The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-01-22
III i 8 c eILane us.
A Death or q Marriage.
WELL TOLD STORY OF LOVE AND ADvEN,
TURE.

TURE.
The ancient clock in Deacon Shermers
| old. fashioned kitchen was slowly Ginning
the hour of nine. 1t was no smart toy, no
tritle of bronze OF alabaster, but tall,
square, solid relic Of the last century, look
ing not unlike coflincase set on end, in
the corner-a clock that had lasted through
four generations, and judging from appear
ances was quite likely to last through
several more. Deacon Shermer cherished
the old heirloom with a sort of pride which
| he himself would scarcely have confessed
| to.
There was great ruddy fire Of chestnut
logs in the red brick paved fire place; and
the candles in the brightly polished brass
sticks were winking merrily from the high
wooden mantel, where they shared the post
of honor with curious sea shell, and a
couple Of vases, each containing q 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 au-
tumnal night, and on the cosy rug of the
| 1arti-colored rags a lat tortoise shell cat
purred away the slowly lapsinS minutes.
| But the tortoise shell cat was not the only
ly inhabitant Of the snug farm. house kitch
en-.
"Timothy," said Mary Shermer, dccid-
cdly, "ifyou don't behave yourself, Pill"
What she would do, Mary did not say
the sentence was terminated by laugh
that set the dmpes round her mouth in
| motion, Just as beam Of June sunshine
plays across cluster of red-ripe cherries.
Mary Shermer was just ia plump,
rosy girl, with jet hair, brushed back from
low forehead, and perfectly archcd eye
brows, that gave bewitching expression
of surprise to pair of melting hazel eyes.
She was rather dark; but the severe critic
would not have found fault with tho peach
like bloom upon her cheeks and the dewy
rcd of her full, daintiIy curved lips. Evil
IDENTITY Mr.. T imothy Marshall was quite
satisfied with Marys style ofbcauty.
Come, Mary" said Tim, moving his
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 neccssa-
~ for Mary to bid him "behavc him.
self.'
"You might promise. It's nine o'clock,
and your father will soon be home"
"What, Tim" said Mary, demurcly
fitting red square in her patchwork, and
intently observing the fact.
"Nonsensc, Mary You know acAat very
we'll Promise to marry me before Christ.
mas. tell you what, Mary, it is all very
well for you to keep putting it off, but
can't stand it. What with your fathers
forbidding me in the house ana that ro
mantle Tom Stanley's coming here every
Sunday night----n
Mary gave her pretty head Il toss. "a:
if Mr. Stanley's coming here made any
difference in my feelings, Tim !"
"No, but Mary, it isn't pleasant, you
know. I'm as good a man as Tom Stanley
if don't own railroad shares and keep al
account at Hamiltonville bank; and love
you, Mary, from the very bottom of IN!
heart Now this matter lies between yol
and me only; no other person in the worlt
has right to interfere between us. Com,
promise mer He held both her hand
in his and looked earnestly into the liquic
hazel eyes.
"Do you love me, Mary 2"
"You know love you, Tim"
"Then we may just as wcll-hush
what's that ~
There was portontous sound of draw
ing bolts and rafting latches in the porch
room beyond-a scraping of heavy boot
along the floor Mary rose to her feet witt
sudden scarlet suiiusion on her brow an,
cheeks.
sob, Tim, it is father"
suppose it is"
"But he mustn't find you here, Tim hid
! yourself somewhere. do"
"What nonsense, Mary" said the youn,
man resolutciy standing his ground. "
haven't come TO steal his spoons. VIII
should I creep away like. detected bur
glar?"
"For my sake, Tim, Oh, Tim, if you eve
loved me do as l say Not in that clos
ct; it is close to his bedroom. No
through that window, it is nailed dow
tight. He's coming he's coming Her
Tim, quick ~
And in the drawing ola breath, she ha
pushed Timothy Marshall into the squsr
, pendulum case of the tall old clock an
turned the key on him. 1t was not pleas
ant place of refuge, inasmuch as his shoul