The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-11-30

on ITS FACE WERE FIGURES OF THE sun
AND MOON.
away from the home b0ugh of the
quivering mother bird. 1t was little
thing. but it touched Annie's heart.
The time of decision came. He went
away, and one day the question was
asked:
What has become of Annie"
There was a sudden alarm, then a
terror Of suspense in the simple home.
They searched for her. They found
that she had gone with the sailor. She
had been seen on ship at Castle Will
liam with him.
Her father said, Il knew it would
be So" and added, "AIy old heart has
lost interest in the ninety and nine"
When Mis- Overfield read the whole
history her heart turned into stone,
and she said:
even though it be Annie, heart OF
my heart, life of my life, as she once
was, l will never forgive her-never"
"Pshaw, womanr' said Farmer Over
field. Il would. l would like to have
~
girl, whatever she may do, and the
mother Il boy. You would forgive our
son Albert if he were to marry gyp-
sy girl
Eyes. but l will never forgive her.
Let lis never mention her name"
Such was the condition of the family
when the old clock cleaner returned
from the war.
He heard the story and said:
II can hardly trust my ears. Annie
was such a good girl! But the heart
must wed its own. l pity her. She Will
come back again, for Annie is Annie"
"Now I'm going to examine it again
and see what can do. will try to set
1t going till Annie comes back"
81 shall never take any interest in
such things any more" said Mis- Over
field. ut is all the same to me whether
the clock goes or stands still or wheth-
err life goes or stands still, for that mat
ter. 1 loved Annie, and that is what
makes it so hard. She used to watch
over me when l was sick, oh, so faith
fully, but l shall never feel the touch
of her hand again, Annie's hand. l
would weep, but l have no tears to
shed. Life is all blank since this
came upon me. The burying lot, as it
looks to me, is the pleasantest place on
earth. 1 look out of the pantry win
dow sometimes and say, Annie, come
back Then l shut my heart. oh, that
this should come to mer'
She seemed listening.
How l used to wait for Annie even
Ings-cOnference meeting and candle.
light meeting nights and singing school
evenings! How my heart used to beat
hard when she lifted the latch Of the
porch door in the night! l was happy
then. She came home like an angel
then. l wonder if Armies hand will
ever again lift the latch in the night.
Trouble brings the heart home and
sends us back to God. But wouldn't
speak to her-lud, no, no, nor
The tenderness went out of her face,
and strange, foreign light came into
her blue gray eyes. Farmer Overfeld
came in.
"ThinkingF' said he.
81 was thinking Of how Annie used
to lift the latch evenings. l wish it
could be Sc again. But it can't"
"Why not? There can be no true
Thanksgiving in any household where
1t Is forbidden to any to lift the latch"
1t was changing day, half spring.
half winter, of many kinds Of weather,
when the clock cleaner proposed to
take to pieces the clock. He approach
ed the great clock case before break
fast on that day and tried to open the
door. He found it locked. He made in
quiry for the key.
ALBERT must have it," said Mis-
Overfeld. HE will be back from
town in the course of the forenoon.
He's gone to market with ounces"
The clock cleaner tapped on the case
Of the clock. and queer look came
into bis face.