The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-07
THE OLD CLOCK.

THE OLD CLOCK.
"An the world loves a loverr The
words were ringing in my ears as sat
IN the cushioned seat in the deep square
window The world was all white and
beautiful, snow covered the fields and
meadows far into the horizon, where
the sun was sinking in his crimson
glory.
1t was twilight, everything was soft
and dreamy, and the tick of the old
clock seemed to my girlish mind to re-
peat the words had heard my mother
say laughingly to my father after some
tender Jest of his. "Loves lover-tick
-tock-loves loverH'
was in big old fashioned hall,
there were the broad low stairs leading
clock with its dear old face that was
like friend to me. What deal it
could tell of all that had come and gone
since it stood in its dim recess. Tales of
the first kiss beneath the mistletoe, of
the sweet words whispered on the
stairs, Of the stories told around the
blazing Yule logs, all memories of other
days-when grandmother was young
like me.
''Tick-tock, loves lover, tick-tockp'
turned toward the clock; the red glow
from the outer world lighted up its
face. Surely was not dreamingl The
face seemed to be smiling at me, and
the words changed into "ittle girl
little girl" as if half pitying me be-
cause was left alone.
heaved a sigh, and before it had
well passed my lips the old clock seemed
to say: "I've seen many things, and if
little girls would keep their ears open
they could learn from almost everything
about them. We don't say much, with
half point of hand toward the big old
bookcase, which gave groan in an
swer. "But we watch and learn great
deal more than people give us credit for.
1 can tell you about your grandmother
and how 1, by what you would stupid
ly call an accident, changed her whole
life''
1t gave me strange feeling to hear
the clock which I had loved and listened
to from babyhood speak SO plainly to
me. Before this had always known it
could tell me 60 much if could only
understand, ana now, quite suddenly,
I understood just as if the old clock,
with it's slow and steady "tick-tock,
tick-tock, spoke in my own language.
| 1 was just little nervous and did
not like to answer, but guess the clock
saw the half smile on my face, for it
went on after few moments. Eyes, it
is many years ago when your grand
mother was young; sweeter lassie
never breathed. dream sometimes in
the night, when alone of all the house
am awake, of seeing her come gliding
down the stairs in her light gray dress,
with its many yarded skirt, the dainty
lace collar fashioned with the big
brooch, her hair, with the tresses that
would not quite straighten out, drawn
down and over the ears, like curtains
of gold to set off her fowerlike face.
''She would always heed me. my
self was young then," the old clock
sighed. 81 told her when to rise so as to
surprise the flowers when fresh with
dewdrop diamonds - when she must
study and read so as to be able to hold
her own with the best These things she
did not mind, but she would look at me
quite wistfully when would tick out,
Tick, took, 8 o'clock-9 o'clock, but
up the stairs she would disappear and
dark would be the house till the little
lady appeared in the bright sunshine
the next morning
Zone day there was stir and an ex-
citement = all preparations for your
grandmother first ball Silks and laces
were everywhere, and the flowers that
filled the little window yonder heard al
her hopes and dreams as she bent above
them in her daily care.
GAS evening drew on the sleigh bellf
were heard coming across the country
to the door, there was crowd of serv
ants in the hall, each one peering eager
ly over another's shoulder to see the lit
tie mistress in her white silk, which
rustled as she moved and set off SO wei
her shining eyes
"Ah, me, that was the beginning O.
it all, for it was not the same little gir
who looked into my face next day, ant
listened with all my strength as sh'
whispered fresh hopes and fears to tn,
sympathetic flowers.
"Many gentlemen now came to call
and most frequently an older and I
graver one, who said little, but seemed
to bide his time. There was younge
one ON whom my little mistress seemed
to smile, and who whispered all sorts o
pretty nothings in her ear; handsome
lad, but somehow liked not the shift
ing of his eyes.
''Many is the night kept my oil
frame creaking with anxiety. Some
times would try to put in O word t.
the little one as she sat where you are
only she never seemed to hear me.
smile was on her lips and her heart wa
far away.
"Things went on that way for som
time, till one day 1 heard her father
voice raised in sterner tone than b
had ever used to the little mistress
The heavy library door was opene
hastily by her, and as she pushed pas
: me up the stairs saw how flushed an
5 hot her cheeks were burning.
"Then came time when she sat an
brooded in the window The youn
4 man came no more, and the elder ma
was kinder than ever, but all to no pun
pose; the young girl did not seem t
know that he was near. Afterward sh
seemed to turn to me for sympathy an
would watch my face SO anxiously di
not uuite like il for often il vou1d on