The record-union., 1896-04-05
THOMAS CATHRO'S CLOCK.

Anomas Cathro's years were twenty
ms and he was fairly master of the
alt or clock-making. Under the wise
eo.uance Of his father, and aided by a
oluraiiy serious and well-balanced
iperament Of his own, he had en-
ployeo the years of his apprenticeship
~ Weu as to have gained repute as a
eAllltul and original workman. Before
settling down in his little town in the
uiiolands of Scotland, he proceeded to
-1onoon, and, after a stay of about a
year there, to Paris. In that city he
worked out into practice a subtlely con-
waved Improvement in the mechanism
VI watches, which he sold for consid-
cradle sum of money to a famous house,
rem1tting the proceeds to the Bank OF
Scotland In Edinburgh to be held in his
name. With the fame of this achieve
ment, and the greater possibilities it be-
toKened, he next passed with high rec
concentrations to Geneva There he in
eIatiated himself by his curious admix-
ture OF modesty and knowledge. His
strongly marked features spoke of self
reliance; and in his eyes there seemed
always lurking a gleam Of suppressed
wrath, which changd into a grave smile
when he was spoken to.
One day, while standing in the shop of
the firm with whom for the time he had
some connection, he was shown by the
chief note which had just been handed
IN. 1t contained request for a careful
and superior workman. to be sent to ex-
anime an old clock which had suddenly
stopped working. The signature to the
note, entirely written in feminine
hand, was "E. Dundas-Leblanc."
There is something Scottish in the
FAMILY; would you like to go?" asked
the proprietor
The house indicated was pleasantly
situated on slope about a mile from
the town, and stood in it's own grounds,
which were attractively laid out in gar
Gen and terrace On being admitted
and shown upstairs, and thence by a
somewhat long and narrow passage into
a room furnished as if for no particular
purpose, Thomas Caenro found himself
In the presence of a young lady whose
age he judged to be about his own. For
eign experience had softened his Scot
tish stiffness without making him pill
ant, at least conventionally so. His
and not assertive, but still the outcome
OF a distinct personality.
Il come from Monsieur Hartmann,
mademoiselle''
Yes. You are a careful Workman
she asked.
Certainly; am careful workman
There was a slight emphasis laid on the
last word, that caused the young lady
to look at him with some attention.
II beg your pardon she said; Il hope
! conveyed no disgrace in calling you a
workman"
'None, mademoiselle. 1 am a careful
man in my work.
AS he turned to look at the clock. the
young lady again regarded him with
some curiosity. This is the clock" she
said. 1T stopped suddenly yesterday.
1t is very old. 1t belonged to my
mother, who held it in great reverence.
She gave it to me at her death, with
particular injunctions not to tamper
with it; to wind it regularly, and to
keep it upright. 1t was to be moved as
little as possible, and if anything went
wrong (although she thought it would
go all my life, as it had done during
being repaired. My mothers wishes
are sacred she continued, "and for the
clock itself have now the same strange
respect that she had"
IT honlas listened gravely, and with
such interested attention that the
young lady was won by his sympathy.
She remarked he had fine, strong
face, full of gentle expression.
He opened the panel door and touched
the pendulum oh" she cried, lit
goes!"
NO" he answered, shaking his head
with a grave smile and looking at her,
''that is the click of a dead clock
'Dead?"
For the present. Clocks have the ad-
vantage over US; they may stop beating
out time, and yet be made to resume. ]
must be careful He repeated this
without any smile, but rather with
sympathetic assurance.
You are not a Swiss?" she asked
having observed some defects in his
French idiom.
NO / am Scot"
"Indeed!" she said. 81 am half Scot
fish; my best half" she added, quickly
and smilingly in English.
Yes" he answered in the same
tongue, wherever the Scottish is mixed
1t shines forth the best, or Che chose
the word after pause, during which
he continued to peer into the mechan-
isrn) "protrudes the worst-in that case
very bad"
my Scottish part is Dundas."
"A good name; an historical one"
He removed the pendulum, saying:
IT must take it all down.
"You were trying to avoid doing SOP
she asked
"Yes. if possible. for what you told
me-"
"Well, never mind My mother seemed
superstitious about it. So am l, but
trust you now
..Oh, but l will not harm it," He
paused In his work of detaching the
movement after a little and added
This is very old and finely made
case. 1t is careful work of art
Yes; / have heard her say all that
It has been in her family for very
long"
sSee." he said, pointing, here is g
motto beneath the movement on the
case, Gang steady, gang lang Yor
know what 1t means?"
"Yes; but / did not know it was
there
1T was true artist did that. He pu
1t there out of mortal sight as charm
for the clock itself, as If it were a liv.
ing thing to be reminded and take
thought"
The girl gazed steadily back in hi:
eyes as he watched hers for the effec
of his remark.
why are you clockmaker?" sh,
said.
..Vhaf better trade could I be of