Evening star., 1916-12-10

for the street. Being an important
casion she put on her silk coat and her
best hat. Likewise she donned all her
fortitude, for she felt that she might be
about to hear her own doom foretold.
At seventy-three Sophie still felt as
young as she had ever felt in her life
The doctor was not in and she trotted
home somewhat discouraged, with her
money safe in her pocket. Til wait
till tomorrow, l guess" she said to Ina
May. "If I don't wake up all right in
the morning I'll be sure something's s
wrong"
The next morning the same thing
happened. 1t was half-past when
Sophie started out of a sound sleep.
This time she did not wait for break
fast. She set out for the doctors
straightway.
She rang the bell and maid, just
out of bed. opened the door. The doc
tor was not up. but at last he appeared
in his shirt sleeves, yawning-
How do, Mrs. Peel? What's the mat
ter with you?" he inquired.
That's what / want you to tell me,
doctor" Sophie's voice was resigned
II shouldn't wonder if I was going like
Grandfa ther StebbinS. / can't wake up
O. mornings"
The doctor looked at her quizzically.
What time do you go to bed?'
Around half-past 10"
"And at what time do you usually
rise?"
The jovial doctor laughed. took her
wrist and held it an instant You
at last NO. you're getting just the
kind of medicine you need-sleep."
Sophie was offended. You're jok-
ing" she reproved.
mo, honest Injun." He patted her
shoulder you know the old rhyme:
Nature demands five hours.
Weariness seven,
Custom prescribes eight
And laziness takes eleven
"Your sleeping. my dear woman,
comes safely under the head of weari-
ness. SO you needn't worry"
Sophie went home, thoughtfully- The
doctor must know what he was talking
about, IF it's just tiredness that ails
me / ought to have heard that clock"
she considered, "if it rang"
She resolved within herself to put the
clock to the test. Every night she
awoke at l or O'Clock and remained
awake some time. For one night she
would withstand nature and not go
back to sleep at all. Through the dreary
hours she lay awake. waiting The
dawn broke. morning entered the room.
The alarm clock clucked. but that was
ALL Sophie sprang up and looked at it.
1t was twenty minutes past 5. The
alarm had not worked.
"Ah. hal" she cried. exultantly:. I've
caught you at 1t, you skeezucks!"
"That old clocks been playing hockey
on me-" she explained to Ina May. 1T
amt rung in three mornings. I've got
to take it to Dubarry's."
To Dubarry's she went with it after
breakfast. The suave, bald clock tinker
leaned across his little counter and
took the clock in his hands.
"Fll have this fixed by tomorrow, Mrs.
Peel" he promised. There's spring
broken. You say you want it set for
o'clock? All right. You call tomorrow
afternoon and I'll have it ready for you.
And I'll swear it won't give you no
more trouble"
phie called for the clock. She was go
ing to the ladies' aid meeting at Mrs.
Henderson's. and SO she slipped the
clock into the large silk bag. which al
ready held a parcel of cloth and her
sewing utensils.
She was late at the meeting. The
room was full when she entered and
everybody was talking excitedly. So
phies entrance scarcely produced a
pause.
Have you heard the news?' a half
dozen voices demanded.
mo! What?" Sophie was all curl
why, Annie vawter's run away with
.T knew it! knew it," Sophie nod
ded. "I could "a told you it was going
to happen!" And she added her stock
of information to the score.
Very little sewing was accomplished
that afternoon. Every woman was too
intent upon contributing something to
the already racy details of the elope-
ment. Annie Vawter's history was
thoroughly discussed. as was Bob Hol-
combs More than that, they went back
two generations to tell about how Bobs
Uncle Ezra confiscated the church funds
for his own use, and how Annie's grand
mother had stolen set of hoopskirts
No wonder the young folks cut up when
the old ones had been such reprobates.
At half-past Mrs. Henderson brought
in refreshments. Just then Mrs. Mil
lard Jones rushed In. i've been trying
TO ret here all the afternoon" she pant.
ed. Il hope amt too late yet to be