The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-08-12

from him, which had once made her
heart beat so unanimously that she
could hardly steady her shaking fin
gers sufficiently to open the envelopes,
lay In an old work basket She never
read them now. She had become SUI
premely contented woman. But she
knew that she would never walk to the
altar as bride. Nor would anything
on earth have impelled her to-
All this while the Billiken clock had
been ticking merrily away. Margaret
regarded it with the most supreme
Indifference
Harry Vernon was In Paris at the
same time as Margaret. He had new
er forgotten her. Her beautiful face,
with its crown Of aureate hair, was
ever before him. He knew that her
resolution was indomitable, and he
had never tried to break it. But he
felt that he must share her life, tread
in the places where she had trodden,
see the same scenes. He had stood on
the deck Of the very ship on which she
had sailed for Europe, and he, too, had
looked at the water and felt the same
regret, wistful and tender, in his own
heart And, like Margaret, he had
thought not at all of the Billiken clock,
which was to make them true.
Back in America, as the year drew
toward its end, he did think suddenly
Of the Billiken clock. But the tragedy
of the thought overwhelmed him, for
He had forgotten what day the year
came to an end! He had forgotten
exactly when he had set the Billiken
clock!
And one day, precisely at the end
Of the IL months, when the hand
had told the months, hours, minutes,
and seconds-the Billiken clock went
off.
1t was at half-past seven in the eve
ming, exactly at the time when Harry
had called on Margaret. She was seat
ed beside the radiator reading ro-
nance, and the gnome came out Of his
box and spoke.
Darling Margaret" 1t said, II want
to tell you that love you, love you
with all my heart kiss, kiss. You
are the sweetest treasure In the whole
world to me. kiss shall never
love any other woman as ! love you.
Remember this year from today,
and ask your heart If you love me
truly, kiss, kiss, kiss.)"
THAT wretched Billiken clock" ex.
claimed Margaret, starting from her
seat and hurrying over to where it
licked busily, just as though it had not
relieved its soul Of the long pent bur.
den
She understood at once what had oc-
Cured Margaret had never ex-
amined the Billiken clock with any
precision, but now it was evident that
1t contained little photograph That
wretch Harry had not only spoken in
to 1t, and set the mechanism to give
forth the imprisoned sounds at the
end of the year, but he had actually
had it set during one of his visits
But her annoyance was shortlived.
We'll, there Is a difference" she
said frankly when | was an ignor-
ant girl | supposed marriage was a
world of bllssful dreams come true
1t isn't that. But it is something more
1t Is the making of a home, and a life,
OF reciprocal duties, Of affection that
takes the place of love and becomes
sweeter. So | am not angry with you,
you dear old Billiken clock"
Il should hope not" said Harry,
starting out of his chair. For one
just waking from a doze at ones own
fireside you've said some
horrid things about marriage, after
only nine months of 1t, but kiss me,
Margaret, because you are the sweet
est treasure in the whole world"
Harry" exclaimed Margaret, put
ting her hand over his mouth
But a moment later he had COM
pleted that part of the Billiken mes.
sage.
Copyright. 1914, by W. G. Charman)
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