The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-03
HOYT g. CO., P7roprietors
DEATH OR MARRIAGE.

4SSnlOned k1tCnen WAS Sio"Iy SuI'h'"6 Wy
of nine. It was no smart toy, no tribe OF
bronze or alabaster, but tall, spare solid relic
of the last century, looking not unlike cottln-
nase set on end, in the corner-a clock that
had lasted throug gh four generations, and judg-
,ing from appearances was likely to last through
several more. Deacon Shermer cherished the
old heirloom with a sort of pride which ne
himself would scarcely have confessed to.
There was great ruddy fire of chestnut logs
in the red brick-paved fireplace; and the can
dies in the brightly polished brass sticks were
winking merrily from the high wooden mantle,
where they shared the post OF honor WITH q
curious sea shell, and couple of vases, each
containing a fresh Usage orange, from the 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 autumn night,
and on the cosy rug of the parti-colored rags,
8 fat tortoise she'll cat purred away the slowly
lansing minutes. But the tortoise shell cat
was not the only inhabitant of the snug farm
house kitchen.
s'Timothy !' said Mary Shermer. decidedly,
elf you don't behave yourself I'll"
What she would do, Mary did not say the
sentence was terminated by laugh that set
the dimples around her mouth in motion, just
as q beam of June sunshine plays across
cluster of red-ripe cherries.
Mary Shermer was just seyenteen-a plump
rosy girl, with jet hair brushed back from
low forehead, and perfectly arched eyebrows,
that gave bewitching expression OF surprise
TO a pair of melting hazel eyes. She was
rather dark but the severe critic would not
have found fault with the peach-ilke bloom
upon her cheeks and the dewy red OF her full,
daiatily curved lips. Evidently Mr.. Timothy
Marshall was quite satisfied with Marys 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 patchwork, and intenty
observing the fact
"Nonsense, Mary! You know what very
we'll. Promise to marry me before Christmas
tell you what, Mary, it is all very we'll for you
to keep putting it of, but | can't stand 1T.
What with your fathers forbidding me in the
house and that romantic Tom Stanleys coming
here every Sunday night" :,
Mary gave her pretty head a toss. "As II
Mr.. Stanleys coming here made any difference
in my feelings, Tim p
"No; but Mary, it isn't pleasant, you, know
I am as good as Tom Stanley, If don't own
railroad shares and keep an account at Hamil'
ton bank; aud love you, Mary, from the very
bottom of my heart! Now, this matter lies
between you and me only; no other person in
the wide world has a right to interfere between
US. Come-promise e!' He held both her
hands in his, and looked earnestly into the
liquid hazel eyes.
'Do you love me, MaryT
"You know love you, Tim"
''Then we may just as we'll Hush what's
that?"
Then there was portentious sound of draw
ing bolts and rattling latches in the perch
room beyond-a scraping of heavy boots along
the floor. Mary rose to her feet with sudden
scarlet suffusion on her brow and cheeks.
''Oh, Tim, it is fatherp'
Suppose it is"
"But he mustn't find you here, Tim! Hide
yourself somewhere, dol"
'sWhat nonsense, Mary" said the young
man, resolutely standing his ground, II
havn't come to steal his spoons. Why should
/ creep away like detected burglar?"
"For my sake, Tim. Oh, Tim, if you ever
loved me, do as say Not in that closet; it
window it is nailed down tight. He's COM
ing! He's coming! Here, Tim, quick ~
And in the drawing of breath she had
pushed Timothy Marshall into the square pen
eulum case of the tall old clock and turned
the key on him. 1t was not pleasant place
of refuge, inasmuch as his shoulders were
squeezed on either side, and his head lattened
against springs and wheels above, and the air
was unpleasant and close; but Tim rlade the
best of matters, and shook with suppressed
laughter in his solitary prison cell:
"Well q jolly scrape to be in" thought
Tim, "and no knowing when I'll be out of it:
can't do better than to leave matters in her
hands"
$50 you havn't gone to bed yet, Mary ?" said
deacon Shermer, slowly unwinding the two
wards of wooden scarf with which he generally
encased his throat of an evening.
*'Not yet, father" said Mary picking up her
scattered bits of patchwork with a glowing
cheek. "Did you have pleasant meeting.
father?"
"Well, yes" quoth the deacon, rehectively,
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 GUS
tom-"it was tolerably pleasant Elder Hus-
kier was there, and Elder Hopkins -and-well,
red your cheeks are, Mary! Tired, amt you
Well, you needn't sit up for me, my dear; 1T
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. Ca
naan, the old clock has stopped" The old
clock had stopped, nor was it wonderful, under
the circumstances. II wound it up this morn
in, Pm sartin." said the deacon, very much
disturbed "It's 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 mar
riage in the family before the year was out"
There was a suppressed sound like chuckle
behind the clock case, as Deacon Shermer
fumbled on the shelf for a clock key. "These
s,rings must be out of order somehow" said
the deacon decisively. GLOW scared you look,
child There amt no cause for bein scared.
dau,t nut much faith in your aunt James