Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-08-16
THE
CHIME
CLOCK
! ~%%%~%%@@%%%%%@%%%%~%%~%
10 by d. j. Walah.l ...

a THE last moment Arthur hau
"a said she might go. But. he I'D
4 \ ded firmly. that once they got
to the city she must look after
herself He would be too busy to
bother with her.
It was because the doctor had In
line decided to go. A day in the city
would be tremendous change for her
and II wouldn't cost much. The cost
was really what counted most. They
were cutting corners in order to send
Jack to college next year. Arthur
thought that the boy might bet.
ter start right In to work, but Caro-
line, who had been obliged to leave
school at fifteen, wanted her boy to
have a good education.
They were going on the train be-
cause, unlike most Of their neighbors,
they didn't own car. Caroline dressed
very carefully for the trip. She had
pressed her dark crepe dress, brushed
her gray coat and her small black felt
hat and BACKED her shoes till they
scarcely showed a sign of wear. Ex-
element lit her blue eyes, flushed her
cheeks curled her lips in happy
smile. II seemed almost as IL she and
Arthur were starting out again on
wedding trip.
On the train she read the paper ami
scrubbed notes on the back Of old en-.
velopes. She watched him wlstfuLly.
He was so big, so fine, this man OF
hers. But there was worried look
about his dark eyes, his firm mouth.
He was anxious to get that contract.
His getting the contract depended
upon his conference with those big
fellows In the city. II he got 1t times
would be lot easier for all of them.
But Caroline, who had learned what
disappointment means, dared not think
too far ahead.
At the city terminal Arthur put his
wife on a car which would take her
into the heart of the shopping section.
For Caroline was going to spend the
whole day looking about the stores,
rare treat for the little country-bred
woman. When he had finished busi-
ness Arthur would look for her in the
restroom ut Fuller's. Meanwhile, she
was not to cross the main street at all,
she must watch out at corners, II she
got turned round she must ask po-
liceman to direct her and she must
get a good nourlshlng lunch promptly
at noon. Caroline, strolling along the
brilliant street, drank her I'LL Of Its
thousands Of colorful allurements. She
must remember how that dress was
mnde so as to tell 10 Warren. The hats
we're palmer than she expected, the
shoes fan cler. She was charmed by a
window demonstration of electrical
appliances. She went In at the bidding
of an advertisement to see II dress
really could be made In an hour She
visited the ten cent store, fairyland,
where she bought gifts for everybody
back home-gay carriers, talcum,
punches OF artificial flowers. boxes Of
writing paper and candy.
She was having n beautiful time. It
was noon before she dreamed. Going
into the tearoOm Of great store she
sat down ut one of the dainty tables
and ordered tea and sandwiches. But
she did not care so much about the
food as watching the other women.
After lunch she made a tour Of the
store, storing up eager impressions of
everything she saw. Draperles, furnl-
ture, lamps and glassware fascinated
her And clocks. She had never seen 50
many clocks together. She had always
wanted chime clock When you were
lying awake at night musical tinkle
would be such comfort to hear.
Clocks were lots Of company daytlmes,
too. They didn't have a clock that
struck. In fact, the only timeplece In
the house you could rely on was the
nickel alarm clock on the kitchen
shelf.
As Caroline stood admlrlng the
clocks courteous young salesman
asked what he could do for her. He be-
gan to show her the clocks, to wind
them up foi her so she could hear
them chime. There was one that pealed
like tiny golden bells. And II was only
SO. The salesman said II was Of the
same construction as the much bigger
one In the mahogany frame, which was
priced $40.
Seventy dollars is lot of money to
pay for clock" murmured Caroline.
"And SS Is very little to pay for
one" suggested the salesman.
81 was just looking" Caroline said,
and moved on. She went farther and
saw some delightful things, but the
little clock seemed to call her with
its golden tlnkle. Finally she sat down
and counted the contents of her purse.
She had had a $40 bill TO start with
and little change-money she had
been saving for rug. She had Just SO
left. Maybe she could make the old
rug do for the summer.
She went back and bought the
clock. The young salesman must have
wondered why her hands trembled and
she looked 80 pale about the mouth.
Clocks were clocks to him. He couldn't
one timepiece meant TO his customer.
For rest of the afternoon Caroline
had companion right there under
her arm. Other shoppers cast amused
glances at the brlgbt-eyed little WON.
I'M when the golden chime spoke from
the parcel she carried 30 tenderly.
Just before four O'Clock she made
her way to the appointed place and sat
down to wait for her husband. TO her
establishment he dashed In ahead OF
time.
"Jlm Bugbcc's here. We're going
home IN his car" Arthur said. "CGme
on. He c.n park only ten minutes
where b. l'.'