Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-06-16


LO-l the tick of the great clock
IGD l9l|i in the hall At the newell
post he paused and glanced
hack with an expression of froWnlng
regret, then, with lift of his shoul-
doris half shrug, half sigh, he briskly
Gossed the hall and stood before the
tmepiece. The room was dimty
lighted by the stained-glass windows,
which were the only unshuttered ones,
and there was a barren precision in
the arrangement of the furniture, an
wwonted silence, a formality as of a
mother waiting to greet a new daugh-
tr.in-law. that lent cold, echoing
wstness. The clock that stood on a
| das raised three steps from the floor
had a cathedral-like architecture. Its
carvings were almost black with age,
and the ticking was tense and slow.
Out Of a dusky window seat a girl
arose, a small graceful, red-haired
girl AS she went toward Sir Robert
her heels struck noisily on the bare
spaces on the floor. and half way to
him she stopped with something of en-
@rraSsment.
They put me in the library" she
said, abruptly. But I couldn't stay
there. Father is somewhere about. He
bad more delicacy than I have. He
said he wouldn't intrude7'
DO you fancy there is place where
you could intrude, Miss Dunn?" Si1
Robert asked meditatively as he moved
aehair out of its prim position and
notioned her into it.
That may be nice speech, and il
may not" she returned, as she sal
down. I've been waiting here" she
@nunued, lin this stiffness, with moth
hsbut the rain singing on the pane.
aaa that dOlorous clock ticking, unit
aseemed that all the dead old May
news came out and stood around mt
whispering, Pm awfnlly glad to Sc,
Sme solid fiesh.'"
Oil RoDert laughed somewhat ne
'Mnlcally and turned the large an(
moasfy ! wrought key over and owe
llS hand, as il for the first tim,
Twas aware of its oddity.
Do you know" he started SLOWLY
sltr M a pause, during which she hat
r'lulea rs MIN pityingly, Il didn't thin]
-suould see you again.
iou were going without sayin;
'vqOy" she asked reproaehfully.
w., uon't-I think it is better to kee1
sap'easant truths to oneself" he an
',eted WI With gravity.
tha r''ss S Du1n gazed for a long while a
yi., s ,'oeh- Sir Robert sat down on th
l.r .u step OF the dais, still turning th
I, wv N.Y. you know what it sounds as !
,,n,t "e'e saylng? she began. @sListen
lnst = ~ Me-a cul-pa,' 'Me-a culpa
scp?' weary And yer
,ns, sn robert stared at her. with som
4s 4saeilent, then he nodded.
.psh, It Goes And that is just what
tfaSu 70 say, for it has enough TO sa
.sos, .oS 10 You meanY' she asked
eeEm you know about the Mayhe7
hs :. lie looked surprised. AWh,
lpylass - one of the. first clocks britt !
tnsnau and | think it is the mo,
hsys w. ~ IL would never do for YOU i
aipo 'ne m mousse and not know som,
ee Of what this is. What is th
st jts ~ DoSing an estate if you don
@ns W. uaditions?"
>,pss uast be bitter about st., sba -
s,eFe sFse lightly. what a. sbont sue r. =
sret s Has it ghost? Is there
%opp itof' ~, Did the Pretender slee
ahava - eoss and wheels. He seen
%phcsaap apent most of his time takin
auaea asIes s to sleep in. I'm looking f.
Mite ne n didn't sleep in, SO that I ca
WI. book about it, ~
l~k~ Aese' re! but it's large enoue
sq notiono nooeft unlocked the doc
% ipteriase Uned her to come and look
sd as l ol the case. "You see
~ Old - tnaa sue stood beside him, sit
se necho ousn the various parts .
SSe hsuanlsm hsra Is. have been renewed. :.
,as houso 20 De at different time
@ With -, ai'o the property do n,
''D tne title, you know. O,