The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-27


Are Joys less invitingly welcome
And pleasures less hale than before
Because one is missed from the circle,
Because / am with them no niore?'
Mis- Overlields lips quivered
THAT is a proper tender song, sald
Farmer Overfeld; has feeling.
There arose another nervous shrek
Knives and forks dropped.
What now, ,Liddy?" asked the farm
er. "You set things all into agitation
The house dog joined Liddy in the
new excitement He ran under the Ia
BILE and to the clock and began to paw
the case and to bark. There was a very
happy, lively tone in his bark. He then
sat down and watched the clock IN a
human way.
The guests waited for the farmer to
speak.
What did you see, Liddy," asked
Mis- Overfield.
The planets turned. Look there row
now here-there!'
The sun and moon on the clock face
were indeed agitated. The old dog gave
leap into the air and barked more
| 1oyOuSly IMAM DtIOTe.
The valley of Ajalon"' said the
farmer. THAT old timepiece is bewitch-
ed These things are nightly peculiar
some. I'm not inclined to be supersti-
tious. But what am to think the plan
cts turning around in that way? They
say dogs do see apparitions first ana
start up. What would Annie say if she
were here now? You don't believe in
signs. any of you, do you? I'm not su-
perstitious, as I said, and | say it
again. But what can be the matter
with that there old clock case? hope
| that nothing has happened to Annie
She used to wind that clock. What dc
you suppose is the natter
The farmers eyes rolled like the
planets on the clock face.
Let me go and see" said Mis- Over
field, rising slowly and going toward
the case, which seemed to culver as she
advanced, supporting herself by the
backs of the chairs.
The nervous fancies of little LiddN
could not be repressed. She called in al
atmospheric voice:
Mis- Overfeld be careful how yol
open that clock door"
Mis- Overfield stopped.
why, Liddy, you distress me. The
things that you say go to my nerves
Why, Liddy, should | be afraid to oper
the clock door,"
Suppose, Mis- Overfield-dare I say
it-suppose you should find dead body
there"
Mrs. Overfeld leaned on the back Of 9
chair and Liddy added in an awesomC
| tone:
"A girls-your own flesh and blood
Mis- Overhcld."
Farmer Overfield sank into his chair.
The table was as silent as though il
| had been bare in an empty room.
| The dog gave a quick, sharp bark
Mis- Overheld stood trembling.
Heaven forgive mel" she said. MY
heart and Annie's are the same. We
should be good to our own"
She shook IF ! only knew that An
ME was alive, l would forgive her ev-
erything. | would take her home to my
bosom, her sailor husband and all. |
never would have one hour of peace If
she were TO die. l never knew my heart
before. Her cradle was here, and here
should be her last rest. Annie was a
good girl and / am blind and hard. An
ME, Annie! Oh, l would not have any
thing befall Annie. Albert, where is the
key Of the clock"
The boy gave his mother the key.
Here, mother, and it is a jolly time
Wen have"
ALBERT, how can you smile at time
like this. Didn't you hear what she
suggested? Don't you sense it? You go
with me now slowly, for I am all
nerves, and my heart is weak"
That I will mother"
He gave her mis- arm and looked back
with smiling eyes on the terrified
guests.
"Dast that boy, he knows!" cried Lid
dy in almost profane excitement. Hold
up your hands. The house is going to
fall"
BE quiet, Ltddy," said the farmer.
"AIl be quiet now. We cannot tell what
is before US BE still 1t seems as
though ] can hear the steps Of Provi-
dence. Something awaits US. l can feel
it in my bones"
The guests arose, and all stood silent