The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-03-20

ing bolts and rattling latches in the porch
room beyOnd-a scraping of heavy boots
along the floor. Mary rose to her feet,
with a sudden scarlet suffusing brow and
cheeks.
'Oh, Tim, it's father"
Suppose it is ?''
'But he must not find you here, Tim
Hide yourself somewhere-do -
"What nonsense, Mary - said the young
man, resolutely standing his ground. Il
haven't come to steal spoons. Why should
I creep away like detected burgIar?''
''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 window 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
! pendulum case of the tall old clock and
| turned the key on him. 1t was nota pleasant
place Of refuge, inasmuch as his shoulders
were squeezed on either side, ana his head
fattened against springs and wheels above,
and the air was unpleasantly close but
Tim made the best of matters and shook
with suppressed laughter in his solitary cell
well, a jolly scrape to be in," thought
| Tim, ''and no knowing when I'll be out of
! it. Mary's a shrewd little puss, however,
and can't do better than leave the matter
in her hands,
$50 you haven't gone to bed yet, Mary -
said the Deacon Shermer, slowly unwind
! ba f,un g
which he generally encased his throat OF
| an evening.
''NOt yet, father" said Mary picking
up her patchwork with glowing check.
Did you have pleasant meeting?''
'WeI yes" quoth the Deacon, reflect
lively, sitting down before the fire. greatly
! to Mary's consternation-she had hoped he
| would have gone to bed at once, according
| to his usual custom-..it was tol'aNlv
! pleasant. Elder Huskier was there. and
! Elder Hopkins, and-well, all the church
cheeks are, Mary! Tired, amt you? Well.
you needn't sit up for me, my dear; it
m ust be getting late"
! The Deacon glanced mechanically round
at the clock. Mary felt the blood grow
co!d i'll her veins. Twenty minutes past
uine-why, it must be later than that
Why, land O Canaan the old clocks stop
ped nor was it wonderful, under the cir
cumstances. Il wound it up this mornin',
I'm aartain," said the deacon, very much
disturbed. cit never sarved me such
trick afore, all the years its stood there.
Your Aunt Jane used to say it WAS a sign
of a death or a marriage in the family be-
fore the year was out"
There was a suppressed sound like
chuckle behind the clock case as Deacon
Shermer fumbled on the shelf for the clock
key. These springs must be out of order
somehow" said the deacon decisvey.
'How scared you look, child There amt
no canse for bein' scared. l don't put no
faith in your Aunt James od-time super
stition. Where in the name of all possess
ell that key? | could ha' declared left 1t
is in the case"
Isn't it on the shelf, father ," asked
Mary, guiitily, conscious that it was snug
ly reposing in the pocket of her checked
gingham dress.
''NO, nor 'taint in my pocket neither"
And down went the deacon, stify enough,
on his knees to examine the floor, lest
perchance the missing key might have fall
en.there.
"Well, I never knowed anything so
strange in all my !ife," said the deacon.
cit is strange" faltered hypocritical /!
Mary.
'I'll have rag lar search tomorrow"
where around
Eyes, it must" said Mary tremulously. |
"OEly," the deacon went on, slowly re-
suming his place before the fire, Il 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 frey back log. Mary .
ffdgeted uneasily about the room, straight
ening table-covers, setting back chairs, and 4
thinking-oh, if he only would go to bed /
As he sat there, his cyelids began to
droop, and his head to nod somnolently. /
Mqry's eyes lighted up with a sparkle OF
something like hope.
"Child,' - he said, suddenly Strengthening
himself up in the stiff backed chair, you
had better go to bed. I'll sit up while
longer till the logs burn out"
But, father, I'm not sleepy"
SEQ to bed, my child reiterated the
deacon, with good humored authority that
brooked no opposition; and Mary erept out
OF the room, ready to cry with anxiety and
modification.
.If Tim will only keep quiet little
while longer" she thought, sitting on the
stairs where the newly-risen moon streamed
in in chilly splendor.
s.Father sleeps so soundly-and he is
sure to go to sleep in his chair. 1 could
steal in aad release him as quietly as pos
sible.''
She sat there, her plump fingers inter
laced and her eyes fixed dreamily on the
foor while all tn. time her ears wer-