The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-03-07
"Ie is certainly asleep" thought


With heart that beat quick and
fast, like the stroke of miniature
hammer, she drew the key from her
dress pocket and proceeded. spite of
the nervous trembling of her fingers.
to fit it into the lock. So absorbed
was she in her task, that she never
noted the sudden cessation of the
heavy breathing-never saw the dea-
con start sudden into wakefulness,
and look around towards her. All,
He,ty, love is blind, they say, and il
is equally true that love is sometimes
deaf!
The deacon rose quietly up with a
shrewd twinkle in his eyes, and Hetty
gave little frightened shrek as hand
fell softly on her arm, possessing IT,
self quietly of the key.
Let me help you," said Deacon
Merritt.
Father, IL have found the key"
faltered Hetty, "and-"
Found the key, eh ?' returned the
deacon. "Well, that's lucky-and
now you can find out what's the mat
ter with the old clock I"
Hetty's heart, throbbing so wildly
a moment or two ago, seemed to stand
absolutely still as Deacon Merritt
turned the key and opened the tall
door of the clock-case.
"Hal-lom calculated Deacon Mer-
ritt, as Mr.. John Aylmer tumbled
laughingly into the room. $50 you
was the matter with the old clock,
ell ?"
ayes, SIR said Mr. Aylmer, COM
posedly. Il hope | haven't seriously
interie,ed with the works of the
clockg"
you've seriously interfered with
me ~ said the deacon. waxing indig
fant. "What do you mean. sir, by
hiding in my house like thief."
Indeed, indeed, father" cried Het-
ty, bursting into tears. alt wasn't
his fault. He didn't want to hide,
but put him there
you did, Ell? And may l ask
what for?"
Father" faltered Hetty, rather ir-
reverently, Il love him-and he loves
mei"
"Is that any reason. he should hide
in the clock-case, miss 2"
"No-bnt, father! o. father. | can
never marry Caleb Truman lie is
old, and cross. and withered, and"
Hetty's eyes finished the sentence for
her. The deacon looked down. not
unkindly, on her bowed head, and the
tender arm that supported it. Ap-
parently the course of true love,
roughly though it ran, was over
whelming NIL his own worldly-wise
arrangements in its tide.
"And so you young folks really
think YOU love each other?" said the
deacon mcditatively.
81 love her with all my heart and
soul, SIR said John Aylmer. earnestly.
I'm not rich, know, but l can work
for herr
"And | can work for myself, too,
fa,her!" said Hetty, with eyes that
shown like softened stars.
"And you said yourself, SIR" went
on Aylmer, That stopping of the
clock meant either death or a mar.
riage. OF course we don't want any
deaths, SO don't you think the most
sensible thing to do is to help on a
marriage as soon as possible :"
The deacon laughed in spite OF him
self.
1T is late" said the deacon. "Come
round tomorrow morning. and we'll
talk about it. No, Hetty. I'm not
angry with you, child. | suppose
young folks will be yonng folks, and
there's no use tryin' to stop EN-
And as the deacon hung the pendu-
lum and set the iron tongue of the old
clock talking again, John Aylmer
paused on the front doorstep 10 whis-
per to Hetty-
MY darling, it's worth passing a
lifetime behind clock-case to feel as
happy as do now"