The Holbrook news., 1910-07-29

| strong, but no one believed IL. A spider had woven it's web across the dial. and even the tramps who occa- sionally stole into the dilapidated
 building seeking a nights shelter, | thought the big old clock worthless and worn out
 Time is friendly" said the old clock, and I can wait patiently for
 the future and the inevitable changes | 1t will bring. heard the men who
 came through the sugar house last
 year speak of Paul with praise. He is
 prospering. Some day we will see him
 again, never fear"
 You are foolish visionaries, the
 old sugar house said, bitterly. 'I tell you these walls are crumbling and
 these sills and rafters are decaying,
 and the day will soon come when the
 roof will fall in and .bury what re
 mains of this sugar house, a sad re- hinder of former prosperity and of the modes of life now forgotten. They lived grandly. those former genera tions of men and women. l knew them so well. If Paul is prosperlng, as you say, why has he never come back to the home of his forefathers?"
 Tut, tut,i said the old desk. pet tishly. T tell you Paul was not of the stuff to be conquered by adverse circumstances. 1 tell you he will come back to his old home. and"-the old desk hesitated-"I may as we'll divulge the secret 1 have kept so faithfully and so long. How often have I trem- .bled lest some vagrant would steal me and carry me away before Paul came. I look terribly dilapidated, and lean against the wall on purpose to add to that impression. Who would want an old broken piece of furniture, with only three cracked feet and no lock or key? And yet there is a drawer, shut with a spring. in which Rene de Longe deposited a large sum of money and valuable papers, deeds and titles, which will make Paul wealthy man when he finally discovers them. as he surely will"
 You gladden. and rejoice mel" said the old sugar house, excitedly If. as you predict, Paul and his mother will again know days of prosperity and will come back to live in their former estate, I would wish that some hurri- | cane would hurl off my roof. that these walls would topple and fall, and that mosses and wild vines would in time | cover me and beautify my ruins"
 "A strange tale," said the old clock ] but I am glad. I remember now how { Rene, in the late watches of one night. { that last grinding season, wrote at his desk and put away package and papers You have kept your secret we'll"
 The front door opened and a stran- ger entered He was tall and slim, and his hair was tinged with gray His 1 features were handsome, but his face was careworn and melancholy. He wore rough clothing. for he was head sugar maker in the Watson refinery close by and had been hard at work preparing for the coming grinding.
 The stranger came into the small office and gazed around.
 Just as I remembered it. The great clock which licked so joyously and the old desk which he said he gave me He said I must take great care of it.
  lectful I will take 1t with me to re- mind me of the sweet old days of my 
 The sugar house was breathless with anguished delight.
 Tt is Paul. It is Paul! He has come! The old desk was right" whis- pered the spirits of the past, fitting joyously through the somber old pile
 May Providence guide him!" whis- pered the sugar house, in a voiceless agony of suspense.
 Approaching the old desk, Paul opened 1t and looked into the empty drawer. The jar shook it, and with heavy lurch 1t fell, striking the floor heavily. The old mahogany split and a drawer flew open.
 With an exclamation Paul stopped and gathered up its contents.
 Pale and with a shaking hand he looked long at the money and the title { deeds.
 "Too late" he said, with keenest sor- row Too late, little motherI You i are gone. and your hope was never realized"
 Thrusting them in his pocket, Paul ( de Longe, head sugar maker of the : Watson refinery, passed out of the old sugar house and went back to work
 A tramp crept under the abandoned { shed that night and. lighting fire Of