El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-20
THE OLD CLOCK.

| Au Gh6 world loves q lOVerl line
words were ringing in my ears as I sat
ON 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.
It was twilight, everything was soft
and dreamy, and the tick of the old
clock seemed to my girlish mind to re-
say laughingly to my father after some
tender jest of his t'Loves a lover-tick
-tock-loves a loverl"
I 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 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-tockl'
I 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 little girl
little girl, as if half plying 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
a half point of hand toward the big old
bookcase, which gave groan in an
swer. ''But we watch and learn a great
deal more than people give US credit for.
I can tell you about your grandmother
and how I, by what you would stupid
ly call an accident, changed her whole
life''
It gave me strange feeling to hear
the clock which had loved and listened
to from babyhood speak so plainly to
me. Before this had always known it
could tell me so much if could only
understand, and now, quite suddenly,
understood just as if the old clock.
with it's slow and steady "tick-tock,
textbook, spoke in my own language.
I 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, ii |
is many years ago when your grand |
mother was young; a sweeter lassie |
never breathed. 1 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
lid not mind, but she would look at me
Quite wistfully when I would tick out,
Tick, took, 8 O'clock-9 o'clock, but
up the stairs she would disappear and
lark would be the house till the little
ady appeared in the bright sunshine
he mex: morning.
Zone day there was a stir and an ex-
element - all preparations for your
first ball. Silks and laces
we're everywhere, and the flowers that
lied the little window Jonder heard all
Ter hopes and dreams as she bent above
hem in her daily care.
AS evening drew on the sleigh bells
we're heard coming across the country
o the door, there was crowd of serv-
nts in the hall, each one peering eager
? over another's shoulder to see the lit
lie mistress in her white silk, which 4;
ustled as she moved and set off so well {
er shining eyes.
''Ah, me, that was the beginning Of
ALL for it was not the same little girl ]
Tho looked into my face next day, and l
listened with all my strength as she I
fresh hopes and fears to the
flowers. &
''Many gentlemen now came to call, 6
nd most frequently an older and a
raver one. who said little, but seemed I
, bide his time. There was younger y
ne on whom my little mistress seemed L
} smile, and who whispered all sorts of a
retty nothings in her ear; a handsome b
ID, but somehow liked not the shift g
lg of his eyes.
''Many is the night 1, kept my old f
anne creaking with anxiety. Some +
mes 1 would try 10 put in a word to s.
lie little one as she sat where you are
lily she never seemed to hear me- A Fl
nile was on her lips and her heart was f,
r away. q
''Things went on that way for some h
me, till one day 1 heard her fathers a
ice raised in sterner tone than he a
I'd ever used to the little mistress f;
ne heavy library door was opened Il
lstily by her, and as she pushed past "
e up the stairs L saw how flushed and 81
It her cheeks were burning.