The Van Buren press., 1874-05-05

L1au tuaI. n.y. i""" S""""" W
old clocks stopped u The old clock
had stopped; nor was it wonderful, un
der the circumstances. ~ wound 1t up
this mornin', I'm sartin, said the dea
con, very much disturbed. 1T never
sarved me such trick afore, all the years
it stood there Your aunt Jane used to
say it was a sign Of death or marriage
in the family before the year was out. T"
There was suppressed sound like Il
chucke behind the clock-case as Deacon
Shermer fumbled on the shelf for the
key. "These springs must be out Of or
der somehow, said the deacon, decisive
Nv. How scared you look, child !!
There amt no cause for being scared
I don't put no faith in your Aunt James
old time superstition Where. Ia the
name of all possessed. is that key! /
could ha' declared l left it in the case. :"
Isn't it on the shelf, father 2" asked
Mary, guilty, conscious that it was
snugly reposing in the pocket Of her
check gingham dress.
mo, nor 'taint in my pocket neither"
And down went the deacon, stifliy
enough, on his knees to examine the
floor, lest perchance the missing key
might have fallen there.
"Well never knowed anything so
strange in all my life, SAID the deacon.
at is strange" faltered hypoertical
Mary.
"I'll have regular search to-morrow.
said Deacon Shermer. "lt must be
| ,h..
Yes, it must, said Mary, tremulous-
| ly.
Only, " the deacon went OH slowly,
rcsuming his place before the fire, kind
O don't like to have the old clock stand
still single night When wake up,
you know, it seems like it was sort o
talking to me in the stiffness. I" The
deacon looked thoughtfully at the fiery
back log Mary tilgeted uneasily about
the room, Strengthening table covers, set
ting back chairs, and thinking-oh, if he
only would go to bed
As he sat there, his eyelds began to
droop, and his head to nod somnolently
Mary's eyes lighted up with sparkle of
hope,
Child, he said suddenly straighten
ing himself up in the stiff backed chair,
YOU'D better go to bed. I'll sit up
awhile longer till the logs burn out. .
8 But, father, I'm not sleepy"
go to bed, my child rciterat,d d the
deacon, with good humorcd authority
that brooked no opposition; and Mary
crcpt out OF the room, ready to cry with
anxiety and modification.
If Tim will onl v keep quiet little
while longer she thought, sitting on
the stairs where the newly risen moon
streamcd in chilly splendor. Father
sleeps so soundly-and he is sure to 60
to sleep in hs chair ! could just steal
in and release him as quietly as possible. ;"
She sat there, her plump fingers inter
laced, and her eyes fixed dreamily on the
floor, while all the time her ears were
strained to utmost capacity to catch every
sound in the kitchen beyond. Hark I.
was that the wall OF the wind or was il
something to her literally "nearer and
dearer. Yes she could not be mis-
taken now; it was actually snore.
Mary rose softly to her feet with re.
newed hope. Surely now was the nc
cepted time. Noiselessly as the floating
shadow, she crossed the hall, opened the
kitchen door, and stole across the crcak-
ing boards Of the floor The candles
were burned out, but the shifting lustre
Of the freight revealed her father nod
ding before the fire, with closed eyes,
and hands hanging at his sides.
With heart that beat quick and fast,
like the strokes Of a miniature hammer,
she drew the key from her dress pocket,
and proceeded in spite Of the nervous
trembling Of her fingers, to tit 1t in the
lock. SO absorbed was size in her task,
that she never noticed the sudden cessa.
ton OF the heavy breathing--never saw
the deacon start suddenly into wakeful
ness, and look around him Love is
blind, aud it is equally true it is deaf
The deacon rose quietly up with a shrewd
twinkle in his eyes, and Mary gave lit
tie frightened shrek as hand fell softly
on her arm, possessing itself quietly Of
the key.
Let me help you'll" said Deacon Sher
mer
Father. IL found the key" faltered
Mary.
Found the key, ell p 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 stand alb
soutey still as Deacon Shermer turned
the key and opened the tall door Of the
clock case.
Hal.-lo! calculated Deacon Sher-
mer, as Mr. Timothy Marshall tumbled
laughingly into the room $50 you was
tue matter with the old clock, eh 7"
Yes sir, said Tim, composedly, i"
hope ] haven't seriously interfered with
the works Of the clock.
You've seriously inter ferred with
me'' said the deacon. waxing indignant
What do you mean, sir, by hiding in
my house like thief
Indeed indeed father" cried Mary
bursting into tears, " it wasn't his fault
He didn't want to hide, but put him in
there "
You did, eh And may ask what
forr
Father" faltercd Mary, rather ir.
reevantly, 81 love him, and--he loves
me!
"ls that any reason why he should