Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1898-11-17

4 hNI D"N bSNAS
Grant was too great to take Tx
change.
The Story of an Old Clock.
Near Bardstown, KY, in what Is
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-
fnement and bears traces Of remarka-
BILE 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 arrangement
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 a fateful night in 1864, when
it played an important part in a 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. or
an old-line family, wealthy In her own
name, she was naturally much sought
after, and had suitorS by the score. or
course, she had but one choice, n that
was Reuben Morehead, a descendant OF
one of K%entucky's Governors. Young
Morehead was an orphan, who had
been reared by a 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 a 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.
One rainy night in April, 1864, Miss
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
oonpht hnp in his arms and CnnTVnPn6
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. It IA
Sue Mundy and his gang. They were
soon at the door clamOring for admit
lance. 1t was sure death for Reuben
if the guerrillas set their eyes on him.
What to do with him was a perpleXing
problem. Suddenly a bright idea struck
the young girl and she pointed to the
clock. Reuben lost no time in getting
luIO Iue DdTfel Ol tue lluuepIeCe anu HIS
sweetheart fastened the door. Then
she admitted the men, who, swearing
and cursing, demanded food. She had
hardly left the dining room to get 1t
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 ju%ncture came the tramp
of horses and more firing and commo
ton and then to Patsy a blank.
For weeks she lowered between life
and death, a victim of brain fever, and
when the disease left her she was but a
wreck of her former self. Then she
heard the story of how they came to
find her lover. She neglected to conceal
his overcoat and gloves and when the
guerrillas discovered them they started
a search for the young soldier. The
latter threw open the door of the clock,
presumably with the hope Of making
his escape, when he was shot and in
stantly killed. About this time a de-
tachment of young Morehead's com.
mand swooped down upon the guerril.
las and put them to fight.
Soldier Made Checker-Board.
TbiS chaos on1 ohooIyor hoorJ -;