The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-11-17
The Story of an Old Clock,


known as the Beech Grove neighbor.
hood dwelt Nathan Colerain and his
maiden sister, now past middle life. She
| is Miss Patsy COlerain, or aunt Pat
sy," as she is known to her neighbOrs
and friends. She is a lady of great re-
finement and bears traces of remarka-
ble youthful beauty. She has not gone
beyond the precincts of her own yard
in over thirty years. There is a tragic
story connected with her estrangement
from the world. In the spacious hall Of
the COlerain residence stands an old
clock, of the grandfather" species. The
pendulum Of this clock has been motion
less since fateful night in 1864, when
1t played an important part in bloody
tragedy that broke Miss Patsy Cole
rains heart and enveloped her life in a
pail OF gloom that will never be lifted
this side of the grave.
In 1864 Miss Patsy Colerain was con-
sidered one of the handsomest young
women in Nelson County, Kentucky. OF
an old-line family, wealthy in her own
after, and had su!tors by the score. OF
course, she had but one choice, and that
was Reuben MOrehead, a descendant of
one Of Kentucky's Governors. Young
Morehead was an orphan, who had
been reared by neighboring farmer.
Patsy had known him all her life, and
had loved him as far back as she could
remember. The war broke out, and
Reuben took up arms for the North.
Then followed sad days for the young
girl. Her father sickened and died, and
her only brother was in the far South,
battling for the Confederacy. Thus she
was left with only the faithful negro
slaves and nephew barely in his teens.
at this time the neighborhoOd was
full of guerrillas. Sue Mundy and his
gang were terrorizing that entire sec
ton. and soldiers and civilians alike
were falling victims at their hands. The
outlaws were frequently at the COlerain
home, and, while Patsy had never suf
fered any indignities from them, she
was in constant terror lest she might.
OhS III 1COf, hiSS i
COlerain was sitting before a cheerful |
fire, when suddenly the door opened
and young Morehead, attired in a hand |
some uniform, stood before her. Be
fore she could speak the young soldier |
caught her in his arms and showered
kisses upon her blushing face. The two |
lovers talked together of the days when |
war would be over and they should be |
united never to part, and were happy in |
each others company, when suddenly |
the sounds of horses feet startled them. |
On looking out the window Miss Cole. |
rain was Mortified to see the yard filled |
with half-drunken guerrillas. 1t was |
Sue Mundy and his gang. They were
soon at the door clamOring for admit. |
tance. 1t was sure death for Reuben
if the guerrillas set their eyes on him.
What to do with him was perpleXing
problem. Suddenly bright idea struck
the young girl and she pointed to the |
clock. Reuben lost no time in getting
into the barrel of the timepiece and his
sweetheart fastened the door, Then
sic duihitttu thc hlSu, NHO, swearing |
and cursing, demanded food She had
hardly left the dining room to get it
when she heard the report of firearms,
and hurrying back she was just in time
TO see the murderous outlaws dragging
the dead body of her lover from the old
clock. AT this juncture came the tramp
Of horses and more firing and commo.
lion and then to Patsy blank.
For weeks she lowered between life
md death, victim of brain fever, and
when the disease left her she was but
wreck of her former self Then she
heard the story of how they came tc
ind her lover. She neglected to conceal
ls Overcoat and gloves and when the
.uerrillas discovered them they started
, search for the young soldier. The
after threw open the door of the clock.
presumably with the hope of maxim:
lis escape, when he was shot and in
;tantly killed. About this time de
achment of young Morehead's com
nand swooped down upon the guerril
as and put them to flight.