The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-02-11
Death or Marriage.

Oeatn or Marriage.
The ancient clock in Deacon Shermer'
old-tashioned kitchen was slowly Ginning
the hour OF nine. 1t was no smart toy, NJ
trl11e OF bronze or alabaster, but a tall
square, solid relic Of the last century, look
ing not unlike coffin case set on end, il
the cerner-a clock that had lasted through
four generations, and. Judging from ap
pearances, was quite likely to last through
several more. Deacon Shermer cherished
the old heirloom with sort Of prid
which he himseH would scarcely have con
tessed TO.
There was great, ruddy fire of chest
nut logs in the red brick-paved replace
and the candles in the brightly polished
brass sticks were winking merrily from th'
high wooden mantle, where they sharet
the post Of honor with curious sea-shel
and couple Of vases, each containing {
fresh Usage orange, from the hedge tha
skirted the clover field behind the barn
At the window, a curtain Of gaudy chintz
shut out the tens of thousands Of stars tina
We're shining brightly on that frosty au
tumnal night, and on the cozy rug Of the
parti-colored rags a fat tortoise shell ca
pulred away the slowly lapsing minutes
But the tOrtoise-shell cat was not the only
lnhabltant Of the snug farmhouse kitchen
''IlmOthv.' said Mary Shermer, decid
edly, IF you don't behave yourself, II
What she would do, Mary did not say
the sentence was terminated by laugh
that set the djmples round her mouth il
motion, just as a beam Of June sunshine
plays across cluster Of red-ripe cherries
Mary Shermer was Just seventeen-s
plump, rosy girl, with jet hair, brushed
back from a low forehead, and perfectly
arched eyebrows, that gave bewitchine
expression OF surprise to a pair of melting
hazel eyes. She was rather dark but the
most severe critic would not have founC
fault with the peach-like bloom upon hel
cheeks and the dewy red of her full, dainti
ly curved lips Evidently Mr.. Timothy
Marshall was quite satisfied with Nary
style Of beauty.
''Come, Mary" said Tim, moving hi.
chair where he could best watch the flush
of the freight upon her face, and picking
up the thread of the conversation where
he had dropped it when it became ncces
sary for Mary to bid him "behaye him
selt!'-s'you might promise. It's nine
o'clock, and your father will soon be
home"
"What, Tim?" said Mary, demurely
lifting square Of red in her patchwork,
and intensely 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 well for you to keep putting il
off, but | can't stand it, What with youl
fathers forbidding me in the house anc
that romantic Tom Stanley's coming here
every Sunday night
Mary gave her pretty head a toss. "a:
if Mr.. Stanley's coming here made any
difference in my feelings. Tim !"
"No, but Mary, it isn't pleasant, yor
know I'm as good man as Tom Stan
ley, il don't own railroad shares and keel
an account at the lIamltonville bank ano
[ love YOU, Mary, from the very bottom o
my heart Now this matter lies between
you and me only; no other person in the
world has right to interfere between US
Come-promise me. !" He held both hel
hands in his and looked earnestly into the
liquid hazel eyes.
''Do you love me. Mary? p
"Y on know love you, Tim
Then we may just as weil.-llnsh
what's that?"
There was a portentous sound of draw
ing bolts and rattlng latches in the porch
room beyond-a scraping Of heavy boot!
along the lloor. Mary rose to her fee
with sudden scarlet sut1lsion on her brow
and checks.
''Oh, Tim, it is father y
'Suppose it is ?"
But he mustn't find you here. Tim
Hide yourself somewhere, do"
"What nonsense Mary + said the young
man, resolutely standing his ground II
haven't come to steal his spoons Why
should creep away like detected burg
lar ?"
''For my sake, Tim. Oh, Tim, if vol
ever loved me, do us | say, Not in tha
closet; it is close to his bedroom; no
through that window; it is nailed down
tight IIe's coming. he's coming Here
Tim, quick
And, in the drawing Of 4 breath she
had pushed Timothy Marshall into the
square pendulum case Of the tail old clock
and turned the key on him 1t was not g
pleasant place OF refuge, inasmuch as hi
shoulders We're squeezed on either side
and his head tlattened against springs an(
wheels above, and the ali was unpleasant
and close; but Tim made the best of mat
ters and shook with suppressed laughter
III his solitary prison cell
'Well a Jolly scrape to be in, . thought
Tim, land no knowing when I'll be out
of 1t. Mary's shrewd little puss, how
ever, and can't do better than to leave
matters in her hands"
$50 you haven't gone to bed yet, Mary p
said Deacon Shermer, slowly unwindino
the two yards OF Woolen scarf with which
he generally encased his throat of an eye
Ming. ''Notyet, father" said Mary, pick
ing up her scattered bits of patch work
with glowing cheek. ''Did you have a
pleasant meeting?"
.NNell yes quoth the Deacon, rellcc-
lively, sitting down before the fire greatly
to Mary's consternation,-she had hoped
he would have gone to bed at once, ac-
cording to his usual custom,-'' was
tol'bly pleasant Elder Huskier was there
and Elder Hopkins-and-weil, all the
church folks, pretty much. Why, how rec
your cheeks are, Mary Tired, amt you
Well, you needn't sit up for me, my dear
it must be getting late"
The Deacon glanced mechanically ur
atthe clock Mary felt the blood growing
cold in her veins. "Twenty minutes pasi
nine-whv, it must be later than that
Why, land o Canaan, the old clock has
stopped" The old clock had stopped; MOI
was it at all wonderful under the circum-
stances. Il wound itup this mornin', I'm
sartin.' said the Deacon, very much dis
turbed. 1T never sarved me such trick
afore, all the years its stood there, Youl
aunt Jane used to say it was sign of deatl
or marriage in the family before the yeal
was OUT
There was q suppressed sound like 9
chuckle behind the clock-case as Deacon
Shermer tumbled on the shelf tor the clock
key. These springs must be out of order
somehow" said the Deacon decisively
GLOW scared you look, child There ain'1
no cause for bein' scared, don't put much
faith in your aunt James old time super
stition. Where in the name of all pos
sessed is the key? | could ha' declared
left it in the case
''lsn't it on the shelf, father?" asked
lar,