The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-05-13

How dandy! What did the bad Sir
Thomas do?" questioned Miss Dunn
eagerly.
Lots Of things, and every one OF
them quite improper in a respectable
country gentleman. But he only had
the title and the other estate, 50 when
the master OF Mayhem died he stood
! guard over the clock for three days
and nights sword in hand and below
ing at the others that were trying to
| dislOdgc him. When the bell tOlled
as the first earth fell on the coffin
three cousins whipped out their swords
and there was glorious old battle.
! Sir Thomas ran one through and
wounded the others, and in flash
hit the pendulum with his sword hilt.
| The first tick was so loud ana om-
| nous that the beastly uprOar stopped
at once, IL Is told, and there was a
| long pause; then came the second and
| the third. All sounded like blows on
an empty coffin. At the third Sir
Thomas drew himself up with terri
bic look on his face, brought up his
sword in salute, stood thus as one
| might count five, then pitched forward
dead"
Splendid Go onw she exclaimed
softly, her eyes shining and her hands
| tightly clasped.
"Therc are stories Of how three gay
| young blOods Of the Mayhcws gamblcd
| for the right TO set the clock going by
| the candle lights of the bier, ana how,
when one Of them, by cheating, won
the right, the dead man called his
name and sat up, then fell back again,
and he was 50 scared that he confessed
| and promptly forsook his evil ways,
and hicd him unto a monastery. There
over ON the third step Of the stairs Is
where Richard Mayhem fell lighting
with his brother The hOusekecpcr
always shows visitors the blOodstains
in the wood, but | believe she put
them there herself There is another
story of how a despsed and cruelty
treated wife took her revenge on her
husband by shutting him up in the
clock, where he nearly starved to
death, and certainly was insane all the
rest of his life. My uncle got the house
as wedding gift and set the clock
going after his father had stopped It,
with all the guests hurrahing. | came
down the stairs at o'clock on the
morning my uncle died the worst
frightened boy You ever saw, and
opened the case ana stopped the pen
dulum. | don't know whether | hlub-
bcrcd or shivercd the more, but the
hall was all sliding shadows and quiv-
cry splattcrs of moonlight, and there
was winding sheet in the candle. ana
the housckccpcr was gasping and
moaning, Lord, ha' mercy! Lord!
What is that| Then. after the funeral,
for i am the last of the Mayhcws, |
started the clock as the bell rang. 1t
has never stopped since then"
81 wonder that you don't hate me.
Perhaps you do" Miss Dunn began,
after a long silence and with certain
angry enthusiasm. How you can
bear to part with il | don't see, I'd
work my fingers 10 the bone before I'd
sell it to strangers"
Sir Roberts face turned scarlet ana
he rose, jamming his hands deep in his
pockets.
"It is-that is, i" he stopped and
began again: Your father has been
good enough TO say that If he ever
wants TO sell he will give me first
chance to buy it back. couldn't-I
III, AVIAN thot g1{,,b. homo
Miss Dunn put her elbow on her
knee and her chin IN her hand and
stared at the floor. Her face now was
scarlet. and she frowned.
IL hope You won't mind IL say that
l." he said, that it's the pleasant
est part Of the whole affair to think
that you are here and that YOU will he
the one to-as l hope you will-to set
the clock going ana 10 keep II wound.
Ii will bc very pleasant thought 20
me when I'm in Africa. The incest
thought"
Are you going to stop it?" she
asked in a whisper.
Yes he said simply, and she rose
and stood before the open door looking
down at him.
I'D rather you wouldn't" she said.
But l-Well. you see. | can't explain
il, but, | feel as IL couldn't let it 20
on as If for me-"
IL can't think"-she turned her head
away as he stepped TO her sidc-"ot
its ever going on for any one else
| couldn't stand its ticking If started
IT, Don't you see? IL would bc re
proach. But II IL goes on as IL always
has for you | should somehow think
that you always had the hope OF com
ing back aud-and-of course
wouldn't keep the place from YOU"
J IF | did" he said. slowly. "and
drove you away. | am afraid that
, wouldn't like IL. should see IN,
: ghost OF you in every room. Besides
J it's nonsense" he broke out abruptly
that hope. You will be married ant
E there are years To look forward to-"
e Miss Dunn put her hand on his arm
rs he extended il toward the pen
) 1ulum.
! Il am afraid that you have n prou,
{ and naughty spirit" she caught he
g breath. II don't think that-Tm sur
I that there's no chance from the wa,
{ things are going that shall bc mar
$ sied' She began to laugh neryously