Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-03-04
Gales : skstebss.
TIE LOWERS CAPTIVITY.


The old clock in the kitchen had Just
struck niue. 1t was no gilded toy, no trille
OF bronze, or alabastcr, but IL tail, square,
solld relic OF the olden time. looking not
unlike u colin case set on end, in the Cor
ner--:l clock that had lasted through one
generation, and to judge from all appear
nnces, was quite likely to nst through
another. Deacon Merritt cherished that
old time-piccc with Il sort of pride which he
himself would scarcely have confessed to-
There was great, ruddy fire OF chest
nut logs Ill the wide red brick-paved fire
place, and the candles in the polished brass
Sticks were Wlnklng mGrrily from the high
wooden mantle, where they shared the post
Of honor with Il broken sca-shcll and q
pmster basket Of improbably colOrcd fruit.
At the windows Il curtain of gaudy chintz
shut out the million stars Of the frosty
autumnal night, and on the cOzy rug OF
paity-coIorGl rags lat tOrtose-shell cat
purred away the slowly lapsing minutes
But the tort0ise-shell cat was not the
only inhabitant Of the snug farmhouse
kitchen.
John = said Mehitabel Merritt. decided
ly, II you don't behave Yourself HI,
|jhut she would do, lIetly Merritt did
not say-the sentence was terminated by Il
laugh that set the dimples round her mouth
III motion, just as Il beam Of June sunshine
plays athwart cluster Of red-ripc cherries.
hetty Merritt was just sevcntecn-a
plump, rosy girl with jet-black hair brush
cd back from low forehead, and perfectly
arched ey ebrows that gave bewtching eX-
preston Of surprise 10 Il pair of melting
hazel eyes. She was rather dark, but the
severcst critic would hardly have found
FAULT with the peach-lille bloom upon her
checks, and the dewy rcd of her full, daint-
lily curved lips.
Evidently Mr.. John Alymer was quite
satisfied with lletty's peculiar style Of
beauty.
Come, Iletty,' said John, moving his
chair where he could best watch the flush
oI The freight upon her face, and picking
up the thread OF conversation where he had
dropped it, when it became necessary for
Ileily to bid him behave HIMSELF YOU
might promise. It's nine O'Clock, and
your father will soon be home
Promise what, John r said IIetty DEM
ureiy, hitting square uf Turkey-red patch
work toa white square, and intentiy OBJ
serving the effect.
Nonsense, IIetty You know what
very well. Promise to marry me before
Christmas tell you what, llelty, it's all
very well Tor you 10 keep putting fellow
OH, but cannot stand ii, what With your
father 5 torbiddlng the house, aud Caleb
rruman's coming here every Sunday
plsht-'
Ilotty gave her pretty head toss.
As n Caleb Truman . coming here made
any dlllereuce IA my feelings, John y
No, but, llctiy, il ,sat pleasant, YOU
know I'm as good a man rs Caleb llu-
man, Il | don't own railroad shares aud
keep an account AT the brigham bank, aud
| love you, llully, from the very bottom ui
my heart lletty, this matter lles between
yon and no Only no other person IA the
world has right a. Interfere belweeu us.
Come promise me-
ilu hold both her hands in bis, aud look
Cd earnestly into lhe liquid b-osn eyes,
10 you love ~, lleliy r
You know love you, John
Then NC may just as well Hush what :
that r.
There was a portoutous s0und uf draw
lpg bolls aud Tallllng lalcllps la the porch
roOm beyond "a stamp ul nailvd buuts
sLAking on the duet oi county luads,
livlty rosc ~ her hel with sudleu teaglet
suiiusin9 bros aud ehecks
'Oh, John, ne ialAeg
'suppyse q Il y
iiai he ulp5iu't dad you here, John I
iiNr yourself tnipr htlyi No =
NAai nonH, nle, lieiiy slii lhe young
man, lrsplulely tlandins hls gIpunk 4
hateA't epins ~ sisal Ns slHioiis ahi
shp,ila I steal asay Ake q ds1elel pafs'
Fo' '~y as. Ioha oa. Ioha n yoa