Connecticut western news., 1900-05-03
THE OLD CLOCK.

 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 c'S clock seemed to my girlish mind to re' peat the words I had heard my mother say laughingly to my father after some tender jest of his. ''Loves lover-tick -tock-loves i6verr'
 was in \ Uig 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 a 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-toc loves lover, tick -tockp' I turned toward the clock; the red glow from the outer world lighted up it's face. Surely was not dreamingl The face seemed to be smiling at me, and the words changed into s'little girl little girl" as if half pitying me be- cause was left alone
 heaved 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. 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 a strange feeling to hear the clock which had loved and listened to from babyhood speak so plainly to me. Before this 1 had always known it could tell me so much if I could only understand, and now, quite suddenly, I understood just as if the old clock, with its slow and steady ''tick-toek, tick-tock, ' 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. ''Yes, 1t is many years ago when your grand mother was young; sweeter lassle never breathed I dream sometimes in the night, when I 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 fiowerlike face. .'She would always heed me. I my self was young then," the old clock sighed. ''I 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 I would tick out, Trick, tock, 9 o'clock-9 o'clock, but | | dark would be the house till the little lady appeared in the bright sunshine | the next morning.
 'One day there was a stir and an ex- | citement = all preparations for your l grandmother first ball. Silks and laces | were everywhere, and the flowers that | filled the little window wonder heard all her hopes and dreams as she bent above them in her daily care.
 ! 'tAs evening drew on the sleigh bells were heard coming across the country | to the door, there was crowd of serv- ants in the hail. 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 Of So wei her shining eyes.
 "Ah, me, that was the beginning oi it all, for it was not the same little gir who looked into my face next day, an6 Listened with all my strength as sht whispered fresh hopes and fears to tht sympathetic flowers
 "Many gentlemen now came to call and most frequently an older and 2 graver one, who said little, but seemed to bide his time. There was youngcl one on whom my little mistress seemed to smile, and who whispered all sorts c. pretty nothings in her ear; handsom' lad, but somehow liked not the shift ing of his eyes.
 Many is the night 1 kept my ol( frame creaking with anxiety. Some times 1 would try to put in a word t. the little enc as she sat where you are only she never seemed to hear me. I smile was on her lips and her heart WE far away.
 "Things went on that way for som time, till one day I heard her father voice raised in sterner tone than Ii 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 I saw how flushed am hot her cheeks were burning.
 "Then came time when she sat an
 brooded in the window The youn man came no more, and the elder ma , was kinder than ever, but all to no pun pose; the young girl did not seem know that he was near. Afterward sh seemed to turn to me for sympathy an S0ulu WAUGH ny Iace So anXlOusly l G. not quite like it, for often it would en in her taking her scarf and shyly s,iI ping out, and it would be near an hou before she would return with q strang light in those eyes I knew so well. an many's the time it all ended with
 night of tears.
 1T know-I listened to the murmul ings of the flowers, and flowers are nc
 safe confidants, though women foll
 think they are. They rustic and te
 each other all they know. One has br
 to listen and the secret is out, carrie
 fir and wide by the birds. their lovers
 .'It was dreary, bitter night, an 1 .t.. l:. +l.. 1,r,o Ennlt hneora tha fra xvif