Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-10-11

of farmer Bensleys death | never fancied
they wonld be left in INDECENT circumstan-
ces.'
How strange the wooden clock looked
on the carved marble mantle of his elegant
parlor at the st. Ambrose Hotel-how sin
gular its solemn tick, tick blended with
the silver chimes of bells and the rumble of
Omnibusses on the pavement below. Yet
Captain Vane felt his heart soften as he
looked at the time-worn dial.
Il wonder what ails the striking machin
ery? he thought, opening the little door. Il
used to have a genuine Yankee faculty for
neutrality-suspicious. it has not entirely de-
serted me yet
He drew out the dusty weights-they
were wedged in by some stiff paper: he eN-
amined it more closely.
The very letter l wrote Rachel Bensley,
three years ago-the letter | entrusted TO
her fathers care, with the seal unbroken
still
hi. a ,6I"s,'aJ OGS Of liE break in upon
Jacob Bensley.' he calculated between
his set teeth; may Heaven forgive you for
this deed of trcachery, for it seems to me
never can.
How late is it, Rachel
six o'clock, mother. Are you better
nOw!'
Yes. but my head still aches.
twill conf and bailf 4 for you, moth
er, when 1 ihaye fnishea this piecd of
swork.'l II
You are tired. dear-I am afraid you
overwork yourself. i'll could only help
you-but my sight fails with every day
Oh, my daughter, what is TO become ofyou
when am gomez
God only knows sighed Rachel, her
fair head dropping over that endless basket
of work. Mother. | dare not fancy what
the future may bring forth
She rose to opsRthe door. as gentle
tap sounded omtfle pannels-a tall officer
in the uniform of Federal captain stoo
before her.
Rachel
Ralph Nane,'
Nay. scarcely wonder that you look
coldly on me, Rachel, but l have been true
TO YOU all these wears. Here is the letter
gave your father for you, three years ago
this very summer When YOU gave no an
swer -eitl,rr,by look orwspl. 4 fiuNied YOU
had been lsiayins With my aifee tious.. Now
sac how, G eSront onslyI 4 have jpdged you.
Rachel. viii you give me the answer |
have waited for so long and vainly, the
night before enlistcd!'
She broke the seal with trembling hands
and glanced over the contents OF the time
yellow note
oh, Ralph. can you ever forgive me for
the hard thoughts | have cherished toward
YOU:
Then YOU will be my wife, now. Rachcl?
i canno( tep yfrhoSt f~,illingly-how
viii you give her to me. Mrs. Bensley?'
said the tall soldier. knceling on one knee
beside the widows chair.
May God deal with YOU as YOU do with
my child, Ralph Nane,' uttered Mrs. Bcns-
ley. solemnly
Late in the glorious moonlight of an Au-
gust night they sat and talked. Rachel
learned that Riches and honor had been
conferred upon hertvuOthed husband by
fortunes iBer;l hand sfhce he nd left the
little New England -vfffagc and gone soil
diering, and he in turn listened to the sad
story of old Jacob Benslcy's failure and
death. and his widows poverty.
And then he told them how the antique
fingers of the little old fashioned clock had
guided him back to the heart whose CON
slant love was 10 be his life's sunshine
henceiorward and forever.
And the most exquisite ornament in
Mrs. Capt. Nane'S ,bOudoir, is 4 wooden
Yet shdsyIslld net eachange iffor thecds;
liest time piece ofsaIabas,eIIand gold that
ever spAkhd through Till;ay 3 plate,glass
Z" q