The Little River news., 1919-09-10
THE CUPID CLOCK
By AGNES G. BROGAN.


 mated her from the moment that she ; had first seen it in the jewellers win dow--a cleverly fashioned bit of mech aniSm. the face of the Cupid whose arm encircled it worthy the study of an artist
 Nan had many fancies about the 1 little clock. She liked to picture it in the center Of her plain mantelpece, i where the alarm clock now stood.
 The clock was expensive. Nan thought. when she stepped into the small store to price it. An interested young man noted the wistful note in her voice as she questioned him as to the possibility of the clock being promptly sold.
 "You see" she added, 'I want to buy it myself little later" The young man understood the sig nificance of "a little later"
 "We issue charge accounts" he sug- gested
 Nan blushed "rd rather wait" she answered frankly, until I have the cash price," The man gazing unaware into Mans clear eyes was pretty certain that the clock would be in stock for some time.
 'They go to the bigger places as a rule for that sort of thing" he told Nan.
 She pointed out that no bigger place could possibly offer a clock with that
 
 He seems to be laughing right at One,' she said.
 The young man had noted the chal- lenging smile.
 "The little fellow seems cocksure of himself" he said, and he also smiled at Nan.
 When she was gone he removed the clock from the show window and placed it in deep drawer
 Nan. entering the store breathlessly next evening. wanted to know if it had been sold.
 her.
 If customers don't see it.' he ex- plained, "another clock will do as well. am keeping it for you.''
 Nan was grateful, her eyes told him so. And the proprietor of the small shop stood, after she had departed. watching her trim figure out of sight down the street.
 Saw a little clock in your window" collector of curiOS began. when the young man briskly interrupted.
 Sold" he said.
 It was radiant Nan who came glow ing in out of dismal shower to place her complete savings on the shop coun- ter
 q want my clock" she triumphantly demanded.
 The proprietor was as pleased over the sale as herself.
 "You had better bring it in during the next few days" he admonshed her, ito let me see how it is running. We like to keep them regulated at first"
 Nan Obediently brought the clock in It was keeping good time with Cupid still silently iubilant.
 The young man himself was not SC jubilant. It would be an unreasonable thing to ask his fair customer to re- turn again with so Well-behaved a clock, also a suggestion to see her | again would be under the crcum- stances unwarrantable.
 The wistful note which had been in Mans voice as she asked the price of the clock was in the young mans as he bade her goodby.
 Fool" he told himself. "Why didn't you offer 10 carry the thing home to herr"
 Nan laughed at the Cupid on her no longer unadorned mantel.
 You dear." she said, you maKe me believe every time look at you that something delightful is going to hap pen. You're hypnOtizing me, so that l start out singing in my heart every day"
 | But if Nan started out singing she returned at evening wearily and with an unaccountable disappointment where the song had been. She had not passed the SnOp once. | though she had often wished to do so. Common sense asked her why she should go out of her way and to what purpose? And Nan could only bow to common sense and take the short and prudent way hOmeward.
 On a certain evening of depression Nan saw as she glanced at the clock that it's hands were still at the hour | when she had left in the mOrning-the hour also to which the roguiSh Cupid pointed-and the hands refused to be moved.
 Her depression vanished inexpli- 1 cably as she wrapped the clock, paus- ing to look appraisingly in the mirror The jewery shop was still open when she reached it, the young proprietor gazed up at her entrance wide-eyed He seemed to have difficulty in speak ing.
 II was not expecting to see you, he eXplained.@
 Silently Nan handed over the clock