Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-05-14


regret, then, with a lift of his shOul.
ders, half shrug, half sigh, he briskly
crossed the hall and stood before the
timepiece. The room was dimly
lighted by the stainedglass windows
which were the only unshutteresd|o ones ~
and there was a u pa Tie furniture m
ahwShted silence, d formality as of a
mother waiting to greet new daugh.
ter-in-law, that lent cold. echong
vastness. The clock that stood on a
dlas raised three steps from the floor
had cathedral-llke architecture. Its
carvings We're almost black with age,
and the ticking was tense and slow.
Out Of dusky window seat a girl
arose, small. graceful, red.haired
girl. AS she went toward Sir Robert
her heels struck noisily oh the bare
spaces on the floor, and half way to
him she stopped with something of EN-.
barrassment.
'They put me in the library" she
said, abruptly. But l couldn't stay
there. Father Is somewhere about. He
had more delicacy than l have. He
said he wouldn't intrude."
DO you fancy there is place where
you could intrude, Miss DUMB" Sir
Robert asked meditatively as he moved
chair out of its prim position and
motiOned her into it.
THAT may be nice speech, and 1t
may not" she returned, as she sat
down. 'Tve been waiting here" she
continued, "in this stiffness, with moth.
ing but the rain singing OH the panes
and that dOlorous clock ticking. until
1t seemed that all the dead old May
hews came out and stood around me
whispering. I'm awfully glad to see
some solid fiesh.'"
Sir Robert laughed somewhat me-
financially and turned the large and
curously wrought key over and over
in his hand, as il for the first time
he was aware Of its oddly.
do you know" he started slowly
after pause, during which she had
studied him pityingly, ~ didn't think
7 sbnnld GOO ~~'.-"
"You were going without saying
goodby" she asked reproachfully.
II don't-I think it is better to keep
unpleasant truths to oneself" he an
swered with gravity.
the clock. Sir Robert sat down on the
third step of the dais, still turning the
key.
DO you know what it sounds rs If
1t were saying?" she began. Listen!
Isn't it 'Me-a cul-pa' 'Me-a culpa 2
Just as if it were very weary and very
sorry?"
Sir Robert stared at her. with some
arnazement, then he nodded.
80 it does. And that is just what 1t
ought to say. for it has enough to say
1t for"
GLOW do you mean?" she asked.
Don't you know about the Mayhem
clock" He looked surprised. "Why,
this is one of the first clocks built in
England, and l think it is the most
famous. 1t would never do for you to
have the house and not know some.
thing Of what this is. What is the
use of buying an estate if you don't
get its traditions?"
Don't be bitter about it," she re.
turned lightly. what about the
clock? Has it ghost2 Is there n
secret door? Did the Pretender sleep
among its cogs and wheels. He seems
to have spent most Of his time taking
odd places to sleep in. I'm looking for
place he didn't sleep In. so that can
write book about it."
Write it about this. for he didn't
sleep here; but it's large enough.
Look" Sir Robert unlocked the door,
end mOtioned her TO come and look al
the interior of the case. You see."
he said, as she stood beside him, its
very old, though the various parts of
the mechanism have been renewed, as
they have to be at different tiues.
This house and the property do not
pass with the title. you know. Old
Sir Matthew, who put the clock here,
had some sort of a grudge against
his oldest son, and precious little faith
in his youngest. So at his death he
made it a condition that the clock
should be stopped until the first earth
was cast upon his coffin, and then the
first one of the Mayhem name and
blood who started the clock going en-,
tered upon possession Of the property.
Besides that, II from any cause the
clock stopped during the lifetime Of
the possessor and any other Mayhem
happened to set it going the property
passed at once. 1t had TO be done in
the presence of three witnesses. You
see the clock is rather important"
II should think that You must come
OF very quarrelsomn stock. wonder
that any Of you are left alive" Miss
Dunn looked up, laughing. then seated
herself on the top step and patted the
floor. "Please sit here and tell me
more"
"Oh, there are as many legends rs
years to the house. And as for ghosts!
You'll find when you live here that
not a servant will enter this hall alone
after dark. They think that the spirit
Of bad Sir Thomas prowls in front
Of the clock. I've watched many times
to catch him, but never did. Some sort
of ghost antitoxin in my blood.
th.,k."
How dandy! What did the bad Sir
Thomas dO:" questioned Miss Dunn.
eagerly.
Lots Of things. and every one OF
them quite improper in respectable
country gentleman. But he onl, had
the title and The other estate. so wien
the master of Mayhem died lie stood
guard over the clock for tire. days
ard ni"hts sword in hand and below.
Ing at the others that We're trying to
dislOdge him. When the bell 'oll e.
tha Grct north f.,n on nl..