomas Cathro's task kept him awake
all the night. The mere reading Of the
letters did not occupy long, for they
were not very numerous; but the story
set forth in them so wrought on his
sympathy and Imagination, that he re-
read it, pondered it, and realized it, till
it took possession Of him, and would not
go from his mind.
Dinner over, he set out for the house
OH the hill, purchasing on the way, with
g grim laugh, some polisher's wax and
cloths. Almost at the gate Of the villa
he stood still suddenly, struck by a
thought which caused him to take from
his pocket the smaller bunch of notes,
and detach the one which bore the
woman's piteous prayer for mercy in
heaven. This he put in his waistcoat
pocket and went on.
The young lady received him upstairs
with her former distant courtesy, but
once in the clockroom she held out her
hand for him to take, and said merely,
"Well?"
Thomas looked about him meaningly.
NO." she said, divining his glance,
impossible. This, you observe, is an
annex. No one can come near save by
that passage, and It cIeaks to the light
est foot
''Then will begin TO polish the clock, -
he answered. s
Look at my eyes," she said, setting
herself before him. IT have not slept"
Why? What have you to do with
love-tales dead and gomez"
LAS much as you have to do with an
cient clocks. You speak worshipfully
Of clocks, imagine them alive, give them
souls, come here like returned spirit,
draw secrets from them, probe my
mothers heart and mine; and now, will
you, like blank fate. keep silence. and
hold the dead and living uneasily in
your power?"
You may read as 1 have done" he
said.
"Ay; but not understand like YOU"
How old are you?" he asked sud-
denly.
TWENTY-FIVE"
What month and year were you born
in?"
I'm 1873, on the 14th Of February"
"St. Valentines Day?"
Doubtless; what tnen?"
Nothing; nothing at all. Listen;
your mother was younger than you now
are when she loved and was loved by
youth called Archibald Dennistoun.
They wrote beautiful letters to each
other full OF pure affection and hope.
But the youth was a soldier, a Prince
Charles man, and followed his King
abroad. He got mixed up in political
intrigues in the Stuart cause when it
was already dead, past all hope of res
direction. For his faiths sake he loved
it the more. That is why your mother
also came to France. He was seized in
England, tried, imprisoned, his estates
confiscated, himself ruined ALI that is
in the letters, and the last from prison
is the highest, bonniest scott at fortune
one could wish to read. Your mother
was to wait till time or fortune set him
free When or how he was liberated
appears not, but 1t is clear he found
her out in Geneva here twenty-I mean,
many years after-and he seems to have
haunted her Honestly, 1 doubt not;
never fear it, Miss Dundas. And then
it would seem he went away for ever.
That is all. And now, will you follow
my advice?"
What Is it?''
True, blind promises were never
Scots dealing. Put everything back in
it's place, and never disturb it again. Do
you say yes?"
Yes
Now let me wax the case and go.
Shortly I return to Scotland. I have
seen all the Swiss can do, and can do
as good as his best at home. But look