Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-10-08

crept out of the room, ready to cry
with anxiety and modification.
eff Tim will only keep quiet little
while longer" she thought, sitting on
streamed in chilly splekdor. Father
sleeps SO soundly, and he is sure to
sleep in his chair. L could steal in and
release him as quietly as possible"
She sat there, her plump fingers in
terlaced, and her eyes fixed dreamily on
the floor, while all the time her ears
were strained to their utmost capacity
to catch every sound in the kitchen be-
yond. Hark was it the wall of the
wind? or was it something to her liter
ally nearer and dearer? Yes she could
not be mistaken it was actually
snore.
Mary rose softly to her feet with re-
newed hope. Surely now was the &C.
cepted time. Noiselessly as the feet
ing shadow she crossed the hall, opened
the kitchen door, and stole across the
creaking boards of the floor. The can
dies were burning out, but the shifting
luster of the freight revealed her
father nodding before the fire. with
closed eyes aud hands hanging by his
sides.
With heart that beat quick and fast
like the strokes of a miniature hammer,
she drew the key from her pocket, and
proceeded, in spite of the nervous
trembling of her fingers, to fit it into
the lock. So absorbed was she in her
task that she never noticed the sud-
den cessation of heavy breathing-never
saw the deacon start suddenly into
wakefulness around him. Love is blind,
and, equally true, 1t is deaf. The dea-
con rose up quietly with shrewd
twinkle in his eyes, and Mary gave a
little frightened shrek as hand fell
softly on her arm, possessing itself
quietly of the key.
"Let me help" said Deacon Sher-
mer.
Father, II found the key" fall
tered Mary.
Found the key, eh ?" returned the
deacon. "Well, that's lucky and now
we can find out what's the matter with
the clock.
Mary's heart throbbing so wildly a
moment or two ago, seemed to absolute
ly stand still, as Deacon Shermer
turned the key and opened the tall door
of the clock case.
Halo I" calculated Deacon Sher-
mer, as Mr.. Timothy Marshall tumbled
laughingly into the room. So you
was the matter with the clock. Ell?
eyes, sir, said Tim, composedly ;
"IhoHe 1 have not seriously interfered
with the working of It,"
"You have seriously interfered with
me - said the deacon, waxing indignant.
"What do you mean, sir, by hiding in
my house like thief ?"
"Indeedl indeed father" cried
Mary, bursting into tears, cit was not
his fault. He did not want to hide, but
l put him there"
"You did, ell? And may ask what
for ?"
Father" faltered Mary, irreverent-
ly, 81 love him and he loves me-"
SIS that any reason why he should
hide in the clock case, miss ?"
'No-but-father / can never marry
Mr.. Stanley. He is so soft, and II
Mary's tears finished the sentence for
her. The deacon looked down (not un-
kindly on her bowed head and the ten.
der arm that supported it. Apparently
the course of true love, roughly though
it ran, was overwhelming all his world
wise arrangements In its tide.
"And so you two young folks really
think you love each other ?" said the
deacon, meditatively.
81 love her with all my heart and
soul," said Tim Marshall, earnestly
81 am not rich, 1 know, but 1 can work
for her."
"And / can work for myself, too
father, interposed Mary, with tears il
her eyes that shone like softened stars
"And you said yourself, sir" went
on Tim, "tbat the stopping OF the
clock meant either marriage or death
Of course we do not want any deaths
so don't you think the most sensible
thing we can do is to help on a marriage
as soon as possible p
The deacon laughed, in spite of him
self.
Its late, he said, "come around
tomorrow morning, and we 'lltalk about
it. No, Mary, 1 am not angry with you
child. suppose young folks will be-
young folks, and there's no use trying
stop them -
"And the deacon re-hung the pen.
dulum and set the iron tongue of the ole
clock ticking again.
"Tim Marshall paused on the front
step to whisper to Mary:
What shall it be, Mary?-a death OF
a marriage?"
And she in return whispered, ga
marriage, / hope"
my darling said Tim, :" it's worth
passing lifetime behind the clock case
to feel as / do now T.
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