Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-09-19
The Old Clock.
fOrlginaLl


though the tower was far older than
the clock, having long been ruin
when the clock was put in 1t. II was
supposed to have been built by the
Romans. Some said that the clock was
the oldest tower clock in the world.
1t had not marked the time for nearly
had seen It's great iron hands swing
around the circle of its dial, but they
were very aged people. Its works
were covered with rust, and there was
not cogwheel that could be turned
without a wrench.
One night suddenly every person IN
the village started up in bed One,
two, three, four. There was no bell to
give forth this cracked Anticipated me-
tower And IL 1t had returned to its
life 1t must be its dotage, for tho
hour was - midnight and all counted
four strokes. Had not some one got
up In the tower and struck the bell
with hammer; Impossible. The
stairway--the last put in-had fallen
years ago. Then, too, every one had
heard the whirring of wheels-a whit
ring harsh with rust Directly after
lived Just beneath the tower, Ind
opened his shutter and looked out and
up to the belfry. All was still .mp
there and about the tower If foot
step had fallen on the stones beneath
he would have heard It,
Some Of the villagers got out Of bed
and talked to each other from behind
their half opened doors; some lay
awake wondering; some went to sleep
again only little children slept on
without having heard sound "Ah.
the children" said old Caspar Steiner.
1.-THE innocent children, II they had
been awakened | should not think
there was evil In it, but they are in
sensible to evil" Caspar was the phi
losophcr of the village. and his words
struck deep into the souls of those who
heard him. All looked for some ca
tastrophe.
There was one person and only one
not Il child who had not heard the
ghostly strokes. That was Gretchen.
the granddaughter of old Becker, the
miller. Gretchen was to be married in
few days to Hans Huntsman, a
young fellow about her own age. who
loved her, ard she loved him dearly
villagers. When they told her what
old Steiner had said she replied that
she had not heard the strokes, and she
was not a child, therefore the philoso-
piers words were not true
While the older people were whisper
Ing together, shaking their heads and
giving way to their dread. the Younger
ones were preparing for the wedding
No one had been married In the village
FOR long while, for there were few
people there, and the boys as they grew
up went out into the world, leaving the
y
Gretchen's lover would not go without
her. He loved her better than even
success In life. This was not remark
able, for every one loved her She was
gentle and amiable and kind. But not
till later did those who knew her real
lie that, much as they priced her. they
had not known her true value.
~
the wedding was to be tomorrow one
man who had been sailor predicted
that the sun would shine. BY common
consent the older ones ceased to talk
about the mysterious strokes of the old
clock and, for the young couples sake.
assumed cheerful air Up to 10
o'clock the younger people We're laugh
Ing and singing. then were still.
There were people In the village who
lay awake till after midnight fancying.
dreading. that they would hear the old
clock strike again. Why they felt this
way at this time they did not know
Scarcely any of the older ones but
wished the wedding over lest some
thing might happen TO mar IL. But they
were disappointed in hearing the clock
1t did not strike again. After midnight
one after another they fell asleep.
While they were dropping Off light
appeared in the house of the miller
Presently he emerged hurriedly from
the door and called his next nelghbor
Then, one by one, the villagers began
TO stir, PASSING from one house to an
other, and all looking anxiously at
Becker. Gretchen had been taken sud
denly Ill.,
The anxiety, the running of people
in and out of the house. Increased rap
idly. At o'clock one came oui aud
said III she doesn't got relief very
soon she will die" At half past 3
another came and said. she is sink
Ing At 4 o'clock old Becker wrIlng
his hands ard said, "She is dead"
The people stood in groups in the
street, saying To one another. THE old
clock predicted this calamity, even TO
The hour and minute II would occur.
Then came old Caspar Steiner. and one
of the women said to him:
You said the strokes of the clock
predicted no misfortune because the