Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1919 — GRANDDAD’S CLOCK [ARTICLE]

GRANDDAD’S CLOCK

By JOSEPHINE MURPHY.

(Copyright, 1918, by McClure Newspaper Sjndicate.) in the saleroom the auctioneer had become quite tired of telling Intending bidders that it was “not for sale.’-’ He h„d explained that it belonged to a lady who hack acted as companion to the late owner of the house. --———.■■ She was still occupying one room io the house and had not had time to ret move all her things before the sale,, and so -the clock had remained in its usual place in a corner landing. .The auctioneer was preparing to take down the name of the hist Rm’’chaseiy "My name is Richard D——,” saidthe man. “Never mind writing it down; here is my card. By the way. think it won 1 d be any use to* send it in to the lady upstairs? L am very curious to see the clock theyare all making such a fuss about. I. to view the as I noticed in the catalogue that the cabinet was the only thing worth buying. However. I will run up and have a look at the clock, and, if 1 take a fancy to it perhaps I may .come to terms with the owner.” “.Whoever wants to buy that clock, will have to marry the owner,” replied, the auctioneer. A roar of applause greeted his remark, and, amidst the merriment of a room full of people, he made his escape upstairs. At first glance he recognized it to be one of rare make. It struck the hour of four and its voice sounded to him like the echo of another clock that had struck in the long ago. It awoke old. memories, asleep . for many years. And now for a few minutes Mr. Richard D- , the wealthy merchant and connoisseur, was dead, and plain Dick D——the farmhand of twenty years before, reigned in his stead. Once more it was haymaking time, and he and his companions, tirtnl out with their day’s work, were sitting at the supper table in the farmhouse kitchen, waited upon by Farmer E- ’s pretty daughter Esther. Once more he could feel his heart beating and keeping time to the tick of the grandfather clock that -fitted so well in the corner. Memories of happier days which he and Esther spent together, the only drawback tohis haiqriness being that the old clock was ticking away the precious minutes. Then had come the misunderstanding and they had parted. He came to himself With a start. How silly for him to indulge in such sentimental reveres. The past was dead and buried; what need to di< it up again. Yet how strange it was that he had never, thought of the other clock except in connection with her. And all these years he had overlooked the fact that it must have been one of great value. He wondered if it was still ticking in its old place in the corner, and if Esther ever thought of him when she, sat in the farmhouse* happily surrounded by her husband and children. Of course she had married Timothy Blake. He remembered it wage through him they had quarreled. At this moment the door at the far end of the landing opened and a woman came out.

She paused in front of him and said: “Excuse me, sir, that clock, belongs to ine, and is not for sale.” His card case felTto the floor, and as he stooped to pick it up he murmured, “It is she I It is she!” "The auctioneer told me the clock was not for sale, but I thought you might sell it if I made you a good offer.” • "I would not sell for any offer,” she replied. “The clock has associations for me and memento of the happy days gone by. In fact,” she added . sidly, “it is the only voice left me now that speaks to me out of the past.” “What does it say?” he questioned eagerly. She seemed surprised apd annqyed by the. question, for she made no answer. “I am sorry if I have hurt your .feelings by my offer. Mrs.—” H 0 hesi-* tated over the last word. “Miss E— —,” she replied, correcting him and filling in the pause. “What!” he shouted in amazement. “Do you mean to say you never married Timothy' after all?” She turned and peered up into his face. ■. ■ '■ . ~ “You, Dick! You!” He caught hold of her "hands, and, looking at her with a glad light shining in Ins eyes, he said r “Is it fmsstlde, me?" . ■ J ' ' “How could I forget,” she replied, “when the old clock has been ticking your name to me fpr the last twepty years?" Ten minutes later a man rushed into the anteroom and said to the young ♦ man who was still gazing at the bookcase : , “That old Johnnie who went upstairs is taking your advice already, for I’ve seen him kiss the owner of the ciqck.”