The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-12-05
2Hiscellaneous.
Dedfh or Mdrridge.

The ancient clock in Deacon Sherncr's old
fashioned kitchen was slowly Ginning the hour
of nine. 1t was 30 smart toy, nc triho Of bIonze
alabaster, but tall, square, solid relic Of the
last century, looking not unlike O coffin case
set on end, in the corner-a clock that had last
ed through four generations, and judging from
appearances was quite likely to last through
several more. Deacon Shermer cherished the
old heirloom with sort of pride which he him
self would scarcely have confessed to.
There was great ruddy fire of chestnut logs
in the red brick paved fire place; and the can
dies in the brightly po. ished brass sticks were
winking merrily from the high wooden mantel,
where they shared the post of honor with
curious sea shell and a couple of vases, ca, h
containing fresh Usage orange, from the hedge
that skirted the clover field behind the barn.
At the window, curtain of gaudy chntz shut
out the tens of thousands of stars that were
shining brightly on that frosty autumnal night
and on the cosy rug of the parti colored rags
fat tortoise shell cat purred away the slowly
lapsing minutes. But the tortoise shell cat was
not the only inhabitant Of the snug farm house
kitchen.
"Timothy!" said Mary Shermer, decidedly,
"if you don't behave yourself, Ill--"
What she would do Mary 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 across clus-
ter of red-ripe cherries.
girl, with jet hair, brushed back from low
forehead, and perfectly arched eyebrows, that
gave bewitching expression of surprise to
pair of melting hazel eyes. She was rather
dark but the severe critic would not have
found fault with the peach like bloom upon her
cheeks and the dewy red of her full, daintily
curved lips. Evidently Mr.. Timothy Marshall
was quite satisfied with Mary's style of beauty.
"Come, Mary" said Tim, moving his chair
where he could best watch the flush of the fire.
light upon her face, and picking up the thread
of the conversation where he had dropped it
when it became necessary for Mary to bid him
"behave himself'-"you might promise. It's
nine o'clock, and your father will soon be
home"
"What, Tim ?" said Mary, demurely, fitting
a square red in her patch work, and intently
observing the fact.
"Nonsense, Mary. You know what very well.
Promise to marry me before Christmas! l tell
you what, Mary, it is all very well for you to
keep putting it off, but can't stand it, What
with your fathers forbidding me in the house
and that romantic Tom Stanleys coming here
every Sunday night"
Mary gave her pretty head toss GAS if
Mr. stanley's coming here made any difference
in my feelings, TIM"
"No; but Mary, it isn't pleasant you know.
I'm as good man as Tom Stanley, if | don't
own railroad shares and keep an account at
Hamiltonvlle bank; and l love you, Mary,
from the very bottom of my heart! Now this
matter lies between you and me only; no other
person in the world has right to interfere be-
tweenus. Come-promise me" He held both
her hands in his and looked earnestly into the
liquid hazel eyes.
"Do you love me, Mary?"
"You know love you, Tim"
"Then we may just as we'll. Hush what's
that?"
There was portentious sound of drawing
bolts and rattling latches in the porch-room be-
yond-a scraping of heavy boots along the floor.
Mary rose to her feet with sudden scarlet suf-
fusion on her brow and cheeks.
"Oh, Tim, it is father!"
"Suppose it is!'
"But he mustn't find you here, Tim! Hide
yourself somewhere, !"
"What nonsense, Mary!" said the young man
resolutcly standing his ground. ~ haven't
come to steal his spoons. Why should I creep
away like detected burgar?"
"For my sake, Tim, Oh, Tim, if you ever
loved me, do as I say Not in that closet; it is
close to his bedroom not through that win
dow; it is nailed down tight. He's coming |!
he's coming! Here, Tim, quick
And in the drawing of breath, she had
pushed Timothy Marshall into the square pen
dulum case of the tall old clock and turned the
key on him. 1t was not a pleasant place of
refuge inasmuch as his shoulders were squeez-
ed on either side and his head fattened against
springs and wheels above and the air was un
pleasant and close; but Tim made the best of
| matters, and shook with suppressed laughter
in his solitary prison cell.
"Well jolly scrape to be in" thought Tim,
"and no knowing when I'll be out ofit. Mary's
shrewd little puss, however, and can't do
better than to leave matters in her hands"
$50 you haven't gone to bed yet, Mary ?" said
deacon Shermer, slowly unwinding the two
yards of woolen scarf with which he generally
encased his throat of an evening. "Not yet,
father" said Mary, picking up her scattered
bits of patch work with glowing cheek. "Did
you have pleasant meeting? ?"
"Well, yes" quoth the deacon, refectively,
sitting down before the fire greatly to Marys
constern ation-she had hoped he would have
gone to bed at once, according to his usual Gus
tom-"it was tol'bly pleasant. Elder Huskier
was there, and Elder Hopkins-and-well, all
the church folks pretty much. Why, how red
your cheeks are, Mary Tired, amt you? Well,
you needn't sit up for me, my dear; it must be
getting late"
The deacon glanced mechanically up at the
clock. Mary felt the blood growing cold in her
veins. "Twenty minutes past nine-why, it
must be later than that Why, land O. Canaan,
the old clock had stopped; nor was it at all
wonderful under the circumstant es. 81 wound
it up this mornin' Pm 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 it was sign of
death or marriage in the family before the year
was out"
There was a suppressed sound like chuckle