The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-12-12

WELL TOLD hFOkf Of LOVE AND ADVENTURE
Tho ancient clock in Deacon Shermer's
old-hshioncd kitchen was slowly Ginning
the hour o. nine. 1t was no smart toy, no
trife Of bronze or alabaster, hut tall,
square, solid relic Of the last century, look
ing not unlike coffin-case set on end, in
the corner-a clock that had lasted through
four generations, and judging from appear
ances was quito likely to last through
several more. Deacon Shcrmer cherished
the old heirloom witha sort Of pride which
he himselrwould scarcely have confessed to.
There was a great ruddy FIRE Of chestnut
logs in the red brick-payed fireplace; and
the candles in the brightly polished brass
sticks were winking merily from the high
wooden mantcl, where they shared the post
Of honor with curious sea shell and a
couple Of vases, each containing fresh
Usage orange, from tho hedge that skirted
the clover field behind the barn. At the
window, curtain of gaudy chintz shut
out the tens Of thousands Of stars that
were shining brightly on that frosty au-
tumnal night and on the cosy rug of the
parti-colorcd rags fat tortoise shell eat
purred away the slowly lapsing minutes.
But the tortoise shell cat was not the only
inhabiiant Of the snug farm house kitchen,
Timothy r. said Mary Shermcr, decid-
edly, "if you don't behave yourself, Ill"
What she would do, Mary did not say;
the sentence was terminated BY a laugh
that sct the dimplea round her mouth in
motion, just as beam Of june sunshine
plays across a cluster Of red,ripe cherries.
Mary Shermer was jusF liza plump,
rosy girl, with jet hair, flushed back from
low forehead, and peri betty arched eye
brows, that give bewie ching expression
of surprise to q pair Of Il islting hazel eyes
She was rather dark; but he severe critic
would not have found fauiA with the peach
like bloom upon her cheeks and the dewy
red Of her full, daintily curysd lips Esi-
IDENTIFY Mr.. Timothy Marshall was quite
satisfied with Mary's style ef beauty.
"Come, Mary" said Tim, moving his
chair where he could best watch tte flush
Of the fre-light upon her face, and picking
up the thread Of the conversation where
he had dropped It when II became neces-
sary for Mary tobid him ''behase himself
-ayou might promise. It's nine o'clock,
and your father will soon be home"
What, Tim?" said Mary, demursly,
fitting square red in her patchwork, and
intently observing the fact,
Nonsense, Maryl You know phat
very well. Promise to marry me before
Christmas l toll you what, Mary, il is
all very wen for you to keep putting il of,
butI can't stand it. What with your
fathers forbidding me in the house aud
that romantic Tom Stanley's 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 Y
"No; but Mary, il isn't pleasant, you
know, I'm as good man as Tom Stanley,
ifI don't own railroad shares and keep an
account at Hamiltonyille bank; and | love
you, Mary, from the very bottom Of my
hearti Now this matter lies between you
and me only; no other person in the world
has q right to Interfere between us. Come
promise me T. He held both her hands
in his and looked earnestly into the liquid
hazel eyes.
"Do you love me, Nary
You know ! love you, Tim
"Then we may just as well--. Hush
what's that?p
There was poltentous sound Of draw
ing bolts and rattling latches in the porch
room beyoud---a scraping of heavy boots
along tho floor. Mary rose to her feet
with sudden scarlet suifusion on her brow
and cheeks.
"Oh, Tim. il is fatherl"
Suppose il Is r
But he mustn't find you here, Tim
Hide yourself somewhere, do X
What nonsense, Mary said the young
man resolutely standing bis ground. ~
haven't come to steal his spoons, Why
should creep away like detected bur
glar?p
For my sake, Tin, Oh, Tim, # you ever
loved mo, do as | say Notiuthat closet;
il is close 10 bis bedroom; not through
that window II is nailed down tight He's
coming he's eomingi Here, Tim, qaickln
And IN the drawing Of . BREATH she bad
pushed Timothy Marshall into the square
pendulum case Of the tall old clock and
turned the key on him. Il was not q