Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-13

nor was II NJ all WonucIIui uHu.i '
cumstances. Il wound it up this mornin, ;,
I'm sartin," said the Deacon, very much
disturbed. at never sarved me such
trick afore, all the years it's stood there.
Your aunt Jane used to say 1t was sign
Of death or marriage IN the family before
the year was out.
There was suppressed sound like a
chuckle behind the clock-case as Deacon
Shermer fumbled on the shelf for the clock
kew. These springs must be out OF order
somehow" said the Deacon decisively.
aHow scared you look child! There ain
NO cause for bein' scared. l don't put
much faith in your aunt James old time
superstition. Where in the name of all
possessed is the keyp could ha' declared
/ LEFT it in the case"
.Isn't it on the shelf, father?" asked
Mary, guilty, conscious that it was snug.
ly reposing in the pocket of her checked
gingham dress. :,
s'No, nor faint in my pocket neither" "
And down went the Deacon, stiffly enough,
on his knees. TO examine the floor, lest
perchance the missing key might have fal-
len there.
s.sWell, l never knowed anything so
strange In all my life," said the deacon.
at is really strange" faltered hypocrit-
ical Mary. >,
.I'n have regular search tomorrow, y
said deacon Shermer. 1T must be some
where around"
Eyes, it must" said Mary TREMENDOUSLY.
"Only," the deacon went on. slowly, re-
Stunning his place before the fire, 81 kind o
don't like to have the old clock stand still
a single night When l wake up. you
know. it seems like it was sort o talking
to me in the stiffness" The deacon looked
thoughtfully at the fiery black log. Mary
fidgeled uneasily about the room, straight
ening table covers. setting back chairs and
thinking-oh, if he would only go to bed
As he sat there his eyelids began to
droop and his head to nod somnolently.
Mary's eyes frightened up with sparkle
something like hope.
s.Child!" he said suddenly strengthening
up the stiff-back chair, "you'd better got to
bed. III sit up a while longer ill the
logs burn out!''
.'But, father. I'm not sleepy
go to bed, my childn' reiterated the
deacon, with a good-humored authority
that would brook no opposition and Mary
crept out of the room, ready to cry with
anxietyand modification.
.If Tim will only keep quiet little
while longer" she thought. sitting on the
stairs while the newly-risen moon sreamed
in chilly splendor. ''Father sleeps SO
soundly-and he is sure to 60 to sleep in
his chair. | could just steal in and release
him as quietly as possible" She sat there
her plump fingers interlaced, and her eyes
fixed dreamily on the floor, while all the
time her ears were strained to the utmost
capacity to catch every sound in the kitch-
en- beyond. Hark was that the wall Of
the wind, or was it something to her lit
orally .snearer and dearer?" Yes; she
could not be mistaken now; it was actual
~ o snore.
Mary rose softly to her feet with re-
newed hope. Surely now was the accept
ed time. Noiselessly as the floating shad
ow she crossed the hall, opened the kitch-
en- door and stole across the creaking
boards of the floor. The candles were
burned out, but the shifting lustre of the
freight revealed her father nodding be-
fore the fire. with closed eyes and hands
hanging at his sides.
'He's certainly asleep" thought Mary.
With heart that beat quick and fast,
she drew the key from her pocket and
proceeded, in spite of the nervous tremb.
ling of her fingers, to lift it into the lock.
So absorbed was she that she never no
ticed the cessation of the heavy breathing
never saw the deacon start suddenly in
to wakefulness and look around him
Love is blind, and it is equally true that
he is deaf. The deacon rose quickly up
with shrewd twinkle in his eyes, and
Mary gave little frightened shrek, as Il
hand fell softly on her arm, possessing it
self ouietly of the kew
s'.Let me help you," said the deacon.
''Father, IL found the key" laltercd
Mary. "and-"
Found the key, eh !" returned the dea-
con. "Well. that's lucky; and now we
can find out what's the matter with the
clock
"a Mary's heart throbbing wildly moment
ago, seemed to stand still as her father
turned the key and opened the door of the
clock case.
"Hal-lo! exclaimed the deacon, as
Mr.. Timothy Marshall tumbled into the
room. $50 you was the matter with the
clock, ell ?"
Eyes, sir, said Tim composedly. Il
hope ] haven't seriously interferred with
the works of the clock"
you've seriously interfered with me ?"
said the deacon, waxing indignant
What do you mean, sir, by hiding in my
house like a thiefp"
''Indeed indeed father" cried Mary,
bursting into tears. sit wasn't his fault.
He didn't want to hide, but l put him
there"
"You did. eh! And may ask what
for ?''
Father" faltered Mary, rather irrele-
vanity, 81 love him and-he loves me ~
us that any reason why he should hide
in the clock case, miss p
''No-but-father can never marry
Mr.. Stanley. He is so soft, and -
Mary's tears finished the sentence for
her. The deacon looked (not unkindly)
on her bowed head and the arm that
supported it. Apparently. 1.-THE course OF
true love-" roughly though it ran, was
overwhelming all his own worldly-wise
arrangements in its tide.
And SO you two young folks really
think you love each other ?" said the dea-
con, meditatiyely.
Il love her with all my heart and soul,
sir" said Tim Marshal. earnestly. I'm
not rich I tp,,u l,,t I oan ,,o,I, c.. lo. :,