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

it-suppose you should find dead |
body there"
Mis- Overhead leaned on the back OF
IL chair, and Ihldy added in an awe
some tone:
a girl's--your own flesh and blood,
Mis- Overfield."
The dog gave quick. sharp bark.
Mis- Ovcrt:cld stood trembling.
Heaven forgive me- she said. "My
heart and Annie'S are the same. We
should he good to our own"
She shook. IF | only knew that An
ME was alive ! would forgive her eV-
crything. ] would take her home to
my bosom, her sailor husband and all.
l never would have one hour of peace
il she were to Gle. never know my
heart before. Her cradle was here,
and here should be her last rest. An
ME was 4 god girl, and l am bind
and hard Annie Annie, Oh, would
not have anything befall Annie. AL
bert, where is the key Of the clock"
The boy give his mother the key.
Here. mother, and it is Il jolly time
wen Lave"
"Alblrt. how can you smile at time
like this? Didn't you hear what she
suggested? Don't you sense it? You
20 with me- now, slowly, for l am all
nerves, and my heart is weak"
THAT | will. mother"
He give her his arm and looked back
with smiling eyes on the terrified
guests
"Dast that boy. he knows" cried
Liddy in almost profa2e excitement.
BE quiet. Liddy," said the farmer.
"LAll he quiet now. We cannot tell
what is before us. Be still. 1t seems
as though can hear the steps of Prov
idence. Something awaits us. l can
feel it in my bones"
The guests arose, and I'll stood silent.
Mis- Ove:field stopped before the
clock door.
"Annie's hand used to wind the
clock" she said. "Oh, what would l
give to hear her wind the clock once
more. l would be willing to lie down
and give up all to know that she was
alive. Liddys words do SO chill me-"
She knocked on the clock door.
Mother"
The guests stood with intent faces.
The clock shook again. The old wo-
man moved back.
THAT was Annie's voice. Husband,
YOU 90 and see. If that Is not Annie,
then my heart is dead forever, and l
hope there may be no hereafter for
me-"
Farmer Overfield took the keys and
slowly opened the clock door.
The guests stood with motionless
eyes. The opening door revealed at
first a dress. then hand. The old wo-
man threw up her arms.
.'That's Annie's hand. There Is no
ring on it. Annie was too poor to have
a wedding ring. Open it slowly, nus
band. If she is not living l am dead"
The door was moved slowly by a
trembling hand. \ form appeared.
That's Annie" said the old woman.
A face. The lips parted.
Father, may l come out and sit be-
side you in the chair at the table"
The dog whirled around with delight.
annie, my own Annie, life OF my
life, heart of my heart. Annie, how
came you hcrc?" exclaimed the farmer
Il wished to see you, faith +, and all
of my kin on this day and mother
poor mother
Don't say that. I'm not worthy tina
you should say that. but my hard heart
Is gone" faltered Mis- Overfeld.
81 got Albert to prepare the clock
case so | could stand here and move
the planets around so that l could see
you through the circles made for the
planets. You can never know how l
felt here. My heart ached to know If
any one today would think of me, and
when you talked of me my heart made
the old case tremble."
Annie, come here" said Farmer
Overfeld.
but l was not invited, father. l did
not intend to make myself known to
any one but Albert. l have been here
before in the disguise of a soldier"
"Why did you come III that way, An
| nie?" said Farmer Overfield.
my heart had to come. This is my
home. You will forgive me, mother?"
Eyes; we will forgive you, Annie"
said her father. why, we couldn't
have had any true Thanksgiving with
out you"
"And, mother, you will forgive him."
us he good to you. AnnieF
Good! Never was Il true heart bet
| ter to any woman on earth"
"Then l will forgive him, Annie.
Now. husband, you say grace for us all
for the whole family-and when An
ME comes again she may bring him
| with her"
The old man lifted his hands:
Father of all. loving all, forgiying
all, for all the family, for the one and
| the ninety and nine-for all, we praise
thy name"