The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-02-08

around at the CLOCK. MARY Ieit tne pioou
grow cold in her veins. "Twenty min
utes past nine-why, it must be later
than that! Why, land O. Canaan! the
old clocks stopped wound it up this
mornin', Pm sartin," said the deacon,
very much disturbed. at never served
me such a trick afore. Your Aunt Jane
used to say it was sign of death or a
marriage in the family before the year
was out. These springs must be out of
order somehow" he added, fumblipg on
the shelf for the clock key. How
scared you look, child There amt no
cause Of being scared. don't put no
faith in your aunt's old-time supersti-
ton. Where in the name of all pos
sessed is that key? l could ha declared
left it in the case"
"Isn't it on the shelf, father?" asked
Mary, guiltily conscious that 1T was
snugly reposing in the pocket OF her
dress. -, :,
"No; nor tain't in my pocket, either"
And down went the deacon, stiffiy, on
his knees to examine the floor, lest per-
chance the missing key might have
fallen there. "Well, never knowed
ANYTHING SO strange in all my life."
ut is strange" said hypocritical
"fll have a regular hunt tomorrow,
said the deacon. "It must be some
where around"
"Yes, it must" faltered Mary.
"Only." the deacon went on, resuming
his place before the fire, " kind O. don't
like to have the old clock stand still a
single night. When / wake up, it seems
like it was talkin' to me in the stiffness" I"
The deacon looked thoughtfully at the
fiery log. Mary fidgeted uneasily about
the room, Strengthening table-covers, set
ting back chairs, and thinking-oh, If he
only would 60 to bed! As he sat there
his eyelids began to dreop, and his head
to nod solemnly. Mary's eyes lighted
up with a sparkle of hope.
"Child," he said, suddenly straight
ening himself up in the stif-backed
chair, "you'd better 60 to bed. I'll sit
up till the logs burn out"
"But, father, Pm not sleepy"
eco TO bed, my child" reiterated the
deacon, with good-humored authority
that brooked no opposition; and Mary
crept out of the room, ready to cry with
anxiety and modification.
"If Tim will only keep quiet little
longer" she thought, sitting on the
stairs where the moon streamed in in
chilly splendor. "Father sleeps so
soundly-and he is sure to 60 to sleep
in his chair. / could just steal in and
release him as quickly as possible"
She sat there, her plump fingers inter
laced, and her eyes dreamily on the
floor, while all the time her ears were
strained to catch every sound In the
kitchen beyond. Hark! was that the
wall of the wind? or was it something
| to her literally nearer and dearerY Yes,
she could not not be mistaken now, 1t
was actually snore. =,
Mary rose softly to her feet with re-
newed hope. Surely now was the ac-
copted time. Noiselessly as floating
shadow she crossed the hall, opened the
kitchen door, and stole across the creak'
ING boards of the floor. The candles
we're burned out, but the shifting light
of the fire revealed her father nOdding
before the fire, with closed eyes, and
hands hanging by his sides.
With heart that beat quick and fast
like the strokes of hammer, she drew
the kew from her pocket and proceeded
in spite of the nervous trembling OF hel
fingers to fit it into the lock. 80 ab
sorbed was she in her task that she nevel
noticed the sudden cessation OF the heavy
breathing-never saw the deacon star
into wakefulness and look around him
Love is blind, and equally true, it il
deaf. The deacon rose with a shrewt
twinkle in his eyes, and Mary gave
little frightened shrek as hand fel
softly on her arm, possessing itself o
the key.
Father, IL found the key" fal
"You did, eh ?" said the deacon
"Well, that's lucky; and now we ca
find out what's the matter with tn
clock" go,
Mary's heart, throbbing so wildly
moment or two ago, seemed 10 stana a. a.
solutely still as her father turned In
key and opened the tall door OF tn
, clock-case.
Hal.lop calculated the deacon, .
: Timothy Marshall tumbled laughingl
into the room. $50 you was the matte
with the old clock, eh % :,
, eyes. sir" said Tim, composed,
"I hope 1 haven't seriously interfere
, with the works of the clock" =.
0You've seriously interfered wit
me-" said the deacon, waxing indignan.
"What do you mean, sir, by hiding
my house like thief?'
J.. & Indeed, indeed, father" cried Mar,
n bursting into tears, 1t wasn't his taul
v He didn't want to hide, but l put nj
in there"
"You did, eh? May ask what for
"Father," faltered Mary, Il love hir
and he loves meW
els that any reason why ne should q
% in the clock-case, miss9
IL "No-but--father can never mar
i Mr.. Stanley. He is so soft, and I"
- Mary's tears finished the sentence I
, her. The deacon looked down-not u
kindly-on her bowed head, and I
u tender arm that supported it. A
:. parently the course of true love, rough
u though It ran, was overwhelming all
~ own world-wise ARRANGEMENTS IN its u'
D. "And so you two young folks rea
think that you love each otherT' 81
" " the deacon.
m "I love her with all my heart a
"a SOUL" said Tim, earnestly. am !
l,' 1' rich, know, but can work for her.
II, "And I can work for myself, t
~ 10 father" interposed Mary, with eyes Il
~ shone like stars.
Is, "And you said yourself, sir" went
o, Tim, "that the stopping of the Gle
Gu meant either q marriage or death.
course we don't want any deaths;
)" don't you think the most sensible thi
I'll we can do is to have a marriage as sc
tie as possibleY"
,er The deacon laughed in spite Of b
self.
ct, ats late" he said "come arc'
,ly tomorrow morning and we'll talk ab
.rf IL. No, Mary, Pm not angry with
MS child. I suppose young folks will
young folks, and there's no use try
ng to stop themW
itR And the deacon rehung the pendul,
a and set the iron tongue Of the old ci
talking again. Tim Marshall paused