Evening star., 1918-08-04
CHAPTER XVII.
The Cuckoo Clock.

The Cuckoo Clock.
scattered timber and the litter OF
fresh carpentry work. the man who
was busy there and who certainly had
outstayed his time took up his kit
and disappeared around the corner of
the house. Neither noted him. The
cuckoo clock was chirping out its
fivo small notes from the cheerful in
terror. and the curator was remark
ing upon 1t.
That's merry sound, both sweet
and Eliminating; and what is still
bett .r, I can hear 1t without effort.
] believe. should like to have a clock
OF that kind"
ut goes whore I 60" muttered its
strange owner with what seemed an
involuntary emphasis. Then as the
curator turned upon him in some sur
PRISE he added with studied indif-
ference: II trough. 1t from Switzer-
lant. when ! was younger than ] am
nova silly memento. but fancy It,"
A commonplace explanation surely;
why. then, did that cana workman,
who had stopped short after rounding
the corner to pick up something
which he as quickly threw down. turn
quick head and listen eagerly for
what might be said next Nothing
came Of 1t. for the veranda door was
near and the two gentlemen had step
ped In. but to one who knew Sweet
water Tho smile with which he re-
sumed his work had an element in 1t
which. seen. would have darkened
still further the gloom in the trou-
bled eys of the speaker.
switzerland! He had said Switzcr-
,,;.. It ", was not long after this that tho
Ysrk.
The house was not quite ready for
occupancy. but was in the process Of
6eing made so by the woman who had
Roberts both before his marriage and
since his wife's death. During tine
fifteen years which& had intervened
she had been simply the cook.
Inls woman. Huldah Weston by
was IN Belport to stay, and as it be-
hooves us to remain there for a wjlile
longer ourselves, we will join her in
N. NE quiet rest she is taking on tho
house for the. night.
she is not alone. A youEg man Is
with her-one to whom she is giving
ts tsmporary a,oI ,2,, board 20 and lodging in ex-
ence and such slight help as he can
afIord her in the heavy task Of dis
ture.-
We know this man. 1t is the one
ner Of the house. ON quitting his work
on the new veranda--sweetwat
lie is q genial soul; she, though very
Old for the responsibilities she still
insists upon carrying, enjoys good
berless little kindly attentions with
which he shows his respect for her
age II not personal liking for her
self. In short. they are slmost
friends, and she trusts him as she has
save the boy she lost when she was
still comely widow.
Perhaps this is why, on this night
when we find the two together. he
ventures to turn the talk upon the
man she. had so devotedly served dur
ing the better part of her life.
He began with the cuckoo-clock.
Where did ii come from? How long
had they had it? What jolly little
customer the wee bird was. darting
out and darting in with his hurry
call to any one who would listen! 1t
made fellow feel ashamed to dawdle
at his work. 1t wouldn't do to let
any mere bird get ahead of him---a
wooden bird at that!
He got her talking. She had known
Mr. Roberts mother. and she had
been in the house "a young girl them
when he went away to Europe. He
had not wanted to go. lie was in
love, or thought he was. with a wom-
an older than himself But the
mother did not approve of the match,
though the lady had mint of money
and everything in her favor but those
seven years. She afterward became
his wife and for all his mothers
fears they lived together very hap
PLY. Since her death which occurred
about year ago he's been a different
man; very sad and much given to sit
ting alone. Any one can see the effect
1t has had upon him IL they look at
him closely.
Very good"
"Well. life must be lonesome for
widower, especially IL he has no
children. But perhaps he has some
married or at school?"
mo, he has no children, and no rela-
tions, to speak Of"
And he brought that clock from
Switzerland? Did he ever say from
what part of Switzerland"
IF he did don't remember: I've no
memory for foreign Names
This sent Sweetwater off on another
tack. He knew such u good story,
which, having told, lie seemed to have
forgotten all about the clock, for he
said nothing more about it. and not
ola U<l,