The Delta independent., 1899-07-14
THE OLD CLOCK.

window The world was all white and
teautiful. snow covered the fields and
meacows 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 a lover''
was in big old fashioned hall
there were the broad low stairs leading
to the ROOMS above. the tall mahogany
clock with its dear old face that was
like Il friend to me. What n deal it
corld tell of all that had come and gone
since it stood il 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---wber grandmother was young
like me.
"Tick-tock. loves = lover. tick-tockr'
I turned toward the clock; the red glow
from the outer world lighted mp its
face Surely was not dreaming. The
face seemed to l,e smiling at me. and
little girl" as if half plying me be-
cause was left alone.
1 heaved n sigh. and before it had
well passed my lips the old clock seemed
to say: 1--we seen many thingA and il
little girls would keep their ears open
they could learn from almost everything
about them We doa't say much. with
u half point of hand toward the big old
bookcase. which gave groan in an
swer. ..But we watch and learn q great
deal more than people give Ms credit for.
can tell you about your grandmother
and how l. by what you would stupid
" call an accident. changed her whole
life
1t gave rac n strange feeling to hear
the cloc.; which had loved and listened
TO from babyhood speak 10 plainly to
me. Before this had always known IL
could tell me 70 much IL I cnuld only
understand. and now. quite suddenly.
I understood just as IL the old clock.
with its slow and steady ''6ck-tock.
tick-t6ck. spoke in my own Language.
I was just little nervous and did
not like 70 answer. hat ! guess the clprk
saw tho half smile on my face. for.s V
we.t on after . few uomeatA ..Ycs1e
| II many years ago when your grand.
mother was young: q sweeter lassie
never breathed.. dream sometimes in
the night. when alone Ct al 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 strsiRhten out. drawn
down and over the ears. like curtains
Of gold to set of her nowerlike face.
'.She would always heed me. my
self was young then, the old clock
sighed. II told her when TO rise 10 Us to
surprise the flowers when fresh with
| dewdrop diamonds - when she must
Ktndy and rend 80 m to be able TO hold
her own with the best. These things she
/ did not mind. bat she would look at me
quite wistfully when I would tick out.
| Tick, tcck. 8 o'clock-0 O'Clock. but
mp the stairs she would disappear and
dark would he the house till the little
lady appeared in the bright sunshine
| the mex: morning
Zone day there was stir and an ex-
citcment = all preparations for your
grandmother first hall. Silks and laces
| were everywhere. and the flowers that
| filed the little window yondcr heard all
her hopes and drenms A. she bent above
them in her daily care.
.'As evening drew on the sleigh bells
| were heard coming across the country
10 the door. there was n crowd of ~rv-
I = a A 4.
ly over another's shoulder to re~ the lit
| tie mistress in her white elk. which
rustIcd ~ -hv moved and set on No well
| her shining eyes.
'.Ah. me that was the beginning 81
IL all for IL was not the same little girl
WIN looked into my face next day. aud
] listened with all my strength as .l,-
| Whispered fresh hopes and fears TO the
/ sympathetic flowers.
MANY gentlemen now came 60 call.
and most frequently nm older and
graver oIc. who said little. but seemed
20 bi6e his time. There wa. younger
one On whom my little mistress seemed
20 smile. and " ho whisrered sI sorts of
4 pretty potli.nzr in her car: = handsome
lad. but somehow liked not the sh;f,.
ing Of his eyes.
MANY is the night kept NY o.d
frame cS-aking with snxiefy. Some
timer wonh try 10 put in word TO
the little one ~ she sat where ycu are.
only she never eeemed 70 hear me A
smile wss on hef lips and ber heart wss
! far away.
''Tainzs went on that way for spme
time. til one day ] heard her fathers
'oicc raised in . sserner toas than he
mad ever uscd 10 the little nissrru
The heavy library dous wss op-srd
hastily ~ her. and - ne pusArd psss
no M, s1.~ ~ossss sw~ 49, A~~s-n -