La Junta tribune., 1906-11-24

a
| eyes and aid:
'-Oh! I thought ! heard something
some ~hese Where was I! Liddy. she
says that she heard the latch lift in the
night. didn't know
Just here there was q crash Of dishes.
Little Liidy had seen the clock case
shake. which caused her to lose nerve
power just as she was very carefully
| moving some dishes
Accidents will happen" said Farm
er Overfield. Now all fall to and help
yourselves Ii seems like old times TO
ind all the family here again just as II
used to be-all except Annie. Annie,
Annie Her name has not been spoken
today. l shall keep this plate and seat
for her here close by my side Annie's
heart Is true to me still. ! seem to feel
that. wish she was here today. The
true note of Thanksgiving is lacking Ia
a broken family. There can be no true
Thanksgiving where there is an empty
chair that might be filed l shall al
ways take Annie's part"
He stood. knife and fork in hand, the
tears running down his face.
There was a little shrek in the door
leading to the pantry.
II saw something" said Liddy. with
shuttiing eyes.
what did you see. Liddyf"
The sun and moon moving"
-Massy! Where. Liddyr
'On the face Of the clock. Something
10 In there That clock comes to life
sometimes" she added. going out.
All eyes were turned toward the
clock. Knives, forks and spoons were
laid down. clicking on the many dishes.
The top of the clock. which was un-
covered, seemed animated. Some said
| that they could see II move. others that
matter Of Imagination.
! Liddy came into the room again with
more dishes.
.I think" said she. "that the clock
case h haunted.
.Pshaw, Liddyr' said the farmer.
.'And what makes you say thatf Who
h II that would haunt that old eight
day elockY'
-One Of the Bsitishsrs Who wss shoe
by Q bullet made from the bsad
wsightn. That's my vay q Thinking.
I've known about II for . long time"
| .Iiddy, you've . little bit o0-touch'
| - In mind-thats what 700 are. Lid
| dy. You never was quite all there"
/ The dinner went on. but amid Q nefv'
ous atmosphess. Farmer Overfleld fen
The disQui~t and said to one Of ths
gussts:
Cousin Lucy. you are waiting for q
place ut the table. I would give you
Annle's u I could. hut my heart wont
| Iet me do that She might come back
Sit down there at Annie's melosieou
and sing n little song. 'IO They Miss
Me At Homer That used to he one Of
hcr songs heaven knows why. ] love
to hum that when ] am cutting corn
will get her To sing II to me II sh>
should ever come back. and she will
Her heart Is good In the main. And w
must all put our arms around her fOI
that reason
There was ripple OF reed music
The girl sang to an old timc accom-
psniment ON the simple Instrument:
when twilight approaches the season
| That ever II sacred TO song.
! Does some one repeat my name over
And sixh that ] tarry 80 lonG7
| And In there a chord In the music
That's missed when my voice Is way
And a chord in each heart that awaketn
Regret at my wsarisorne stay?
"Do they set me a chair near the table
When evenings home pleasures arr
nigh.
When the candles are lit in the parior
And the stars in the calm. azure sky7
And when the good nights are repeated
And all lay them down to their sleep.
DO they think Of the absent and watt ns
A whispered good night while the,
weep?
do they miss me at home. do they miss
At morning. at noon or at night.
And fingers one gloomy shade round thsr
| That only my presence can light?
Are Joys less invitingly welcome
And pleasures less hale than before
Because one II missed from the circle.
Because ] am with them no moreT
Mis- Overfield's lips quivered.
That is a proper tender song" said
Farmer Overfield: "has feeling"
There arose another nervous shrek
Knives and forks dropped.
What now. Lisldy r asked the farm
er. You set things all into agitation.'
The house dog Joined I.iddy in the
new excitement lie ran under the tn
BILE and TO the clock and began TO paw
the case and TO bark. There was a
very happy. lively tone In his bark.
~w-hat did you see. Liddyr' asked
Mis- Overfield.
The planets turned. Look there
now-now- w-tbere-tbere-'
The sun and moon on the clock face
were indeed agitated- The old dog
barked more joyously.
The valley Of Ajalon-' said the
farmer. That old fimepiece is BE-
witched. These things are mighty pe-
culiarsome. I'm not inclined to I've su
perstitious. But what am I to think
II r.S. Fms Tn. hat