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accomplishments made the world even more incapable than it might
otherwise have been of appreciating Owen Warland's genius。 The
boy's relatives saw nothing better to be doneas perhaps there
was notthan to bind him apprentice to a watchmaker； hoping that
his strange ingenuity might thus be regulated and put to
utilitarian purposes。
Peter Hovenden's opinion of his apprentice has already been
expressed。 He could make nothing of the lad。 Owen's apprehension
of the professional mysteries； it is true； was inconceivably
quick； but he altogether forgot or despised the grand object of a
watchmaker's business； and cared no more for the measurement of
time than if it had been merged into eternity。 So long； however；
as he remained under his old master's care； Owen's lack of
sturdiness made it possible； by strict injunctions and sharp
oversight； to restrain his creative eccentricity within bounds；
but when his apprenticeship was served out； and he had taken the
little shop which Peter Hovenden's failing eyesight compelled him
to relinquish； then did people recognize how unfit a person was
Owen Warland to lead old blind Father Time along his daily
course。 One of his most rational projects was to connect a
musical operation with the machinery of his watches； so that all
the harsh dissonances of life might be rendered tuneful； and each
flitting moment fall into the abyss of the past in golden drops
of harmony。 If a family clock was intrusted to him for
repair；one of those tall； ancient clocks that have grown nearly
allied to human nature by measuring out the lifetime of many
generations；he would take upon himself to arrange a dance or
funeral procession of figures across its venerable face；
representing twelve mirthful or melancholy hours。 Several freaks
of this kind quite destroyed the young watchmaker's credit with
that steady and matter…of…fact class of people who hold the
opinion that time is not to be trifled with； whether considered
as the medium of advancement and prosperity in this world or
preparation for the next。 His custom rapidly diminisheda
misfortune； however； that was probably reckoned among his better
accidents by Owen Warland； who was becoming more and more
absorbed in a secret occupation which drew all his science and
manual dexterity into itself； and likewise gave full employment
to the characteristic tendencies of his genius。 This pursuit had
already consumed many months。
After the old watchmaker and his pretty daughter had gazed at him
out of the obscurity of the street； Owen Warland was seized with
a fluttering of the nerves； which made his hand tremble too
violently to proceed with such delicate labor as he was now
engaged upon。
〃It was Annie herself！〃 murmured he。 〃I should have known it； by
this throbbing of my heart； before I heard her father's voice。
Ah； how it throbs！ I shall scarcely be able to work again on this
exquisite mechanism to…night。 Annie！ dearest Annie！ thou shouldst
give firmness to my heart and hand； and not shake them thus； for
if I strive to put the very spirit of beauty into form and give
it motion； it is for thy sake alone。 O throbbing heart； be quiet！
If my labor be thus thwarted； there will come vague and
unsatisfied dreams which will leave me spiritless to…morrow。〃
As he was endeavoring to settle himself again to his task； the
shop door opened and gave admittance to no other than the
stalwart figure which Peter Hovenden had paused to admire； as
seen amid the light and shadow of the blacksmith's shop。 Robert
Danforth had brought a little anvil of his own manufacture； and
peculiarly constructed； which the young artist had recently
bespoken。 Owen examined the article and pronounced it fashioned
according to his wish。
〃Why； yes；〃 said Robert Danforth； his strong voice filling the
shop as with the sound of a bass viol； 〃I consider myself equal
to anything in the way of my own trade； though I should have made
but a poor figure at yours with such a fist as this；〃 added he；
laughing； as he laid his vast hand beside the delicate one of
Owen。 〃But what then？ I put more main strength into one blow of
my sledge hammer than all that you have expended since you were a
'prentice。 Is not that the truth？〃
〃Very probably；〃 answered the low and slender voice of Owen。
〃Strength is an earthly monster。 I make no pretensions to it。 My
force； whatever there may be of it； is altogether spiritual。〃
〃Well； but； Owen； what are you about？〃 asked his old
school…fellow； still in such a hearty volume of tone that it made
the artist shrink； especially as the question related to a
subject so sacred as the absorbing dream of his imagination。
〃Folks do say that you are trying to discover the perpetual
motion。〃
〃The perpetual motion？ Nonsense！〃 replied Owen Warland； with a
movement of disgust； for he was full of little petulances。 〃It
can never be discovered。 It is a dream that may delude men whose
brains are mystified with matter； but not me。 Besides； if such a
discovery were possible； it would not be worth my while to make
it only to have the secret turned to such purposes as are now
effected by steam and water power。 I am not ambitious to be
honored with the paternity of a new kind of cotton machine。〃
〃That would be droll enough！〃 cried the blacksmith； breaking out
into such an uproar of laughter that Owen himself and the bell
glasses on his work…board quivered in unison。 〃No； no； Owen！ No
child of yours will have iron joints and sinews。 Well； I won't
hinder you any more。 Good night； Owen； and success； and if you
need any assistance； so far as a downright blow of hammer upon
anvil will answer the purpose； I'm your man。〃
And with another laugh the man of main strength left the shop。
〃How strange it is；〃 whispered Owen Warland to himself； leaning
his head upon his hand； 〃that all my musings； my purposes； my
passion for the beautiful； my consciousness of power to create
it；a finer； more ethereal power； of which this earthly giant
can have no conception；all； all； look so vain and idle whenever
my path is crossed by Robert Danforth！ He would drive me mad were
I to meet him often。 His hard； brute force darkens and confuses
the spiritual element within me； but I； too； will be strong in my
own way。 I will not yield to him。〃
He took from beneath a glass a piece of minute machinery； which
he set in the condensed light of his lamp； and； looking intently
at it through a magnifying glass； proceeded to operate with a
delicate instrument of steel。 In an instant； however； he fell
back in his chair and clasped his hands； with a look of horror on
his face that made its small features as impressive as those of a
giant would have been。
〃Heaven！ What have I done？〃 exclaimed he。 〃The vapor； the
influence of that brute force；it has bewildered me and obscured
my perception。 I have made the very strokethe fatal
strokethat I have dreaded from the first。 It is all over