The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-08-07
THE CUPID CLOCK /
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.

Nan went out of the way in order
TO pass again the shop where the clock
was displayed. The clock had fasci-
mated her from the moment that she
had first seen it in the jewelers. win
doW-a cleverly fashioned bit of mech
anlsm, the face of the Cupid whose
arm encircled it worthy the study of
an artist.
Nan had many fancies about the
little clock. She liked to picture it in
the center of her plain mantelpiece,
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.
"Iou see,' she added, II want to buy
1t myself little later
The young man understood the sig
nificance Of "a little later"
eve issue charge accounts" he sug.
gested.
Nan bushed I'D rather wait" she
answered frankly, until I have the
cash price"
The man gazing unaware into Mans
clear eyes was pretty certain that the
Aclock would be in stock for some time.
r. "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
particular Cupid's expression
Gle seems to be laughing right at
one" she said.
The young man had noted the chal-
longing smile.
THE little fellow seems cocksure of
at Nan.
When she was gone he removed the
clock from the show window and
placed it in a deep drawer.
Nan, entering the store breathlessly
next evening, wanted to know if it
had been sold.
T. The young man eagerly treasured
her.
eff customers don't see it," he ex-
pidiueu, uHOluGr CLOCK WILL 40 DIS 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 little clock in your window"
/ a collector of curios began, when the
& hr.ic1 into
E Sold" he said.
It was radiant Nan who came glow
ing in out of dismal shower to place
her complete savings on the shop cpun-
ter.
IT want my clock" she triumphantly
demanded Y
The proprietor was as pleased over
the sale as herself.
"You had better bring it in during
the next few days." he admonished
her. "to let me see how it is running.
We like to keep them regulated at
first"
Nan obediently brought the clock in.
1t was keeping good time with Cupid
still silently jubilant.
The young man himself was not so
jubilant. 1t would be an unreasonable
thing to ask his fair customer to re-
turn again with so well-behaved
clock, also a suggestion to see her
again would be under the circum-
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 babe her goodby.
"Fool," he told himself "Why didn't
Ayou offer to carry the thing home to
her?"
Nan laughed at the Cupid on her no
longer unadorned mantel.
"You dear!" she said, "you make me
believe every time l look at you that
something delightful is going to. hap
pen. You're hypnotizing me- so that
start out singing in my heart every
- day."
But if Nan started out singing she
returned at evening YEARLY and with
an unaccOuntable disappointment
where the song had been.
She had not passed the shop 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-
hcably as she wrapped the clock, paus-
Ping to look appraisingly in the mirror.
The jewelry 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.
I'll was not expecting to see you, .
he explained.
No 81. No. 1o