The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-03-07
THE LOVERS CAPTIVITY.

i IL
What she would do Hetty Mer-
ri,t did not say-the sentence was
terminated by laugh that set the
dimples round her mouth in motion.
just as beam of June sunshine plays
athwart cluster of red-ripe cherries.
Hetty Merritt was just seventeen-a
plump, rosy girl with jet black hair
brushed back from low forehead,
and perfectly arched eyebrows that
gave a bewiiching expression of SUR
prise TO pair of melting hazel eyes.
Evidently Mr.. Aylmer was quite
satisfied with Hetty's peculiar style of
beauty.
"Come, Hetty," said John, "you
might promise. It's nine O'Clock, and
your father will soon be home.n
Promise, what, John! ~ said Hetty,
demurely, fitting square OF Turkey
red patchwork to white and intently
observing the effect.
"Nonsense, Hetty, You know what,
very well. Promise TO marry me be-
fore Christmas. / tell you what,
Hetty, it's all very we'll for you to
keep putting off, but can't stand it,
what with your fathers forbiddiug me
the house, and Caleb Truman's com
ing here every Saturday night"
Hetty gave her pretty head a toss.
"As if Caleb Truman's coming here
makes any difference in my feelings,
John !"
NO, Tut Hetty, it isn't pleasant,
you know. I'm as good a man as
Caleb Truman, if don't own railroad
shares, and keep an account ut the
Brigham Bank, and l love you, Het-
", from the very bottom of my heart
Hetty, this matter lies between me
and You only-no other person in the
world has right TO interfere between
US. Come promise mem
He held both her hands in his, and
looked into her liquid brown eyes.
DO you love me, Hetiy!'
"You know | love you, John"
"Then We may just as well-Hush !
what's that"
Hetty rose to her feet with sudden
scarlet suffusing brow and cheeks.
"Oh, John, it's tather!"
suppose it is -
"But he mustn't find You here,
John. Hide yourself somewhere, do"
What nonsense, Hettyl" said the
young man, resolutely standing his
ground. Il have not come here to
steal his spoons-why should | steal
away like detected burglar :"
"For my sake, John. o, John, if
you have ever loved me, do as say !!
Not in that closet-it is close to his
bedroom; not through that window
it is nailed down tight. He's coming!
he's coming! Here, John, quick =
And in the drawing OF a breath, she
had pushed John Alymer into the
square pendulum case of the clock,
and turned the key upon hun.
"Phew! jolly scrape to be in,"
thought John. land no knowing when
I'll be out of it! Hetty's a shrewd lit
tie puss, however, and can't do bet
ter than to leave matters in her
hands,
$50 you haven't gone to bed. Het-
ty," said Deacon Merritt, slowly un-
winding the two yards of wooleu com
forter in which he generally encased
his throat of an evening.
"Not yet, father" said Hetty pick
ing mp her scattered bits of patchwork
with a glowing cheek. Did you
have pleasant meeting p
"WelI, yes quoth the deacon re-
fectively, sitting down before the fire,
greatly to Hetty's consternation-she
had hoped he would have gone quiet
ly 10 bed, according TO his usual Gus
tom; "toI'bly pleasant Elder Jones
was there, and Elder Backstretcher,
and-well, all the church folks pretty
much. Why, how red your cheeks
are, Hetty! Tired, amt you? Well,
you needn't set up for me, my dear;
it must be getting late"
The deacon glanced mechanically
around at the clock. Hetty felt the
blood grow cold in her veins.
"Twenty minutes past nine-why,
it must be later than that! Why,
land o. Goshen! The old clocks
stopped!"
The deacon looked thonghtfully at
the fiery backlog. Hetty fidgeted
uneasily about the room, straighten-
ing table covers, and setting back
chairs-oh, if he would only 60 to
bed
AS he sat there, his eyelids began
to droop, and his head to nod, somno-
lently Hetty's eyes lighted up with a
sparkle Of something like hope.
/ "ChiId," he suddenly said, straight.
ening himself up in the stiff-backed
chair, "you'd better 60 to bed. III
sit up a while longer, till the logs
burn out"
"But, father, I am not sleepyw
$50 to bed, my child" reiterated
the deacon with good-humored au
tbority, that brooked no opposition
and Hetty crept ont of the room
ready to cry with anxiety and morti
fication.
"If John will only keep quiet lit
tie longer" she thought, sitting or
the stairs where the autumn moon
light streamed in chilly splendor.-
Father sleeps SO soundIy-and he i,
sure to 60 to sleep in his chair, | could
just steal in and release him as easil,
as possible
She sat there, her plump fingers in
terlaced, and her eyes fixed dreamily
on the floor, while all the time, he
. ears were strained to their utmost ca
pacity to catch every sound in tn
kitchen beyond.
Hark was that the wall of wind
or was it something, to her LITERAL,
Il L d<eu1... %, - ". <.i,,