The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-04-26


pretty much. Why how red your cheeks
are, Hetty Tired, ain. your Well, you
needn set up for me dear; it must be get
ting 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 thoughtiully at the
fiery backlog ITetty idgeted uneasily
about the room, Strengthening table covers,
and setting hack chairs-oh, if he would
only go to bed
As he sat there, his eyelids began to drop,
and his head to nod, somnolehtly. IIet
tvs eyes lighted up with sparkle OF
something like hope
Child " he suddenly said Strengthening
himself up in the iif-backed chair, you'd
better go to bed. III Fit up a while lon
ger, till the logs burn OUT
But, father, am not sleepy
Go to bed, my child" reiterated the
deacon with good humored authority, that
brooked no opposition, and Hetty crept ont
OF the room, ready to cry with an xieiy and
modification.
aft John will ony keep quiet little
longer she thought, sitting on the stairs
where the autumn moonlight streamed in
chilly splendor. Father sleeps soundly-
and he is sure to 90 to sleep in his chair,
could just steal in and release him as easi-
ly AS possiblcl
She sat there, her plump fingers inter
floor, while all the time, her ears were
strained to their utmost capacity to catch
every sound in the kitchen beyond.
lIark was that the wall of wind, or was
1t something, to her literally nearer and
dearerY' les-she could not be mistaken
now--it was actually a snore.
Hetty rose softly to her feet with re-
newed hope. Surely, now was tbs accept
ed time
Noiselessly as a floating shadow, she
crossed the hall, opened ;he kitchen door
and stole across the creaking boards of the
floor. The shifting lustre OF the freight
revealed to her Deacon Merritt nodding be-
fore the fire with closed eyes, and hands
hanging at his sides.
lie is certainly thought Hetty.
With heart that beat quick and fast,
/ like the strOie OF miniature hammer, she
drew the key from her dress pocket and
I 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 hreathing-nev saw the deacon
start suddenly into wakeluness, and look
around toward her. Ali Heuy, love is
blind, they say, and it is equally true that
love is sometimes beat
The deacon rose quietly up with ashrewd
twinkle in his eye, and Hetty gave little
frightened shrek as hand fell softly on
her arm, possessing itself quietly Of the key
Let ne help you, SAID Deacon Mer-
rift
Father, II have found the key" mI-
tered HeIty, and
Found the key ELI p returned the dea-
con. "Well, that's ucky-and now YOU
can find out whata the matter with the
old clock e.
Iletty's heart throbbins so wildly mo.
ment or Two ago. seemed to stand absolute
ly still "a Deacon Merritt turned the kew
aud opened the tall door of the clock case
Hal 10 e. calculated Deacon Merritt as
Mr.. John Aylmer tumDled laughingly in
to the room. $50 you was the matter with
tire old clock, Ell"
eyes, sir said Mr.. Almyer, composed
ly # hope | haven't seriously interfered
with the works Of the clock g'
you've seriously interrerred with met
said the deacon, waxing indignant what
do you mean -ir, 10y hiding in my house
like theft
Indeed. indeed father" cried Heuy
bursting into tears 1T wasn't his fault
lie didn't want to hide, but put him
there
You did Ella? And may ask what for %
Father" falterei IIetty, rather icrev-
Greatly, 81 love him and he loves me-
+ lie that any reason he should hide in
the clock case, mi--Y
"No-hut father Onther, can never