Bisbee daily review., 1906-02-22
The Hands of the Clock By Celeste Bennett Dobbins.
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wilbur. has your father known that yo'
 were making my little girl love you, and that you intended asking my consent tG marry heff''
 l No, General Kingston, Ethel only gavs me her promise today and I have come tC you at once to ask you to make ne the happiest man in the world"
 Unless your father has told you of your grandsire's deata, Wilbur, he has done both you and Ethel an irreparable wrong, for evea though it should break your heart and hers she can never marry the grand son of John Strong. There has never been a drop of tainted blood in the Kingston family. and it shall not come through any child"
 What dc you mean, sirf' asked Wilbur, angered by the Inslnuation No man in ! the State stands higher than my father, and my mothers family are social leaders Why am l, their sen, not titting mate for your daughter? l have a right to de. mand an answer, General Kingston l''
 Your father. not l, should tell you the story, but because l am fond of you and have not one personal thing to say against you, l will tell you why 1 cannot give you My child in marriage Your grandfather was disgraced before the whole regiment and In spite of his almost convincing pro test of his innocence, was shot like dog for treaehery and desertion. Your young and beautiful grandmothes never spoke after that fatal day until the birth Of your father, when on her deathbed she gave him to Virginia friend. who promised to tell him when of age how cruelty wronged bis little fortune to clear the name be bore. That your father has never done so is evi- dent, and I am sorry for you. my boy. eeat sss mSst Ss De sed ae upSn ySS 5s stand how absolutely impossible it is that Ethei could bear your name. shall trust to your honor that you will not again
 ''I do not, will not believe that my grand father did this awful thing. He declared bis innocence, and l snail prove it. said Wilbur, raising his head proudly and turn ing to leave the room. Theie was the frou frou of silken skirts. an im.pulsiye cry, "wilbur Wilbur. you shall not leave me grandfather has done. You shall not send him away, papa. If you do I'll run away and marry him the minute I'm of age,' said the s,s tmpuisiy,ss girl Ssanty Si,, she stood by her lover. her eyes sparkling her cheeks flushed with excitement, and lips quivering. all showed how she would light for him. Her love was part of her self sac would not give him up.
 As If unconscious of the presence of the father, who was beginning to look very formidable, Wilbur took his sweetheart in his al ms and kissing her. ns one who has right to that privilege, he said grayely: ''Etlel. my brave, loyal darling.. I have
 
 I have offered you before claim your prom ise. and know that l will succeed. Good bye. my darling, Cod help Us, we cannot fail9' With alf-defsnt, though respect ful bow to the General Wilbur Strong passed through the door and left the home of his sweetheart. bent on a quest that was almost hopeless.
 About the hour of midnight. May h, 1eo- Wilbur Strong, crossing from Jersey City to New York for the first time. landed al South Ferry.
 Everything conspired against his receIr- Ing favorable impression of this, the place of his birth. The inceSsant tolling of the bells at each landing and the mournful walls of distant fog horns made the night hideous. Through the heavy mist the lights in Broadway twikled half heartedly, af- foTding scant lighting for the belated pe- destrians who were hastening to get under shelter, lest the cold dampness freeze the marrow in their bones.
 Wilbur had heard much of the uncensing traffic day and night fin Broadway. yet upon this night the thoroughfare seemed surface car in sight. and the policeman In. formed him that there has been a break down uptown ways. so the cars were not town he'd better take the IL" but If he was looking for a hotel. the old Astor House was boss plass to stop, and ft wasn't much of walk from the Battery"
 Thanking his informant, Wilbur buttoned his coat more closely around his chest and started for q brisk walk to the hotel. The silence Of the night was oppressive, and he began to feel annoyed at the clicking of his own boot heels on the hagging. which sounded for ali the world as if some one were following him closely As he passed Old Trinity. the clock struck one. and at the same moment he heard the noise of shufhing feet and a jargon of many voices uttering exclamations intelligible only to those who come in daily contact with the working class of Italians.
 Judging from the sounds that there had been an accident, Mir. Strong hastened his who were so badly frightened that their ''boss' might as well have talked to a drove of terrified sheep as to induce these men to return to their work of excayating for the foundation of the Subway building The pallor of their faces showed through seve,al layers of dirt when it was even suggested that they must go into that dread cellar again; they seemed to be wild with fear too genuine to doubt.
 What is the matter, somebody hurtf" asked VT. Strong. approaching the man they called boss.
 '''fhe daEoes think they have seen a ghost an' there's no use teilin' them they haven't I've lot of work to finish up quick. an don't see what I'm goin' to do about it."
 Come on, let us investigate the spook question. If there is a real ghost there ! would like 10 see if, and promise to tackle Ii alone If you show me where it Is and tell me the story we go along" said the young man, laughingly.
 Although the place was lighted. the eiec. tric lamps did not seem to be sufficient. so handing Mir. Strong small torch and 70 Q . . ooono . 6 . 9 c c pwAT ~ w