Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
The House of Clocks

me were dismal because unlighted. they
betrayed a splendor unusual in any
country house. I was still absorbed in
the wonder of it all when the quiet
voice of the old gentleman who had
let me in reached me again from the
doorway and I heard:
Madam is ready for you. May 1
trouble you to accompany me to her
room"
rose with aIacrity The hall gave
me a glimpse, as We went by. of various
secluded corners. and 1t seemed as II
everywhere / looked l saw-a clock.
l counted four before l reached the
staircase. A fifth one rose grim and
tall at the stair foot 1t had paused in
its task. and faced me with motionless
hands and silent works. fact which
somehow startled me: perhaps. because
Just then / encountered the old mans
eye watching me with an expression as
challenging as 1t was unintelligible-
You felt Mrs. Postlethwaite's influ-
ence the moment you entered her pres
ence. She was not young; she was not
beautiful; she had not even the usual
marks about her of an ultra strong
personality, but that her will was law.
had always been and would continue
to be law SO long as she lived was
patent to any eye at the first glance.
She exacted obedience consciously and
uncon sciously, and she exacted 1t with
charm.
She was alone. or so I thought. whom
I made my first bow to her stern but
not unpleasing presence. Seated with
a silver tray before her containing such
little matters as she stood in hourly
need of, she confronted me with
piercing gaze startling to behold In
eyes SO colorless. Then she smiled. and
in obedience to that smile l seated my
self in a chair placed very near her
own. Her voice betrayed the character
her features failed to express. 1t was
firm, resonant and instinct with COM
mand. What she said is immaterial.
was there for certain purpose and We
entered Immediately upon the business
of that purpose.
In the few hours remaining to me be-
fore leaving New York I had learned
some additional particulars concerning
herself and family. and when. after
some minor requests, she proceeded
to name the parties to whom she de-
sired to leave the bulk of her fortune, /
ventured to remark:
But you have a young relative, IL
she not to be included in this partition
of your property?
A smile came to life on her stin lips,
such as is seldom seen. thank God. on
the face OF any woman. and 1 heard:
The young relative of whom you
speak is in the room. She has known
for some time that l have no intention
of leaving anything to her. There is,
in fact. small chance OF her ever need
ing It."
one but that IL was loud enough to
be heard in all parts of the room / was
soon assured For quick sigh. which
was almost n gasp followed from
corner 7 had hitherto ignored. and upon
glancing that way perceived. peering
upon US from the shadows, the white
face of a young girl in whose drawn
features and wide. staring eyes / be-
held such evidences Of terror that In an
instant whatever prediction I had
hitherto felt for my client vanished in
distrust, II not positive aversion.
Mrs. Postlethwaite's voice rose again.
this time addressing the young girl:
You may CO." she said.
But though the startled girl had lost
none of the terror which had made her
face like a mask, no power OF move
ment remained to her. A picture of
hopeless misery. she stood for one
hreathless moment. with her eyes h1ed
in unmistakable appeal on mine: then
she began to sway so helplessly that
ieaped with bounding heart to catch
her. As she fell into my arms I heard
, she seems very ill.," observed with
some emphasis.
/ she is as sick 4 woman as I am my
solf." said Mrs. Postlethwaite. That is
. why ] made the remark l did. never
imagining she would hear me at that
/ distance Do not put her down. My
, nurse will be here in a moment to re-
lieve you of your burden"
tinkle accompanied these words
; The resolute woman had stretched out
] "a finger, of whose use she was not
. quite deprived. and touched a little
bell standing on the tray before her, an
: inch or two from her hand.
! I asked no questions and yielded her
! up with seeming readiness when a
D strong but none too intelligent woman
r came running in with arms outstretch-
i ed to carry her off. When the door had
: closed upon these two the silence OF
S my client drew my attention back to
herself.
5 u am waiting" was her quiet obser-